Homeschooling is an educational option growing increasingly popular in Florida and across the United States. It can be especially attractive to those parents wanting more control and flexibility when it comes to their child’s education.
But like any form of schooling, homeschooling in the Sunshine State has its own unique set of regulations and rules that parents must adhere to. To make sure parents know exactly what is required of them, we at Homeschool Quandary have collected 15 questions to help clarify the laws and guidelines that apply to homeschooling in Florida.
1. Does Florida require parents to register or notify the state of their intent to homeschool?
Yes. According to the state’s statutes, a parent must notify the school district of the county in which they reside that they intend to homeschool their children. The Florida Department of Education has provided an online form, entitled the Home Education Notice of Intent (HENI), for parents to use.
Parents must complete and submit this annually through their county’s public school website. Home Education Notice of Intent forms can be found on the public school websites of each county, or through the Department of Education website.
Once the Home Education Notice of Intent has been filed, parents are allowed to start homeschooling. Parents must also provide the school district with written proof that their student is participating in the home education program within 30 days of the start of the home education program.
2. How do I know if my child’s homeschool program is compliant with the law?
In Florida, homeschoolers must adhere to certain legal requirements and expectations. Children will be considered legally homeschooling as long as their parent or guardian provides 180 days of instruction throughout the year and follows the State Funded Virtual Instruction requirements (or a substantial equivalent). The state also provides a “substantial equivalent” clause for those wishing to homeschool in ways outside the state curriculum and standards.
To meet this clause, the homeschool must provide an equivalent course of instruction to that of public schools in terms of length of instruction and academic content. Parents must also provide the school district with written proof that their student is participating in the home education program within 30 days of the start of the home education program.
3. What subjects do I need to cover in my homeschool program in Florida?
As long as a parent or guardian follows the “substantial equivalent” clause, homeschoolers in Florida have a great deal of freedom when it comes to the content of their curriculum. However, all curricula must be age-appropriate, and include a language arts program, mathematics program, science and social studies program, and health, physical education, and safety education for students attending school for the full year. In addition, parents and guardians must provide instruction related to the Constitution of the United States of America and emphasize the importance of patriotism and respect for the United States of America and its national anthem.
Furthermore, parents must ensure that all instruction is conducted in a manner consistent with accepted educational goals, objectives, and methods.
4. Who is eligible to homeschool in Florida?
In Florida, homeschoolers must adhere to certain legal requirements and expectations. Parents acting as the primary home-based educator must be of good character and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Additional qualifications also apply if they are not the child’s parent, such as the requirement to hold a valid teaching certificate from the state of Florida. In addition, the person acting as the primary home-based educator must prove their fitness to homeschool the student in question by providing an affidavit to the local school district. Trustworthy references must also be provided, as well as a home visit or background screen.
A physician’s statement may also be required for minors.
5. Does Florida have requirements related to record keeping and assessment?
Yes. When it comes to record keeping, homeschoolers in Florida must maintain an annual log of information on their student’s academic progress.
This includes details such as attendance, lesson plans and objectives, student work, and assessments. The log should also include a record of any field trips (including the date, length, andlocation) and any significant educational activities. Parents must also assess the academic progress of their student.
The assessment may be a standardized test, an annual assessment performed by a certified teacher, or another method of testing approved by the school district. The assessment must evaluate the student’s progress in terms of reading, language arts, and mathematics, as well as history, science and civics.
6. How do I report the results of my child’s annual assessment?
Parents must report the results of the assessment to the school district each year. A parent must submit the name, date, and score of the assessment that was used to the student’s local school district superintendent.
This assessment must be submitted each year before August
7. Does Florida allow homeschooling on public school campuses?
Yes, but only if the parent or guardian has permission from both the school district and the local public school’s principal. In addition, the parent or guardian must provide the school district with a copy of the student’s annual academic log.
The parent or guardian must also attend the public school campus for a minimum of four hours per week and must attend parent-teacher conferences as requested by the school. Additionally, the student must be provided with the necessary supplies and equipment to facilitate their learning, in accordance with the school district’s policies.
8. Does Florida require homeschooled students to take state-mandated assessments?
No. In Florida, all homeschooled students are exempt from taking mandatory assessments, such as the Florida Statewide Assessment and the FCAT.
9. Can homeschoolers in Florida participate in public school extracurricular activities?
Yes, with some restrictions. In Florida, homeschoolers are eligible to participate in public school extracurricular activities, such as sports teams and after school programs.
However, they must adhere to the same educational and community service requirements that apply to all public school students, including participation in physical education classes and community service hours.
10. Are homeschoolers in Florida eligible for dual enrollment and college courses?
Yes. Homeschoolers in Florida are eligible to participate in the postsecondary dual enrollment programs offered at public colleges and universities.
However, they must adhere to the same standards and qualifications that all students must meet, including appropriate standardized test scores and overall GPA.
11. Does Florida allow homeschool students to attend private or religious schools?
Yes. Florida law allows homeschool students to attend private or religious schools, as long as the school does not require the student to attend classes.
If a school does require a student to attend classes, the student must follow the same attendance requirements as all other students at that school, and must also adhere to all assessment and evaluation requirements.
12. Does Florida allow homeschool students to participate in public school programs?
Yes. Homeschooled students in Florida are eligible to participate in the same public school programs as their public school peers, including sports teams and after school activities. The same regulations apply to homeschoolers as to all other public school students.
13. Does Florida require homeschoolers to take driver’s education classes?
No. Florida does not require homeschooled students to take driver’s education classes, as long as they have a valid learner’s permit from the state.
However, if a student is already licensed to drive, they must complete a driver’s education course in order to renew their license or permit.
14. Does Florida require homeschoolers to take physical education classes?
Yes. According to the state’s statutes, homeschoolers in Florida must complete at least one year of physical education to be deemed homeschooled.
This instruction may be provided in a variety of ways, including physical activity classes and organized sports teams.
15. Until what age can you homeschool your child in Florida?
In Florida, parents are allowed to homeschool their children until they reach the age of 1 After this age, the student must attend public school or an approved non-public school.
Homeschoolers must also take the Florida Standard Preparatory Assessment (FSPA) before beginning home-based instruction and when the student reaches the age of 16 (or the equivalent in another assessment approved by the school district).
Conclusion
Homeschooling is an attractive and increasingly popular educational option for many parents in Florida. Although there are many advantages to homeschooling, it does come with its own regulations and restrictions that parents must adhere to.
The 15 questions discussed in this article provide a good starting point for those who want to understand the regulations that apply to homeschooling in the Sunshine State. By understanding the rules and regulations, parents can make sure that they are providing their children with a legally compliant homeschool program.