Florida Home Education Law
Florida Home Education Law
There are specific laws pertaining to Florida homeschooling. Click here to read the statutes!
Section 1002.01, Florida Statutes (F.S.), defines home education as the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent or guardian in order to satisfy Florida's compulsory education requirements.
Florida Statute 1002.41 specifies the responsibilities of parents who establish a home education program.
SUMMARY OF FLORIDA HOME EDUCATION LAW:
Florida has a compulsory school attendance age. This means that children must attend school or comply with the homeschool laws starting in the school year that they turn 6 on or before February 1, and they must remain in school until they turn 16 or until they graduate from high school.
1. A Letter of Intent must be sent to the county school board within 30 days of starting the home education program or 30 days within each student’s sixth birthday.
2. Keep samples of each student’s work for two years at a time.
3. Keep a reading log of what each student reads and studies.
4. Complete an Annual Evaluation for each student.
5. A Letter of Termination must be sent to the county school board within 30 days of completing the home education program for each student.
Homeschool Annual Evaluations
By law, homeschooling parents must provide an annual evaluation in which the student’s demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with her or his ability is documented. Parents can select the method of evaluation and shall file a copy of the evaluation annually (on or before the anniversary date of the letter of intent registration) with the district school superintendent’s office.
The annual educational evaluation shall consist of one of the following:
1. A certified teacher shall evaluate the student’s educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the student.
2. The student shall take any nationally-normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher.
3. The student shall take a state student assessment test used by the school district and administered by a certified teacher, at a location and under testing conditions approved by the school district.
4. The student shall be evaluated by an individual holding a valid, active license.
5. The student shall be evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the district school superintendent of the district in which the student resides and the student’s parent.
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