How to Homeschool in Florida

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Homeschooling in Florida

The state of Florida has a simple set of provisions for parents who choose to homeschool their children. Designed to ensure the best education for all students, these home education laws are fairly straightforward. Read on for the following:

• An overview of Florida homeschool laws,
• An introduction to homeschool groups in Florida, and a
• Description of how Moving Beyond the Page can help you get started.

Florida Homeschool Laws

As you begin to set up your own home education program, there are some steps you should follow. The very first thing you will need to do is provide an official written notice of the parent's intent to begin a home education program. A parent should do the following:

• Write the notice of intent and sign it,
• List the names, addresses, and birth dates of the attending children,
• Submit the letter to the district school superintendent,
• And file it within 30 days of establishing the home education program.

As the primary educator, you do not need a teaching certificate, but you do need to keep records of your students' work. For each student in your homeschool program, you should keep a portfolio containing the following for up to 2 years of homeschooling:

• Samples of writing, worksheets, and other materials developed by the student
• A log of educational activities
• List of the titles of reading materials used

The school's superintendent is not required to review this portfolio but may request to see it at any time. You must provide the portfolio within 15 days of an official, written request.

In addition, home education programs are required to demonstrate students' academic progress through an annual educational evaluation. There are several different ways to comply with this requirement. You as the parent can choose the option that is the best fit for you and your family. Any of the following will meet the annual educational evaluation requirement for home education programs:

• A teacher with a valid Florida teaching license selected by the parent will review a student's portfolio to determine adequate educational progress.
• The student may take a standardized achievement test administered by a certified teacher.
• The student may take the assessment test used by his or her school district administered by a certified teacher under testing conditions approved by the district.
• The student may be evaluated by a certified school psychologist.

If none of these options seem right for you and your family, Florida homeschool law also allows you to come to an alternative agreement with your school district in order to demonstrate adequate educational growth.

These laws and regulations give you a lot of flexibility when it comes to the curriculum you choose and how you educate your child. Be sure to research your many options and reach out to the homeschool groups and families around you, some of which are listed below.

Homeschool Groups in Florida

Homeschooling your children is a daunting task, but there are many groups and organizations in Florida to help you out. Here are some organizations you may want to look into.

NOTE: You can find a wealth of local and state groups offering homeschooling advice and support on sites such as Facebook and Yahoo Groups. You can search by city or county, religious preference, homeschooling philosophy, and more. You will need a free account on these sites to join one of their groups.

A Homeschool Curriculum for Florida

Beyond the Page is a homeschool curriculum that exceeds the requirements for homeschooling in the state of Florida. All of the Beyond the Page packages cover science, social studies, and language arts, and we offer a range of math programs as well. The Florida legal requirements are only a starting point, and our curriculum utilizes a range of educational strategies that are designed to foster a love of learning in children including:

• Hands-on activities,
• Differentiated options, and
• Independent projects.

Beyond the Page encourages critical thinking and creativity while encouraging your child's unique learning style like no other curriculum on the market. If your child is a hands-on learner, a gifted learner, or a creative free-thinker, then you should look into Beyond the Page for your child.

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Disclaimers

Any information about the laws in your state is provided to help you understand your legal requirements to homeschool in your state. It should by no means be interpreted as legal advice. This information was not compiled by a lawyer. It is your responsibility to interpret and understand the laws that you will be homeschooling under. If you have questions, you should seek the advice of a lawyer that operates in your state.

Beyond the Page does not endorse any of the homeschool groups that are included in these pages. They are provided only for your benefit. You should research any group to ensure that they align with your family's goals and philosophies.