How to Start Homeschooling in Florida
If you’re wondering how to homeschool in Florida, you’re in good hands! Whether you’ve homeschooled before, or you just decided to make the switch, we’ll go over everything you need to know to homeschool in the Sunshine State.Before you begin, it’s a good idea to do your research first, as homeschool laws vary by state. Florida’s homeschooling requirements allow plenty of freedom and customization. As long as you follow the rules, homeschooling in Florida is a breeze!
Attention Florida Homeschoolers!
Miacademy is now a qualifying educational provider for Step Up For Students in Florida! Step Up provides eligible students with scholarships to fund private school, charter school, and homeschooling. Be sure to visit our Step Up blog post for more information, and check out our vendor page on Step Up below!
Homeschooling in Florida at a Glance
Florida – The Sunshine State
| Option | Private School / Umbrella | Private Tutor | Homeschool Statute |
| Required Age | 6-16 | 6-16 | 6-16 |
| Standardized Testing | Determined by school | Annual assessment required | Annual assessment required |
| Subjects | Determined by school | None | None |
| Time Requirements | Determined by school | 180 days | None |
| Graduation Requirements | Determined by school | Determined by parent or instructor | Determined by parent |
| Special Requirements | Not applicable | Tutor is responsible for record keeping and reporting | Must keep a homeschool portfolio |
| Financial Resources Available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Before we begin, it’s important to know your options for homeschooling in Florida. There are three different options for you to choose from:
1. Private School or Umbrella Program
When you homeschool with a private school or umbrella program, you’ll follow the policies of the school you choose. With private schools or umbrella programs, the program will manage your curriculum, record keeping and testing. However, it’s still your responsibility to ensure the private school is compliant with Florida homeschool law.
2. Private Tutor
To homeschool with a private tutor, the tutor you hire must have a valid Florida teaching license for the grade your student is in. In addition, the private tutor will be responsible for record keeping and reporting. The private tutor option is the only option that has an attendance requirement, which is 180 days per school year.
3. Homeschool Statute
If you’d like to have the most freedom, educating under the homeschool statute may be the best option for you! When you choose the homeschool statute option, you’ll be accepting full responsibility for your child’s education. You will also need to provide instruction, create and maintain a portfolio, and test them regularly.
Parent Qualifications
The State of Florida doesn’t have any requirements for parents who wish to homeschool.
Notice of Intent
First, homeschooling parents must submit a Notice of Intent to withdraw students from public school. You must send the notice to the district superintendent’s office 30 days prior to homeschooling. The notice must list the names, birthdates, and address of every child withdrawn for homeschooling.
You only need to submit this notice once, unless you move to a different county in Florida. If you do move counties, you’ll need to provide a new Notice of Intent to the superintendent of your new district.
If you stop homeschooling, move out of the county, or your student graduates, you’ll need to provide a Notice of Termination to your superintendent. This notice should also include a copy of your student’s most recent annual assessment.
Attendance
For homeschool statute families, there are no restrictions on how many days or hours you need to homeschool. However, you do need to keep attendance records, although you won’t submit them.
Families who use a private tutor must homeschool for a minimum of 180 days per school year.
Students in a private school or umbrella program will need to follow the attendance requirements of that school.
Homeschool Curriculum
Florida’s laws also do not require any specific subjects to be taught. Many homeschool parents adapt the Department of Education’s state curriculum standards for their students’ needs.
Public schools in Florida are required to teach the following:
- English
- Math
- Social studies
- Physical education
- Fine arts
It’s best to teach the above subjects at minimum, in case your child needs to re-enter a traditional school setting.
Accredited Homeschool Programs
Choosing the best homeschool curriculum can be hard with so many options! If you want to ensure your child is getting a great education, you may be interested in an accredited homeschool curriculum! Accredited homeschool programs must meet high standards of academic quality and rigor to maintain their accreditation status.
Miacademy’s online homeschool curriculum is fully accredited by the ACS-WASC, so you can be confident that your student will get a great education with our comprehensive curriculum.
Testing
Homeschoolers are exempt from participating in Florida state standardized testing. However, parents are required to submit annual evaluations to their school district.
Annual evaluations can take the form of:
- The state standardized test
- A nationally-normed achievement test
- A homeschool portfolio review, completed by a certified teacher
If you would like your student to take the state test for free, contact your district early to make arrangements.
Record Keeping
Homeschool parents must maintain a portfolio with two years’ worth of material for each student. State law does require you to provide your portfolio to the superintendent for inspection if requested. Items to include in the homeschool portfolio include:
- Attendance records
- Immunization records
- Log of all educational activities
- Textbooks and workbooks used
- Samples of your student’s best work
- Test and evaluation results
- All correspondence with school officials
If your superintendent requests to inspect your portfolio, you must make it available within 15 days of the written inspection request. This is so the county can view your student’s progress and ensure they are learning at a reasonable pace. Compliance is important, so make sure that you don’t lose track of your portfolio!
Transcripts
A transcript is not required by the state of Florida, though it is a good idea to keep one. This can come in handy if your student needs to go back to public school, and it’s a great tool for tracking progress. If you do wish to keep a transcript, you can include:
- Course names and descriptions
- Credits earned per course
- Final course grades
You can make your own transcripts or enroll in an online homeschool program that provides them for you.
Graduation Requirements
In Florida, homeschool parents decide when their student is ready to graduate. Upon graduation, parents can issue a homeschool completion affidavit, which is equivalent to a high school diploma. Postsecondary schools in Florida are prohibited from discriminating between the affidavit and a diploma in order to provide an equal opportunity for homeschooled students.
Many parents look to the state’s public school graduation requirements to understand what their child should know before graduation.
Financial Resources
At Miacademy, we’re partnering with state funding programs across the country to make homeschooling more accessible.
We’re excited to announce that Miacademy is now a qualifying educational provider for Florida’s Step Up for Students program!
Currently, the Step Up program offers six scholarships, with awards varying from $500 to $10,000 per student. To find out how to use Step Up for Miacademy, check out our Step Up blog, or visit our official Step Up vendor page.
Other Tips & Resources
For more information about homeschooling and how to find other homeschool groups in Florida, check out:
- The Florida Parent Education Association
- Florida Homeschool Groups from the Homeschool Mom
If you’re wondering if Miacademy or MiaPrep would be the best homeschool curriculum for your family, feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service team! They’ll be happy to help you with anything you need.
The information provided is intended for research purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. For accurate and comprehensive details on Florida homeschool laws, we recommend consulting the official resources and guidelines provided by your state. Staying informed about any changes to these laws is important, so be sure to look out for any updates.
FAQ
How many days of homeschooling are required in Florida?
FL homeschool laws do not require a set number of days or hours of instruction per year. However, if you use an umbrella school option or a private tutor, you will likely adhere to the typical 180-day school year.
Does Florida pay for homeschooling?
While the state itself doesn’t provide education vouchers, the Step Up for Students program is a state-approved, nonprofit scholarship providing funds for homeschool families. Award amounts can vary and can cover homeschool expenses such as curricula, books, supplies, and more.
Does Florida require standardized testing for homeschoolers?
While homeschool laws in Florida do require annual evaluations, the evaluation doesn’t have to be a standardized test. If you would like your child to participate in state testing, you can contact your district in advance to make arrangements.
Information accurate as of: 05/29/2024. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information, or for the results yielded through use of this information.