Florida Homeschool Laws
If you’re wondering how to homeschool in Florida, it’s a good idea to do your research first, as homeschool laws vary by state. Whether you’ve homeschooled before in another state, or you just decided to make the switch to homeschooling, you’re in luck!
Florida’s homeschooling requirements leave plenty of room for you to enjoy plenty of freedom and customization. As long as you follow the rules, your family will be set!
Attention Florida Homeschoolers!
As of November 2023, Miacademy is now a qualifying educational provider for Step Up For Students in Florida! Step Up provides eligible students with scholarships to fund educational alternatives to public school, such as 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
| Required Age | 6-16 |
| Standardized Testing | Not Required |
| Subjects | None |
| Time Requirements | None |
| Graduation Requirements | None. May complete affidavit |
| Special Requirements | Umbrella vs. private tutor |
| Financial Resources Available | Yes, through Step Up for Students |
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 need to follow all the rules and policies of the school you’re teaching under. Private schools or umbrella programs are a good option if you’d like someone else to manage your curriculum, recordkeeping 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 recordkeeping and reporting. The private tutor option is the only option that has an attendance requirement, which is 180 days per school year.
3. Homeschooling under the homeschool statute
For parents who wish to have the most control over their child’s education, 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, and will 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. This notice must be submitted to the district superintendent’s office 30 days prior to homeschooling. The notice must include the name, birthdate, and address of every child being 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.
In addition, if you decide to stop homeschooling, move out of the county, or your student graduates from your homeschool, you’ll need to provide a Notice of Termination. This notice should be sent to the same district superintendent, and 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, as long as you keep track of them. Families who use a private tutor are required to homeschool for a minimum of 180 days per school year. Students in a private school or umbrella school program will need to follow the attendance requirements of their umbrella school.
Homeschool Curriculum
Florida’s laws also do not require parents to teach any specific subjects to their homeschooled students. A good starting point for parents would be to 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 would be beneficial to your student to include these in some way, in case you need your child to re-enter a traditional school setting.
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. The good news is, Miacademy’s online homeschool curriculum is fully accredited by the ACS-WASC!
Testing
Homeschoolers are not required to participate 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, or a homeschool portfolio review, completed by a certified teacher.
If you would like your student to participate in the state’s free standardized testing, be sure to 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 for inspection 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.
Financial Resources
At Miacademy, we’re working hard to partner with state funding programs across the country to make homeschooling financially accessible.
We’re incredibly excited to announce that Miacademy is now a qualifying educational provider for Florida’s Step Up for Students scholarship program! The program distributes several scholarships for Florida students to pursue educational opportunities outside of public schools.
Currently, the Step Up program offers six scholarships, with awards varying from $500 to $10,000 per student. For more information about 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 have any questions about how Miacademy and MiaPrep align with the laws in your state, feel free to reach out to our friendly customer service team!
Please keep in mind that the information provided is intended for research purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. To obtain accurate and comprehensive details on Florida homeschool laws, we recommend consulting the official resources and guidelines provided by your state. Additionally, 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?
Florida does not require a set number of days or hours of instruction per year. However, if you are homeschooling under an “umbrella school” option or with a private tutor, you may be required to 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 program that provides funding for homeschool families. Scholarship usage and award amounts can vary, and can be used for homeschool expenses, such as curricula, books, supplies and more.
Does Florida require standardized testing for homeschoolers?
While Florida does require annual evaluations, they do not need to take the form of standardized testing. If you would like your homeschooler to participate in state standardized testing, be sure to contact your district in advance to make arrangements.
Information accurate as of: 11/27/2023. The information provided on this site is intended for research purposes only. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information, or for the results yielded through use of this information.