Homeschooling in Florida
The Law in Florida: What You Need to Know
- If you are ready to homeschool in Florida or are already homeschooling, it is important to know your parent-educator responsibilities. For more details, click here to read the statutes from the Florida Legislature.
- File a Letter of Intent (LOI) with your school district to let them know your child will be homeschooled.
- Make a note of the date, as this will be the date your annual evaluation will be due by every year
- Keep a copy of the LOI and include it in your portfolio and/or keep it for your records
- Each school year maintain a "portfolio" that documents the learning that takes place during the year.
- include a log, planner, or calendar that shows the learning that took place on certain dates
- keep a list of materials used
- include work samples from the student
- When it is time for the annual assessment (before your anniversary date) , parents choose one of 5 ways way to have their child assessed:
- schedule a portfolio evaluation with a certified teacher
- schedule a norm-referenced test to be given by a certified teacher
- make arrangements for your child to take the state assessment at a public school
- schedule an evaluation through a psychologist
- make other arrangements for evaluation with the district superintendent
- Once the evaluation is complete, the teacher or psychologist documents and signs whether or not the child has made a year's worth of progress commensurate with their ability.
- The parent sends this documentation to the district office by the anniversary date.
- It's important to note that additional information does not need to be sent to the district office (no grades, attendance, test scores, etc.).
- If you have questions or need further clarification, contact your home education office or Step Up.
