Homeschooling in Florida: the three legal requirements every family should know

Home education is a legal option in Florida, and the rules are shorter than many families expect. The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) summarizes them as three requirements, all set out in Section 1002.41 of the Florida Statutes.

This guide walks through each one. It is general information, not legal advice. Your county school district’s home education office is the best place to confirm local procedures.

1. File a notice of intent

A parent starting a home education program must send a written notice of intent to the school district superintendent of the county where the family lives. The statute says the notice must be filed within 30 days of establishing the program, must be in writing and signed by the parent, and must include the full legal names, addresses, and birthdates of all children who will be home educated.

2. Keep a portfolio

Florida law requires the parent to keep a portfolio of records and materials. Under the statute, it includes:

• A log of educational activities, made at the time the activities happen, that names the reading materials used.
• Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student.

The parent decides what goes in the portfolio. It must be preserved for two years and made available for inspection, if requested, by the superintendent or the superintendent’s agent, upon 15 days’ written notice.

3. Complete an annual evaluation

Each year, the parent must file with the superintendent’s office an annual educational evaluation that documents the student’s demonstration of educational progress at a level that matches the student’s ability. The statute allows the parent to choose one of five methods:

1. A teacher chosen by the parent, who holds a valid regular Florida certificate to teach academic subjects, reviews the portfolio and discusses it with the student.
2. The student takes a nationally normed student achievement test given by a certified teacher.
3. The student takes a state student assessment test used by the school district, given by a certified teacher at a location and under testing conditions approved by the district.
4. The student is evaluated by someone holding a valid, active license under section 490.003(7) or (8) of Florida law, the state’s psychology licensing statute.
5. The student is evaluated with any other valid measurement tool that the superintendent and the parent mutually agree on.

When you stop homeschooling

If a family ends its home education program, the statute requires the parent to file a written notice of termination with the superintendent within 30 days, along with the annual evaluation.

Common questions

Do I need a teaching certificate? No. The statute says the parent is not required to hold a valid regular Florida teaching certificate.

Is there a required number of hours or a required curriculum? FDOE’s home education FAQ says the state does not set hourly requirements or require a particular curriculum, and that parents choose and provide their own materials.

Can home education students get a state scholarship? FDOE’s parent resources page notes that the Family Empowerment Scholarship is available to home education students. Our Family Empowerment Scholarship explainer covers how that program works.

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