Legal
Status of Homeschooling in Florida
There
are basically two methods that home schooling families in Florida use to legally
teach their children at home.
1.
617/623 Nonpublic, home based school: "617/623" refer to the statute
numbers which define this option. Both of these statutes allow for a private
school to be started as a non-profit corporation. There are guidelines that must
be followed such as number of teaching days, hours taught,
administrative meetings to be held, etc.
2. Regular Attendance Law, F.S. 232.02: This option is a state
statute written expressly for home-educating families and is the one most used in Alachua
County. Because of its popularity an explanation follows.
Legal
Compliance
Steps
To Comply With Home Education Enactment Statute
I.
If you, as a parent, hold a valid, regular FL certificate to teach the subjects
or grades in which instruction is given & complies with any other requirements prescribed by law or rules of the state board, you need only to
stay current with your certification.
II. As a parent without a valid regular Florida certificate to
teach must comply with the following requirements:
A. Send a letter of intent to the Superintendent of Schools (see sample letter
of intent).
The
notice shall be in writing, signed by the parent, and shall include the
names, addresses and birth dates of all children who shall be enrolled as
students in the home education program. Do not assign a grade level. Include
only children who are at least 6 years old by Feb. 1 and less than l8. This
letter must be filed within 30 days of establishing the home-education
program. Please terminate your program by letter if you should move out or
place a child in formal school.
B.
Maintains a portfolio of records and materials.
The
portfolio shall consist of a log, made contemporaneously with the
instruction, which designates by title the reading materials used and
samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, and creative materials used
or developed by the student. The portfolio shall be preserved by the parent
for 2 years and shall be made available for inspection by the superintendent
(or agent) upon 15 days' written notice.
C.
Provides for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the
pupil's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with
her/his ability. A copy of the evaluation shall be filed annually with the
district school board office. The annual educational evaluation shall consist
of one of the following:
1.
A teacher selected by the parent shall evaluate the pupil's educational
progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the pupil.
Such teacher shall hold a valid regular Florida certificate to teach
academic subjects at the elementary or secondary
level.
2. The pupil shall take any nationally normal student
achievement test used by the district and administered by a certified teacher.
3. The pupil shall take a state student assessment test.
4. The pupil shall be evaluated by an individual holding a
valid, active license (psychologist's evaluation).
5. The pupil shall be evaluated with any other valid measurement toll as mutually agreed upon by the school
superintendent of the district and the pupil's parent or guardian.
Sample
Letter of Intent
Mrs. Terri Bain,
Supervisor
Home Education Program
School Board of Alachua County
620 E. University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
Dear
Mrs. Bain:
This
letter is to inform you of our intent to as parents to establish and maintain a
home education program for our child.
Your Name
NOTE:
This letter is not sent every year, just when you begin your homeschool program
and add more children.
School Board of Alachua County:baintm@gm.sbac.edu,
(352) 955-7620