Q. Will my child get a high school diploma upon finishing his home education?
A. No. A high school diploma is not necessarily required for college entrance or employment. But if you want your child to have a diploma, you have options: You can enroll your child in a private or public school for the last year or semester of his education. You will probably be required to submit records to show that the child has fulfilled graduation requirements, and your child may also have to take tests. You can enroll in a correspondence or "600" school. The school keeps track of credits necessary for graduation diploma. You'll need to contact the school of your choice for their requirements. There is also the option of getting a GED (general equivalency diploma) from the state by taking a test.
Q. Will my child have to be tested?
A. Homeschoolers in Florida are required to have annual evaluations, but we have several options.
1. A teacher evaluation: A Florida certified teacher evaluates your child one-on-one.
2. Certified testing: Any standardized test administered by a Florida certified teacher
3. Psychological Evaluation: Evaluation by a Florida licensed psychologist
4. Superintendent/Parent agreement: A mutually agreed upon evaluation method using valid measuring tools, such as SAT scores or credits earned through dual enrollment in a school
You must contact the school superintendent, and submit your proposal, and it must be agreed upon.
Whatever evaluation method you choose, the parent is responsible for obtaining the evaluation, paying for it, and submitting it to the superintendent.
Q. Where do I get books?
Q. What is an "umbrella school" or a "600" school?
A. The terms "umbrella" and "600" are often used interchangeably around homeschoolers, so there is often confusion. Each of these schools is different, and offers different benefits. None are required by law.
The "600" numbers refer to the Florida statutes under which the schools are registered. A 607 school is a for-profit business. A 617 school is incorporated, not-for-profit. A 622 school is a private school that must meet geographical and tax restrictions. If a school is a "600" school (607/617/623), it is a legal private school, even though you are doing the teaching at home. That is not considered a home education program under Florida law, and you don't have to register as a homeschooler.
Some ministries or businesses that offer classes, or help with record keeping may call themselves or be refered to as an umbrella school, but are not registered as a 600 school.
If the school is not registered with the Florida Deptartment of Education, you MUST either register with your local school superintendent, or with a second private school that is registered in Florida. Ask the school or the Department of Education in Tallahassee to see if the school is registered as a "600" school. If you have legal questions, please contact the Home School Legal Defense Association, or an attorney of your choice.
Florida Department of Education, Office of Family Involvement
325 W. Gaines Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400
Ph: (850) 414-1289; Fax: (850) 488-3827
Q. How do I get started?
1. Send a notice of intent to homeschool to your district's school superintendent within 30 days of beginning home education. This is required by law.
Your notice of intent must include: Name and birth date of each child aged 6-16 that will be homeschooling, address, and parent's signature. It is suggested that you mail this return receipt requested, so that you have proof of when it was mailed, and that it reached its destination. This will protect you from truancy charges, in case of mix-ups. It isn't impossible for a paper to be misplaced. To find the address of the school superintendent for your county, click here.
2. Start a portfolio. This is also required by law. A portfolio is simply a record of your child's work. Your portfolio must include:
A. A log of your child's activities, which is made at the same time that the instruction is given.
B. Samples of writings, worksheets, or creative materials that are used or developed by the student. Not every single paper, but a sampling that shows progression.
You must make your portfolio available for inspection upon 15 days written notice, and you must keep it for two years.
3. Get together with other homeschoolers. A local support group can help you to find friends and opportunities in your neighborhood. If you can, hook up with an experienced parent who has gone down this road before you. Look for someone who truly loves homeschooling, not just someone who has been doing it for a long time. You may be able to get information on local homeschool groups at your local public library.
4. Get on mailing lists. Personally, I sign up for everything I can. Get every free catalog that is offered, at least when you are first starting. See what's out there before buying anything! What works wonders for one family may not work for you. See the Retail page of our Resource section for a list of companies that will send you free information about their products. Once you know what is available, you may be able to find something you like and can use at a used book sale or the public library.
5. Work on a schedule. This is not required by law, but even a loose schedule can include wake up time, lunch, schoolwork, chores and playtime, and help keep you on track. Remember that schedules are a tool to help you. Don't become enslaved to your schedule, or feel false guilt for not "obeying" the schedule. Do what works, toss what doesn't. See our scheduling section for more.
6. Figure out your child's learning style, and your teaching style. Consider how your child learns, and how you teach, before sinking too much time or money into curriculum.
7. Relax! It's fun!
Q. How many days per week/hours per day is required?
A. If your child is enrolled in a 600 school, you'll need to abide by their attendance policies. Otherwise, there is no attendance requirement for home educated students in Florida, so you don't have to worry about how much time you are spending. You can instead focus fully on your child's educational progress.
Q. What are the required subjects for my child's grade?
A. Under Florida law, there are no subject requirements. Rather, your child must show "progress commiserate with his ability". If you choose standardized testing as an evaluation method, only Language and Math are required.
