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Page 1 of 6 Shortcut to LIFE Homeschooling in Florida FAQ
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Home Education in Florida is part of the FL DOEs Office of School Choice (http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/information/home_education/) and covered under Part IV of Chapter 1002 of the Florida Education Code, entitled Home Education, Private Schools and Other Educational Options. Each of the three options covered under this part of the education code -- Home Education, Private Schools and Private Tutoring programs -- offer ways to more personally direct your child's education.
Reads the Home Education page of the Dept. of Education:”
Home Education is a parent-directed educational
option that became effective by law in 1985. Parents have the freedom to
determine their child's educational path and the plan for reaching their goals.
Students have the opportunity to explore and learn at their own pace, in any
location or at any time. More than 55,000 students in approximately 37,000
families are in Home Education Programs in Florida.”
The basic state requirements for home education in Florida consist of:
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written notice to the district superintendent of intent to establish a home education program
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maintenance of a portfolio of records and materials that contains a log of educational activities and reading materials used, writing samples, worksheets, workbooks, and any other materials used or created by the child;
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and an annual educational evaluation of the child's educational progress.
The parent or guardian may select the method of evaluation, which can be
- a review of the portfolio and discussion with the student by a Florida certified teacher chosen by the parent or guardian;
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a nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher;
a state student assessment test administered by a certified teacher, at a location and under testing conditions approved by the school district;
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an evaluation by a psychologist holding a valid, active license;
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or an evaluation by any other valid measurement tool that is mutually agreed upon by the superintendent and the parent or guardian.
The complete statutes regarding home education can be found in School Code Chapter 1002, entitled Student and Parental Rights and Educational Choices. A copy of the statutes and additional home education information can be requested from the Home Education office by contacting by calling (800) 447-1636.
There is an informative DOE Home Education FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) online at http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/information/home_education/faqs.asp , which can also be requested in hard copy.
Because home education is a fully parent directed educational choice, it’s important to stay informed about your choice and connected with others who practice it. Education Policy Analyst Christopher Fenton , is the FL DOEs Home Education Specialist and can be contacted via email at
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or by calling (850) 245-0502.
Visit LIFE of Florida to learn more about our statewide homeschool support group.
Read on for our comprehensive LIFE Homeschooling in Florida FAQ, a Comparison of Home Based Learning Options in Florida , and visit our Home Education Resources pages for more links and information about homeschooling in general, as well as our Florida Statewide Networking and Resources .
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