Section 1002.01, Florida Statutes (F.S.), defines home education as the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his/her parent or guardian, in order to satisfy the requirement for compulsory education as defined in sections(s.) 1002.20(2), 1003.01(13), and 1003.21(1), F.S. Current law does not prescribe a curriculum or course of study for home education programs.

Any parent who complies with the reporting, record keeping, and student evaluation requirements specified in statutory law may conduct a home education program. The parent is not required to be a certified teacher. Home Education parents may choose whichever curriculum or materials for their child’s home education program. There are no specific hourly attendance requirements or curriculum requirements for students in a home education program. All instructional materials and supplies must be provided by the parent.

As required by s. 1002.41, F.S., to establish a home education program and maintain compliance with the statute, a parent must:

• a. Send a written Letter of Intent to the school district superintendent. Districts should verify that the Letter of Intent was received. Parents should also retain a copy of the Letter of Intent and documentation that the Letter of Intent was received by the district. Parents may not register their students for virtual courses until the Letter of Intent has been submitted and acknowledged by the school district.
• b. Maintain a portfolio of records and materials consisting of a log of educational activities made contemporaneously with the instruction, and that designates by title any reading materials used, samples of any writings, worksheets, and creative materials used or developed by the student.
• c. Make the portfolio available for inspection by the superintendent upon a 15-day notice. (The law does not require the superintendent to inspect portfolios.)
• d. Provide a copy of the annual evaluation of the student’s educational progress to the school district superintendent. Parents should retain a copy of the evaluation and documentation that the evaluation was received by the district.
• e. Preserve each student’s portfolio for two years.
• f. Submit a Letter of Termination and annual evaluation upon completion of the home education program to the district.
• g. Should there be a change of residence, but do not wish to terminate the home education program in Florida, the parent should notify the new district to which the child is moving to that they are transferring their home education program to the new district and provide the previous district with information on the change in district. The previous district shall simply close out the student’s files. A home education transfer between districts does not require the parent to terminate the home education program (as they are not terminating; simply moving) and the parent does not need to provide an annual evaluation to the previous district.

Section 1002.41, F.S., defines a portfolio as “A log of educational activities which is made contemporaneously with the instruction and which designates by title any reading materials used and samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student.” The portfolio shall be preserved by the parent for two years and shall be made available for inspection by the superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee, upon a 15-day written notice. The superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee, is not required to inspect portfolios.

There are many different means a parent may use to provide “sequentially progressive instruction” such as:

• a. Use a curriculum, or none at all, and instruct the student themselves;
• b. Enroll the student part-time in a public or private school;
• c. Enroll the student online in the Florida Virtual School FLEX program, a district virtual school, a private virtual program or other online resources;
• d. Enroll the student in correspondence courses or private school video program;
• e. Enroll the student in dual enrollment courses at a college, university or career and technical school or college;
• f. Hire a tutor; or
• g. Take classes from a program designed for home education students, through a home education cooperative or community.

There is no diploma issued by the public school system in Florida for the completion of a home education program. A signed affidavit of completion (notarized letter) submitted by the student’s parent attesting that the student has completed a home education program, pursuant to the requirements of s.1002.41, F.S. is the legal document of completion. As stated in s.1007.263(2)(a), F.S. it is equivalent to a high school diploma and is regularly accepted by state colleges and universities as proof of high school completion. This statement can be included on a student’s academic transcript or parent-issued diploma. While not required, some students elect to culminate their home education program by taking the General Educational Development (GED) test. A student is issued a diploma from the Department of Education upon passage of the GED. The toll-free number for information pertaining to the GED is 1-800-237-5113. 

Yes, home education students may take virtual classes and there is no limit to the number of courses they may enroll in. A home education student may take virtual classes through the district’s virtual school or Florida Virtual School FLEX once the Letter of Intent has been filed by the school district. 

For information about FLVS Flex visit their website: Florida Virtual School (FLVS) Flex for Home School Students

FLVS FLEX is not a “regular school” which in s. 1003.26(f)2, F.S. states the superintendent shall require the parent to enroll the child in an attendance option that meets the definition of “regular school attendance” under s. 1003.01(13)(a), (b), (c), or (e) within 3 days. Failure to do so may result in criminal prosecution under s. 1003.27(2), F.S. Therefore, the parent should file a Letter of Intent to homeschool their student prior to enrolling them in FLVS FLEX.

Yes. Home education students may qualify for the Bright Futures Scholarship Program if they are registered with their districts as home education students for grades 11 and 12. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program provides a Home Education Program Packet, which conveys eligibility criteria specific to home education students, including required college admission test scores, community service documentation, district registration confirmation, and dates for financial aid application deadlines. The Home Education Program packet is available from https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/SAPBFMAIN/SAPBFMAIN or call 1-888-827-2004.

Bright Futures Scholarship

Yes. Home education students may enroll directly with the postsecondary institution pursuant to s. 1007.271(13) F.S.

For information about Dual Enrollment at PHSC visit: https://accelerated.phsc.edu/dual-enrollment/home 

For information about Dual Enrollment at USF visit: https://www.usf.edu/early-university-programs/dual-enrollment/ 

College and state universities often request proof that the student is registered and in compliance with a home education program. If the student must provide that information, it can be obtained from the local school district home education coordinator. If a home education student has an articulation agreement with the community college or state university, the school district must provide them with proof that the student is enrolled in a home education program pursuant to s. 1002.41 F.S. The district is not responsible for the transportation of a home education student to dual-enrollment classes.

Yes, any private school a home education student is enrolled in outside of Florida will be considered a curriculum choice and that student will have to be registered as a home education student and the Letter of Intent must be filed with the school district. If it is a private school located in Florida, students are not required to register as a home education student in their district.

A student in a home education setting must be evaluated once a year to demonstrate educational progress at a level commensurate to the child’s abilities. The parent/guardian selects the method of evaluation from those provided in Florida Statute, then files a copy of the evaluation annually in the superintendent’s office. The evaluation must consist of one of the following:

• a. A Florida certified teacher chosen by the parent may evaluate the child’s progress based on the review of the portfolio and discussion with the student;
• b. The student may take any nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher;
• c. The student may take a state student assessment test used by the school district and administered by a certified teacher, at a location and under testing conditions approved by the school district;
• d. The student may be evaluated by a psychologist holding a valid, active license pursuant to the provisions of s. 490.003 (7) or (8), F.S.; or
• e. The student may be evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the school superintendent of the district in which the student resides and the student’s parent.

According to 1002.41, F.S., a parent of a home education student must submit an annual evaluation demonstrating educational progress commensurate with their child’s abilities. “Annually” is defined in Florida Statute as one year from the date of the Letter of Intent, therefore the parent may submit as close to that start date as possible.

Click Here for a List of Certified Evaluators. 

All evaluators for home education students must have a current certification in academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level in the state of Florida. Of the five evaluation options described in the law, three involve a certified teacher, as stated in the question above. 

Sample Evaluator Form

Yes, school districts are required in s. 1002.41(12), F.S., to provide industry certifications, national assessments and statewide, standardized assessments that are offered by the school district to home education students.

Please visit our School Improvement and Accountability Department website for information on testing for home education students.  

FLVS transcripts may be used as an option regarding annual evaluations for home education students if the parent chooses that method of evaluation. There is no statutory language prohibiting a parent of a home education student from providing a FLVS transcript for an annual evaluation IF it is a mutually agreed upon method between the district and the parent under s. 1002.41(1)(f)(5), F.S.

Section 1002.41, F.S., requires the parent to provide for an annual evaluation of the home education student. Failure to do so places the home education program in non-compliance and permits the superintendent, after notice to the parent, to terminate the program.

Yes. However, at the time that a student who has been found to exhibit a pattern of nonattendance is enrolled in a home education program, the home education contact will:

• a. Provide the parent or guardian with a copy of the home education law, s. 1002.41, F.S., and the accountability requirements of the truancy law, s. 1003.26(1)(f), F.S.; and
• b. Refer the parent to a home education review committee composed of members as specified in s. 1003.26, F.S.

Once the committee determines that the home education program is in compliance, the parent will no longer be required to submit a portfolio to the home education review committee. If a truant student who has been enrolled in a home education program fails to provide a portfolio for review by the committee, the district shall terminate their program. The parent may not enroll that student into a home education program for 180 days after termination, and must enroll the student into a different attendance option found in s. 1003.01(13) F.S. within three days, or the parent may be subject to criminal prosecution under s. 1003.27(2), F.S.

As part of the penalty for non-attendance, a public or private school principal is required to report the student who accumulates 15 unexcused absences in a 90-day period to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles under s.1003.27(2)(b) & (c). The DHSMV will either not issue a driver license or suspend any previously issued driver license to that individual. For more information contact the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles at https://www.flhsmv.gov/.