Homeschool laws · State guide
Homeschooling in Florida
Florida requires a notice of intent to the county superintendent, a portfolio kept for two years, and an annual educational evaluation filed with the district.
Florida at a glanceLevel: Moderate
- Notice to the state
- Yes
- Send a signed notice of intent to the county school superintendent within 30 days of starting, and a notice of termination within 30 days of ending (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(a), (c)).
- Testing
- Yes
- A yearly evaluation filed with the superintendent: certified-teacher portfolio review, a normed or state test given by a certified teacher, a licensed psychologist, or another agreed tool (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(f)).
- Record-keeping
- Required
- Keep a portfolio (activity log with reading titles, plus work samples) for 2 years; the superintendent may inspect it on 15 days' written notice (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(d)–(e)).
- Immunization
- Not required
- Home education does not require vaccines or immunization records (Fla. Stat. §§1002.01(3), 1003.22(4)). School rules apply to private-school enrollment or campus activities.
- Required subjects
- None specified
- Instruction time
- Not specified; home education programs are excluded from meeting the requirements of a school day
- Fla. Stat. §1002.41(3)
- Parent qualifications
- None; the parent is not required to hold a Florida teaching certificate
- Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)
Ways to homeschool here: Home education program (Fla. Stat. §1002.41)
Choice Homeschool works hard to keep every state guide accurate and up to date, but laws change. If something here has changed or is missing, please let us know, ideally with a link to the official source, and we’ll recheck it.
Overview
The Florida Department of Education describes home education as a parent-directed option that satisfies regular school attendance requirements. Under Fla. Stat. §1002.41, a home education program is not a school district program; the superintendent registers it on receipt of the notice and may not require additional information unless the student joins a district program or service.
Legal options
- Home education program (Fla. Stat. §1002.41)
Requirements at a glance
- Notice: Written, signed notice of intent to the district school superintendent of your county within 30 days of establishing a home education program, with each child’s full legal name, address and birthdate. File a notice of termination, with the annual evaluation, within 30 days of ending the program. (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(a), (c))
- Testing or assessment: Annual educational evaluation filed with the district superintendent, by one of: review of the portfolio and discussion with the student by a Florida-certified teacher; any nationally normed achievement test given by a certified teacher; a state assessment given by a certified teacher; evaluation by a licensed psychologist; or another tool agreed with the superintendent. If progress is not shown, the parent has a 1-year probationary period for remedial instruction. (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(f), (2))
- Records: Portfolio with a contemporaneous log of educational activities (naming reading materials by title) and samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials; keep for 2 years and make available for inspection on 15 days’ written notice from the superintendent. (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(d)–(e))
- Subjects: None specified
- Instruction time: Not specified; home education programs are excluded from meeting the requirements of a school day (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(3))
- Parent/teacher qualifications: None; the parent is not required to hold a Florida teaching certificate (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1))
- Compulsory attendance ages: 6 (by February 1) to 16 (Fla. Stat. §1003.21(1))
Home education students may participate in interscholastic extracurricular activities, dual enrollment, and the Bright Futures Scholarship Program under the statutes cited in §1002.41(4)–(6). Districts may not further regulate home education beyond §1002.41 except for participation in a district program (§1002.41(13)).
Sources
This page summarizes the statutes and official pages listed in the sources block, as read on the last-checked date. It is general information, not legal advice; confirm current requirements with your state or local education agency.
FLDOE’s home education page directs families to their district home education office.