Florida Homeschool Requirements & Options
Compulsory Attendance Laws
Florida has what are called compulsory attendance laws, which mandate the ages at which children may start or stop school, the number of days and hours children have to be in attendance at a school, and other related things. If you’re interested in reading the law directly, you can review the Florida Constitution and the Statutes relating to According to the Florida statutes, compulsory attendance laws apply to all children between the ages of 6 and 16. What this means is that your child must be enrolled in one of the following:
Your Choices Under Florida’s Laws
Florida statutes provide three options for families who wish to educate their children at home. Each will meet the state’s compulsory attendance laws. Families may:
1. Enroll in a non campus-based private school, sometimes known as an Umbrella or Cover school, and follow the procedures set by the school;
2. Establish a home education program as defined in the statutes by sending a Notice of Intent to the local school superintendent, maintaining a log of activities and portfolio of work, and filing an annual evaluation using one of five evaluation choices.
3. Establish a Private Tutoring Program. The laws around this option are very vague and, if you choose to go this route, be sure to select a tutor who has experience in setting up a legally viable program for you.
While any of the above choices will provide compliance with Florida’s compulsory attendance laws, each has different implications for you.. While some of these differences go to issues of recordkeeping and methods, the heart of the distinction is whether you want to be accountable to the state or to a private entity.
Should you register with the superintendent or enroll in an Umbrella school?
Most families choose either an Umbrella school or to register with the school district. Regardless which method you choose, you can educate your children at home, using the materials and methods you select. The key difference between enrolling in a private school and registering as a home educator is this: