Florida operates under one of the most established homeschool laws in the country, in place since 1985 (Florida Statute §1002.41). The state recognizes home education as 'a parent-directed educational option that satisfies the requirement for regular school attendance.' The Home Education Program is the most popular pathway, used by over 152,000 students in recent counts.
Legal framework at a glance
Legal options: Three pathways — Home Education Program, Private Umbrella School (Form FB), or Private Tutor.
Notification: Home Education Program: file a Notice of Intent with the district school superintendent within 30 days of beginning, under Florida Statute §1002.41.
Instructional time: No specific number of instructional days or hours required for the Home Education Program. Private Tutor option requires 180 days per year..
Required subjects: No specific required subjects under the Home Education Program. The law requires only 'sequentially progressive instruction.'.
Testing and evaluation: Annual evaluation required — five options including standardized test, certified teacher evaluation, psychological evaluation, portfolio review, or another agreed-upon method.
What Florida families need to know
Notice of Intent: filed with the district school superintendent within 30 days of beginning. Includes the child's full legal name, date of birth, address, and names of parents. The district may not require additional information beyond what the statute specifies. Parents are not required to hold a teaching certificate or any educational credential.
Portfolio of records: must be maintained throughout the school year, including a log of educational activities and reading materials, plus sample work. The portfolio must be preserved for two years and made available to the superintendent within 15 days of a written inspection request.
Annual evaluation options (any one): (1) standardized test administered by a certified teacher with results showing 'educational progress,' (2) evaluation by a Florida-certified teacher, (3) psychological evaluation by a state-licensed psychologist, (4) portfolio review by a Florida-certified teacher, or (5) another evaluation tool mutually agreed upon by parent and superintendent. Results filed with the superintendent annually.
Personalized Education Program (PEP) — NEW since 2023: Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship now includes the Personalized Education Program for home education students, providing approximately $8,000 per student per year (amount varies) for qualified educational expenses. Application opens February 1 each year through Step Up For Students or AAA Scholarship Foundation. Priority given to families below 400% of the federal poverty level.
Tim Tebow Law (Craig Dickinson Act, FL Stat. 1006.15): Florida home education students may participate in public school sports, marching band, drama, and other extracurricular activities at their assigned public school. Requirements include 2.0 GPA equivalent and meeting same conduct/residency rules as enrolled students.
Bright Futures Scholarship: Home education graduates qualify with appropriate SAT/ACT scores, documented community service, and the Florida Financial Aid Application.
Always verify current requirements with the Florida Department of Education before filing any official paperwork. State rules can change.
Diploma recognition
Florida home education program graduates receive parent-issued diplomas that are explicitly recognized by Florida universities. UF, FSU, UCF, and other state institutions have established processes for homeschool applicants. Note: students enrolled in the Home Education Program through the local district do not receive a state-issued high school diploma — the parent issues it.
Getting started in Florida
If you are new to homeschooling in Florida, here is the practical sequence to follow:
- Read the statute. Visit the Florida Department of Education website and read the current homeschool regulations in full. The summary on this page is a starting point, but the official statute is the final authority.
- Choose your legal pathway. Florida offers specific options described above. Choose the one that fits your family before you file anything.
- Prepare your notification. Gather the information required for your notice or registration — child's name, date of birth, address, subjects, curriculum plans, and anything else your chosen pathway requires.
- File before withdrawing. If your child is currently in public school, file your homeschool notification before you send the withdrawal letter to the school. See our withdrawal guide for the full process.
- Set up your record-keeping system. Even in low-regulation states, keep attendance records, a list of curriculum used, and samples of your child's work. See our record-keeping guide for what to save and how.
- Connect with a local homeschool organization. Florida has active statewide homeschool organizations (listed below) and usually several local co-ops in each region. These are your best source of current, practical information.
Florida homeschool organizations
The following organizations provide advocacy, support, and current information for Florida homeschool families:
- Florida Parent-Educators Association (FPEA) — Largest statewide homeschool organization with annual convention — fpea.com
- Step Up For Students — Administers the PEP scholarship and other choice programs — stepupforstudents.org
- Home Education Foundation (HEF) — Christian homeschool support and advocacy
Local homeschool co-ops often meet in libraries, churches, and community centers throughout the state. A search for "Florida homeschool co-op [your city]" typically surfaces groups meeting near you. The statewide organizations listed above maintain co-op directories.
Beyond the legal requirements
Meeting Florida's legal requirements is only the foundation. The day-to-day work of homeschooling — choosing a curriculum, teaching multiple children at different levels, building a transcript — is the larger task. Once your legal compliance is in order, explore the rest of this site:
Legal Compliance Dashboard
Attendance tracker, instructional day goal, and state selector to confirm your requirements any time.
Curriculum Finder Quiz
Five questions to match your family to the homeschool method most likely to fit — Classical, Charlotte Mason, unit studies, and more.
Building Your First Curriculum
How to assemble a full year of lessons for $200-400 without buying a boxed curriculum.
Transcript Builder
Weighted grades, GPA, and Carnegie Unit credit hour converter for building college-ready homeschool transcripts.