Is Homeschooling in Florida the Right Choice?

iEditorial Note: These blog posts represent the opinion of DoNotPay’s Writers, but each person’s situation and circumstances vary greatly. As a result, you should make sure to do your own independent research. Because everyone is unique, our self-help tools are never guaranteed to help with any specific situation. DoNotPay is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law. DoNotPay provides a platform for legal information and self-help.

The Ins and Outs of Homeschooling in Florida

While homeschooling might be the best option for your child and family, you need to investigate the process thoroughly to know what lies ahead. Get familiar with state laws and available curricula, and make sure to check the cost fits your budget.

Where to start with homeschooling in Florida? This article provides information on all the requirements you need to meet.

Florida Homeschool Laws

If you’re wondering how to get started with homeschooling in Florida, you should check out the requirements presented in the following table:

Florida Homeschool RequirementsDetails
Required ageIn Florida, school is required for children between the age of six and 16
Homeschool options in FloridaYou can choose to homeschool your child:
  1. Under the homeschool statute
  2. With a private tutor
  3. Under homeschool umbrella programs
Letter of intentTo teach under the homeschool statute, you need to file a letter of intent to homeschool. If you need help with this step, to create the document hassle-free
Teacher qualificationsWhile you could check out who else can homeschool your child besides you, keep in mind that parents don’t need to have any special qualifications to homeschool their children in Florida
SubjectsYou’ve got the freedom to pick a curriculum and subjects you’d like to cover with your student at home
EvaluationIf you’re the one homeschooling your kid, you must evaluate them every year

How To Legally Homeschool in Florida

Once you’ve decided to homeschool your child, you need to take the following steps to meet Florida homeschool statute legal requirements:

  1. File a Florida letter of intent to homeschool—You must:
    1. Notify your school district’s superintendent of your intent to homeschool your kid
    2. Submit this notice within 30 days of taking your child from school (even if it’s in the middle of the year)
  2. Keep a portfolio—You need to maintain a portfolio for two years after the homeschool program has ended. The portfolio needs to include the records of the following:
    1. Educational activities log with the instruction and titles of all materials you’ve used
    2. Samples of writings, workbooks, worksheets, and any other materials your child has used or created
  3. Evaluate your student—You must evaluate your child every year. The following options are at your disposal:
    1. Have a certified teacher review the portfolio and evaluate the progress of your child
    2. Allow a certified teacher to administer a student achievement test
    3. Get a licensed (school) psychologist to evaluate your child

Keep in mind that while you don’t have to keep records of homeschool hours or days, you need to file a notice of termination to the superintendent of your school district:

  • When your child completes the homeschool program
  • If your family moves to another Florida county or U.S. state (before moving, you might want to check out the list of the easiest states for homeschooling)

How Much Does It Cost To Homeschool in Florida?

While the average cost of homeschooling in Florida goes from $700 to $1,800 per child per year, the total price depends on different criteria, including:

  • The curriculum you choose
  • School supplies
  • Extracurricular activities (e.g., sports)
  • Field trips

If you’d like to get information on field trips, activities, available resources, and events, you should consider going to the Florida Homeschool Convention and joining a homeschool association or co-op.

Free Virtual Classes for Florida Homeschool Programs

You and your child can take free virtual courses some schools provide to students in Florida and across the States. Here are some institutions you should consider:

While the last two institutions offer less formal online programs, FLVS classes and materials for grades 6–12 fully comply with Florida standards.

You cannot register your kid for virtual courses at FLVS or your district’s virtual school until you’ve filed your letter of intent.

Generate a Letter of Intent To Homeschool With DoNotPay

You don’t have to rack your brain going through different statutes to prepare the letter of intent according to state laws. Our AI-powered app knows the requirements and can easily generate the document in no time.

and take these steps:

  1. Access our Notice of Intent to Homeschool product
  2. Provide information on your school district, your child, and yourself
  3. Select if you’d like DoNotPay to:
    1. Have your letter notarized
    2. Send the notice of intent to your school district’s superintendent in your stead
    3. Deliver the letter in PDF format so that you can file it yourself

DoNotPay keeps you updated on different aspects of homeschooling. Our articles deal with hot topics, such as:

Stuck in a Bureaucratic Mess? DoNotPay Is Here To Help!

Since handling dull administrative tasks is a burden and no one likes doing them, DoNotPay developed a variety of neat features to ease many processes! With our nifty app, you can:

Deal With Companies Like a Pro

We all love shopping, but it’s no secret that companies sometimes turn a fun experience into a nightmare, especially when they refuse to cooperate. DoNotPay is here to help you reach customer support without the hour-long wait and sue an uncooperative merchant in small claims court if necessary!

Need a refund? We can show you how to get your money back from any company in a snap!

Should you need to file an insurance or warranty claim and request gift card cash back or an item return, you can count on our app to assist you! DoNotPay can also show you how to discover any unclaimed funds under your name so that you can continue shopping like a pro.

Want your issue solved now?