Home education, as defined by Florida law, is “sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent in order to satisfy the attendance requirements of Sections 1002.41, 1003.01, and 1003.21.” The law gives parents much freedom in directing and choosing the educational programs that best meet the needs of their child. Parents are responsible for all aspects of the student’s home education programs.

This site contains information about starting a Home Education program. The materials provided will give you the necessary information to initiate and maintain a Home Education Program for your child(ren).

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STEP 1 -- Submit Letter of Intent to Home Educate

Your letter of intent should state your intent to establish and maintain a home education program. The notice must be in writing, signed by the parent, and include the full legal names, addresses, and birthdates of all children who shall be enrolled as students in the home education program.

Hillsborough County Home Education Office provides the following two options, or you can generate your own letter:

• Complete the ONLINE LETTER OF INTENT TO HOME EDUCATE through the school choice office.
  • If you use the ONLINE LETTER OF INTENT TO HOME EDUCATE, you will receive an automatic confirmation via email.

OR

• Print, complete, sign and return the LETTER OF INTENT FORM to home.education@hcps.net or 2704 N. Highland Ave., Tampa, FL 33602.

If your student is registered at a Hillsborough County Public School, our office will notify that school of the home education registration, which will prompt the withdrawal from the school. This could take up to one week. Any absences accrued at the school after the date of the home education registration will be removed from your student's attendance record.

If your student attends a charter school, private school, or school from another district or state, you will be responsible for providing documentation of your student’s home education registration, if required.

STEP 2 -- Select a curriculum of your choice and begin your student's education

Examples of curriculum options:

• Parent directed curriculum (i.e. textbooks or workbooks from a public library or local bookstore, or parent created curriculum)
• Virtual courses with Florida certified teachers
  
  • GRADES K - 5 DIRECTIONS FOR VIRTUAL ACCOUNT SET UP
  • GRADES 6 - 12 DIRECTIONS FOR VIRTUAL ACCOUNT SET UP
    • For any grade level, be sure you have created a parent/guardian account. The parent must verify the courses as the parent and as the guidance counselor through the parent/guardian account.
• Enroll part time in a private school or correspondence courses
• Participate in home education co-op groups in your community

STEP 3 -- Submit an annual evaluation every year

• An annual evaluation is required at the yearly anniversary of the establishment of your student’s home education program and can be emailed to home.education@hcps.net.
• An annual evaluation can be:
  • A portfolio review by a Florida certified teacher
  • Grades issued through an accredited institution, such as virtual school, where a certified teacher has issued a grade. This must include a full year of English/Language Arts and a full year of Math.
  • Results of a nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher completed within the student's current homeschool year
  • Results of a state assessment used by the school district and administered by a certified teacher completed within the student’s current homeschool year
  • An academic evaluation by a psychologist holding a valid, active license.
  • Other academic evaluation method agreed upon between the district and the parent

STEP 4 -- Close your home education program

If your student will be enrolling in a public, private, or charter school, or graduating:

• Print, complete and return a LETTER OF TERMINATION

If you are moving to another Florida county and would like to transfer your home education program: · You can submit this SAMPLE TRANSFER REQUEST to both counties.

• All forms for Hillsborough County Home Education can be submitted in the following ways:
  By email:
  home.education@hcps.net (recommended method for easier tracking)

By U.S. mail to:
Office of Home Education
2704 N. Highland Ave.
Tampa, FL 33602