
Program Guidelines
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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).
Required Steps for Home Education
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STEP 1 -- Submit Letter of Intent to Home Educate
- If you use the ONLINE LETTER OF INTENT TO HOME EDUCATE, you will receive an automatic confirmation via email.
- Our office will notify any Hillsborough County Public Schools 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 not remain on your student's attendance record.
- If your student attends a charter or private school, you can use the confirmation email as evidence of your registration to withdraw from your school.
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
- 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.
- 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
- An annual evaluation is required when your student has been registered for one (1) year.
- 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 year of registration.
- Results of a state assessment used by the school district and administered by a certified teacher (such as FSA).
- An academic evaluation by a psychologist holding a valid, active license.