Legal/Homeschool Laws
Laws that regulate home education vary from state to state. It is important to understand the legal requirements in your state and to be aware of legislative and other legal issues that affect homeschoolers in your community. We've compiled resources that will help you become informed. Although homeschooling is legal in all 50 states, and the vast majority of homeschoolers face no problems, you may find that you need legal assistance at some point in your homeschooling career. We've compiled a list of resources to help you find the support you need. And if you'd like to become more involved in working towards homeschooling freedoms, we discuss some of the issues facing homeschoolers that we hope you find compelling.
State Laws
Read the laws regulating home education in Florida and browse through the case law and legal opinions relating to those laws, along with government publications relating to homeschooling and summaries of the laws.
Forms
Which forms do you need to fill out? Where can you get them? Here is a list of useful forms for homeschooling in Florida.
Legal Support
If you need legal information or have run into a legal situation regarding your decision to homeschool, these resources will be helpful.
Lobbying Groups
A listing of local and national lobbying groups and information on how you can become involved in the political process to ensure the freedom to homeschool is protected.
Attorneys
When searching for an attorney, it is helpful to know whether he or she has experience working with homeschoolers and is interested in protecting the right to homeschool.
Legal Issues
Is homeschooling legal? Which laws pertain to homeschoolers and which don't? How do homeschoolers protect their rights to freely educate their children and to preserve their privacy?
Government Resources
A listing of local and state government resources, including your state's Department of Education, school districts, and Senate and House of Representative information.
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St. Lucie County School Board
The SLPS Board sets policies and rules that govern the administration of the school district. The board operates according to both Florida law and state Department of Education regulations, and it sets policy only when members meet in official session.
Log of Volunteer Hours
A log to record community service hours.
Homeschool Portfolios for the State of Florida
Basically there are two distinctions to be kept in mind: the law requires every county-registered homeschooler to keep a portfolio (as opposed to umbrella school homeschoolers or full time virtual school/public schoolers at home homeschoolers) regardless of the method of annual evaluation used and portfolios may be used as the annual evaluation of a home education program.
Dixie County School Board
Contact and other information for the Dixie County School Board.
Notice of Intent to Establish and Maintain a Home Education Program
Sample Notice of Intent in pdf format. You do not have to use a form provided by the School District nor provide any information beyond what is required by law.
Clay County - Registering with the District to Homeschool
One option for educating children at home in Florida, is to register as a homeschooler with your local school district (county). Registering is very simple, and should be done within thirty days of beginning your homeschool program.
Gadsden County Schools
Website for Gadsden County Schools.
Florida Department of Education
The website for the Florida Department of Education.
Week-at-a-glance Log
This is a simple sample form for recording weekly subjects taught.
School District of Clay County Homeschool Packet (pdf)
In this packet, you'll find information about Florida Statutes relating to homeschooling, plus sample intent to establish a home education program form.
Home Education FAQs
This is a short list of Frequently Asked Questions. Topics covered include annual evaluation, transferring from a home education program, high school home education programs, nonattendance and truancy issues, interscholastic extracurricular activities, and dual enrollment.
Homeschool Attorneys in Florida
These attorneys have indicated that they are willing to provide legal information, consult with or represent homeschoolers on homeschooling or other legal issues they may have in their states. Most of these attorneys homeschool or have homeschooled their own children.
2012 Florida Statutes -- 1002.41 Home education programs
1002.41 Home education programs.—
(1) A “home education program” is defined in s. 1002.01. The parent is not required to hold a valid regular Florida teaching certificate.
(a) The parent shall notify the district school superintendent of the county in which the parent resides of her or his intent to establish and maintain a home education program. The notice shall be in writing, signed by the parent, and shall include the names, addresses, and birthdates of ...
ParentalRights.org
ParentalRights.org envisions a world where the vital child-parent relationship is protected and preserved. Their campaign exists to secure a constitutional amendment that defends the rights of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children. They believe that no government, regardless of how well-intentioned it might be, can replace the love and nurture of a parent in the life of a child. Their our sole purpose is to amend the U.S. Constitution to protect parental rights. Withou...
1006.15 Student standards for participation in interscholastic extracurricular student activities;
(1) This section may be cited as the "Craig Dickinson Act."
(2) Interscholastic extracurricular student activities are an important complement to the academic curriculum. Participation in a comprehensive extracurricular and academic program contributes to student development of the social and intellectual skills necessary to become a well-rounded adult. As used in this section, the term "extracurricular" means any school-authorized or education-related activity occurring during or outside ...
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Featured Resources
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