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.
What's Popular
Florida Parent-Educators Association (FPEA)
The Florida Parent Educators Association (FPEA) exists solely to serve homeschooling families in Florida. The FPEA executes that mission through support for the legal right to homeschool, local school board education and interaction, support group networking, a state convention, local conferences and events, informative communications, and most importantly, by giving individual encouragement, all in accordance with Judeo-Christian principles.
Florida Department of Education
The website for the Florida Department of Education.
1007.27 Articulated acceleration mechanisms.
(4) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide articulated acceleration mechanisms for students who are in home education programs, as defined in s. 1002.01, consistent with the educational opportunities available to public and private secondary school students. Home education students may participate in dual enrollment, career dual enrollment, early admission, and credit by examination. Credit earned by home education students through dual enrollment shall apply toward the completion of a ...
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 ...
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.
Sample Notice of Termination of a Home Education Program
A sample of a letter sent to the county school board stating one's termination of a home-education program in that county.
Putnam County School District
Information about the Putnam County School District.
Florida Home School Laws from HSLDA
The Home School Legal Defense Association provides a brief summary of the homeschooling laws in Florida. Includes a link to a legal analysis of laws relating to homeschooling in Florida.
Getting Your Voice Heard
As a Floridian, one of your greatest responsibilities is to help elect the legislators who represent you and the state's more than 14 million other residents. But your role in the democratic process of government does not end at the polls. By sharing your opinions and ideas with your representatives and senators in Tallahassee, you help them decide what to do about the issues and pending legislation that affect us all. This article shares some tips for effectively communicating your ideas to you...
Political Action Updates
Home Education Foundation monitors legislative action that affects homeschoolers in Florida. Check on the latest information and pending issues.
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...
Gadsden County Schools
Website for Gadsden County Schools.
1007.271 Dual enrollment programs.
(1) The dual enrollment program is the enrollment of an eligible secondary student or home education student in a postsecondary course creditable toward a career certificate or an associate or baccalaureate degree ...
(10)(a) The dual enrollment program for home education students consists of the enrollment of an eligible home education secondary student in a postsecondary course creditable toward an associate degree, a career certificate, or a baccalaureate degree. To participate in the d...
Summary of Home Education Requirements
A short summary of the laws regulating home education in the state of Florida, provided by the Florida Department of Education.
1003.23 Attendance records and reports.
(2) All officials, teachers, and other employees in public, parochial, religious, denominational, and private K-12 schools, including private tutors, shall keep all records and shall prepare and submit promptly all reports that may be required by law and by rules of the State Board of Education and district school boards. Such records shall include a register of enrollment and attendance and all persons described above shall make these reports therefrom as may be required by the State Board of ...
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Featured Resources
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So You're Thinking About Homeschooling: Fifteen Families Show How You Can Do It
Confused and intimidated by the complexities of homeschooling, many sincere parents never get past the "thinking about it" stage. Now Lisa Whelchel - herself a homeschooling mother of three - introduces fifteen real families and shows how they overc...
English from the Roots Up
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Montessori: A Modern Approach
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Florida History from the Highways
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TruthQuest History
The TruthQuest History series consists of ten volumes that serve as guides for parent wishing to use real books in their approach to history education. They are full of book recommendations, along with information on the topics of study. There are al...