Florida Homeschool Laws and Requirements

homeschool laws by state Aug 14, 2026

Homeschooling is legal in Florida. Most families educate at home through a home education program, which begins with a written notice of intent filed with the district school superintendent within 30 days of establishing the program. The ongoing responsibilities are a portfolio of the student's work and an annual educational evaluation filed with the superintendent. Florida names no required subjects and sets no required number of instructional days or hours.

Last Reviewed: August 14, 2026. Reviewed by the Modern Homeschools Editorial Team. Next scheduled review: August 14, 2027.

Florida Homeschool Requirements at a Glance

Topic	What applies in Florida
Compulsory attendance ages	Age 6 through age 15. A student who turns 16 during the school year may end compulsory attendance by filing a formal declaration of intent to terminate school enrollment
Notification or registration	Written notice to the district school superintendent within 30 days of establishing the program
Legal pathway or homeschool definition	A home education program under section 1002.41. Private school enrollment and a private tutoring program under section 1002.43 are separate pathways
Parent or instructor qualifications	None. The statute states the parent is not required to hold a valid regular Florida teaching certificate
Required subjects	None identified in the controlling authority. The statute describes sequentially progressive instruction directed by the parent
Instructional time	None identified in the controlling authority. A home education program is excluded from meeting the requirements of a school day
Testing or evaluation	An annual educational evaluation filed with the superintendent. The parent selects from five methods named in the statute
Required records	A portfolio with a contemporaneous log of educational activities and samples of student work, preserved two years
Responsible government agency	The district school superintendent in the county where the parent resides. At the state level, the Office of Private Schools and Home Education Programs within the Florida Department of Education

Florida recognizes three distinct ways to educate a child outside a public school, and each one carries different obligations.

A home education program under section 1002.41 is directed by the parent. The parent files the notice of intent, keeps the portfolio, and files the annual evaluation. No teaching certificate is required.

Enrollment in a private school makes the child a private school student rather than a home education student. The school carries its own obligations to the state, and the family does not register a home education program with the district. The phrase "umbrella school" is an informal term that families sometimes use for this kind of arrangement. It does not appear anywhere in the Florida statutes.

A private tutoring program under section 1002.43 is different again. The tutor must hold a valid Florida certificate to teach the subjects or grades taught, must keep attendance records, and students must be in actual attendance for the minimum length of time the law prescribes. This pathway involves no notice of intent, no portfolio, and no annual evaluation.

How to Start Homeschooling in Florida

File the notice of intent. Send a written notice, signed by the parent, to the district school superintendent of the county where you live. It must include the full legal names, addresses, and birthdates of every child who will be enrolled, and it must be filed within 30 days of establishing the program.
Expect prompt registration. The superintendent must accept the notice and immediately register the program, and the district may not require additional information or verification unless your student takes part in a district program or service.
Begin the portfolio on day one. The log has to be made at the same time as the instruction, so starting early is far easier than reconstructing it later.
Choose your curriculum. Florida prescribes no course of study, so the choice of materials and approach rests with your family.
Plan the annual evaluation. Decide early which method you will use, since some require scheduling with a certified teacher or a licensed evaluator.

Testing, Attendance, and Record Keeping

Florida asks for two things each year: a portfolio and an evaluation.

The portfolio holds a log of educational activities made at the same time as the instruction, designating by title any reading materials used, plus samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials the student used or developed. The parent determines its contents, preserves it for two years, and makes it available for inspection by the superintendent, or the superintendent's agent, upon 15 days of written notice. Nothing in the statute requires the superintendent to inspect a portfolio.

The annual educational evaluation documents progress at a level commensurate with the student's ability. The parent selects the method from five options: review of the portfolio and discussion with the student by a Florida certified teacher; a nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher; a state student assessment test used by the district and administered by a certified teacher; evaluation by an individual holding a valid license under section 490.003(7) or (8); or any other valid measurement tool mutually agreed upon by the superintendent and the parent. The parent files a copy annually with the district school superintendent's office. The statute does not establish one universal calendar due date, so confirm the expected timing with your district.

If an evaluation does not show progress commensurate with the student's ability, the superintendent notifies the parent in writing, and the parent then has one full year to provide remedial instruction before the student is reevaluated.

Florida does not require a home education program to keep an attendance register. When a family ends the program, a written notice of termination goes to the superintendent within 30 days, along with the annual evaluation.

Official Florida Homeschool Resources

Beginning Your Homeschool Journey?

Your First 30 Days of Homeschooling provides a practical path for establishing your priorities, planning your next steps, and creating a rhythm that works for your family.

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Modern Homeschools provides educational information to help families understand and navigate homeschooling requirements. Because requirements may change, families should confirm current details with the official state sources linked within this guide.