How to Homeschool in Florida (2026 Guide)

The short version

Florida sits in the middle of the regulatory spectrum. You are required to file a notice of intent with your county school superintendent within 30 days of starting your home education program. Each year, you’ll need to have your child evaluated — there are several acceptable ways to do that. You must keep a portfolio of records for at least two years. Subject requirements are minimal: the statute lists a few areas but does not mandate a specific curriculum or standardized scope and sequence.

Legal basis

Florida’s home education law is found in Florida Statute 1002.41. This single statute defines what a home education program is, who is responsible for operating one, and what obligations parents must meet. When you are researching your requirements, this is the primary source to read — not county guidance documents, not blog posts, and not what another parent told you at a co-op meeting.

The Florida Department of Education’s home education page is the official state resource and is a good companion to reading the statute itself.

Notice of intent

Before you begin — or within 30 days of beginning — your home education program, you must file a notice of intent with the superintendent of the school district where you live.

What to include in the notice:

• The names, addresses, and birth dates of the children being home educated
• A signed statement from the parent or guardian indicating their intent to establish and operate a home education program

The notice is typically one to two pages. Florida’s county school districts vary in how they process these — some have online forms, some require a mailed or in-person submission. Contact your specific county’s school district office to find out their current process. A web search for “[your county] school district home education notice of intent” will usually get you to the right page quickly.

You must also notify the superintendent if you terminate your home education program.

Required subjects

Florida Statute 1002.41 requires that the home education program provide instruction in the following areas:

• Reading, language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies
• The subjects must be taught in English

The statute does not specify how many hours per day or year must be spent on these subjects, what textbooks or curriculum you must use, or what grade-level outcomes you need to hit. You have broad discretion over how to teach these subjects.

Other subjects — art, music, physical education, foreign languages, electives — are at your discretion. You are not required to mirror a public school schedule or curriculum map.

Annual evaluation

Florida requires an annual evaluation of each home-educated student. The purpose is to demonstrate that the student is making progress appropriate to their age and ability level. You must maintain a portfolio (see the Record Keeping section below) as part of this evaluation process.

Acceptable evaluation methods under Florida law:

1. A Florida-certified teacher reviews the portfolio and conducts an oral evaluation of the student, then provides a written evaluation.
2. A standardized test administered by a Florida-certified teacher or at a testing center. The test must be one of the nationally normed tests approved by the Florida DOE.
3. A state student assessment test used by the public schools (though this is rarely used by homeschool families).
4. A psychologist licensed under Florida law evaluates the student.
5. Any other method agreed upon by the parent and the superintendent of the school district.

The most commonly used option is a portfolio review by a certified teacher, which many parents find more holistic and less stressful for children than standardized tests. Florida has a robust community of certified teachers who specialize in homeschool portfolio evaluations — organizations like the Florida Parent-Educators Association (FPEA) can help you find one.

The evaluation must be completed once per year, and the written documentation must be placed in the student’s portfolio.

Record keeping

Florida requires you to maintain a portfolio for each home-educated student. The portfolio must be retained for two years after the school year ends.

What goes in the portfolio:

• A log of educational activities, reading materials, and resources used throughout the year
• Work samples from each required subject area

There is no prescribed format for the log. Many families use a simple spreadsheet or a journal. The key is that it demonstrates ongoing educational activity across the required subjects.

The portfolio does not need to be submitted to anyone unless there is a concern raised under the statute. You maintain it; a certified teacher reviews it at evaluation time.

If you are audited or if the superintendent has reason to believe your program is not meeting the statute’s requirements, they may request to review the portfolio. Keeping it organized and current protects you.

Withdrawing from public school

If your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, you need to formally withdraw them before beginning home education.

For public school students: Submit a written notice to the school principal stating that you are withdrawing the child to begin a home education program. There is no required form — a signed letter with the child’s name, grade, and your intention to home-educate is sufficient. The school is required to release the child’s records to you upon request.

Keep a copy of the withdrawal letter for your records. Some districts will provide written confirmation of the withdrawal; if yours does, keep that as well.

Support and community

Florida has one of the largest and most active homeschool communities in the country, partly because the state’s moderate regulatory environment attracts families who want structure but not over-regulation.

Florida Parent-Educators Association (FPEA) is the largest homeschool organization in the state. They host the largest homeschool convention in the country (held annually in Orlando), maintain a directory of certified teachers who conduct portfolio evaluations, and offer support for new homeschoolers. Their website is fpea.com.

Most Florida counties also have local homeschool co-ops, support groups, and hybrid programs. A search for “[your county] homeschool co-op” will surface local options. Facebook groups organized by county are often the most active places to find other homeschooling families nearby.

Curriculum recommendations for Florida homeschoolers

Curriculum recommendations for Florida homeschoolers are coming soon. We’re reviewing programs that work well under Florida’s portfolio-based evaluation system — particularly options that generate the kind of work samples that make annual evaluations straightforward.