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Homeschool laws in Florida

Checked Oct 11, 2026 against 7 sources · General information, not legal advice.

Your Florida to-do

For “Home education program”. 2 other legal ways below.

  1. Send the notice of intent to the district superintendent First year
    Within 30 days of starting the home education program.
  2. File the annual evaluation with the district Every year
    Every year. The statute says "annually"; FLDOE reads this as one year from the date of the notice of intent.
  3. Send the termination notice and the last annual evaluation Every year
    Within 30 days after the home education program ends.
  4. Make the portfolio available if the district asks Every year
    Upon 15 days' written notice from the district superintendent (the district is not required to inspect it).

Homepen turns this into reminders and ready-to-send letters, and counts your days and hours.

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What Florida asks

Florida parents can run a home education program by sending a written notice of intent to the county school superintendent within 30 days of starting, keeping a portfolio (an activity log with reading titles plus work samples) for 2 years, and filing one of five kinds of annual evaluation; the law sets no days, hours or subjects. Families can instead enroll in a Florida private school, which sets its own rules, or use a private tutor who holds a Florida teaching certificate.

School age: Ages 6–15. Children who are 6 by February 1 of the school year must attend until they turn 16. A home education student who wants to stop at 16 must notify the school district.

Florida has 3 legal ways to homeschool. Pick the one that fits your family; Homepen asks you when you set up.

Home education program

Fla. Stat. §§ 1002.01(1), 1002.41 · Level 4: More involved

All the details, deadlines
Notice
Once: Within 30 days of starting the home education program. It is filed once, not every year; a termination notice is filed when the program ends.
Time
No set number of days or hours
No set days or hours: the law asks for sequentially progressive instruction directed by the parent.
Subjects
No subjects listed in the law
Assessment
An assessment you choose from the allowed options: all
Once a year: the parent files a copy of the annual evaluation with the district superintendent's office (FLDOE reads "annually" as one year from the date of the notice of intent). The last evaluation goes with the termination notice.
Portfolio
Yes, keep a portfolio
Reports
No reports to send
Records to keep
  • portfolio: a log of educational activities, written at the time of instruction, naming any reading materials by title
  • portfolio: samples of the student's writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials
Keep them 2 years.
Teacher
None: the parent does not need a Florida teaching certificate.

Deadlines

  • Send the notice of intent to the district superintendent: Within 30 days of starting the home education program.
  • File the annual evaluation with the district: Every year. The statute says "annually"; FLDOE reads this as one year from the date of the notice of intent.
  • Send the termination notice and the last annual evaluation: Within 30 days after the home education program ends.
  • Make the portfolio available if the district asks: Upon 15 days' written notice from the district superintendent (the district is not required to inspect it).

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Notice-of-intent letter, filled in, Portfolio and evaluator packet, Daily log, Reading list, Year-end summary.

Another option: Enroll in a Florida private school (including umbrella schools)

Fla. Stat. §§ 1002.01(2), 1002.20(2)(b), 1002.42 · Level 1: Very light

All the details
Notice
No notice to file
Time
Set by your school or school district
Subjects
Set by your school or school district
Assessment
Set by your school or school district
Portfolio
Set by your school or school district
Reports
Set by your school or school district
Records to keep
Set by your school or school district
Teacher
Set by your school or school district

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Report card, High-school transcript.

Another option: Private tutoring program (certified tutor)

Fla. Stat. § 1002.43 · Level 3: Moderate

All the details
Notice
Not verified yet: check with your state
Time
180 days a year or 720 hours (grades K–3) or 900 hours (grades 4–12)
180 actual teaching days, or the hourly equivalent set by State Board of Education rule: at least 720 net instructional hours for kindergarten to grade 3 and 900 for grades 4 to 12 (s. 1002.43(1)(c) points to s. 1011.60(2)).
Subjects
Not verified yet: check with your state
Assessment
Not verified yet: check with your state
Portfolio
Not verified yet: check with your state
Reports
Not verified yet: check with your state
Records to keep
  • all records and reports the state and district school board require (kept and made by the tutor)
  • regular attendance reports under s. 1003.23(2) (made by the tutor)
Teacher
The tutor must hold a valid Florida certificate to teach the subjects or grades taught.

How Homepen helps

Homepen counts your days and hours as you tick lessons toward this goal, and makes: Attendance & hours report, Daily log.

Sources

General information, not legal advice. Laws change: we check every source at least every 6 months and before each school year. If something looks wrong, tell us. The state agency for homeschooling questions is the Florida Department of Education.

Keep your Florida records without the paperwork

Plan the week, tick lessons, and Homepen keeps the days, hours and portfolio Florida asks for.

Get early accessComing soon to iPhone, iPad and Android