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Eau Gallie High School Varsity Softball Florida Today, May 1, 2013

Home Education Choices in Florida


Florida Statute, Title XLVIII, Chapter 1002, defines student and parental rights and educational choices.  Part III deals specifically with Educational Choices, and part IV with Home Education, Private Schools, and other options. 

Essentially, students learning at home are able to meet Florida's compulsory attendance law in one of three ways.

1) Establish a home education program (1002.41) If you choose this option, you may still join SFA's homeschool support group and take a limited number of classes.  Start here if you wish to home school using this option.

2) Enroll in a private school offering an off-campus option, commonly referred to as "umbrella schools," "non-traditional private schools," and "600" schools. (1002.01 Definitions) Learn more about the private school option.

3) Establish a Private Tutoring Program. (1002.43)

While any of the above choices will provide compliance with Florida’s compulsory attendance laws, each has different implications.  Most differences involve recordkeeping and methods, but the main distinction is whether you want to be accountable to the state or to a private entity.

Compare Options

Option One - Home Education Program

Accountable to government employees

No cost to parent for registration


No curriculum provided

Parent is responsible for transcripts

State does not award a diploma

Register with the superintendent of public schools

Maintain a Portfolio

Possible "audit" of records by public school district

File annual evaluation or standardized test results with school district

Students in a home education program may choose to take standardized tests at local public school.

No attendance records required


Eligible to participate in inter-scholastic extracurricular student activities at public school, a private school, or a homeschool cooperative such as Brevard Heat.


May take classes through Florida Virtual School as home education student

Eligible for Bright Futures Scholarships
Option Two - Private School Enrollment

Accountable to private corporation

Enrollment fees and tuition vary based on services provided

Curriculum may or may not be provided

Private school transcripts may be provided

Private school diploma may be provided

Do NOT register with the superintendent of public schools

Private school portfolio requirements vary.

Accountable to private school not public school district

Some private schools require evaluations to be sent to the private school

Some private schools offer evaluations and / or standardized testing


Attendance records must be kept and submitted to private school.

Students of certain private schools* are eligible to participate in inter-scholastic extracurricular activities at the public   school, but not at another private school     or with Brevard Heat.

May take classes through Florida Virtual School as private school student

Eligible for Bright Futures Scholarships - most private schools offer assistance
*As of 2011, private school students are now eligible to participate in public school athletics and extracurricular activities. FL S. 1006.15(8)(a) is provided below.  To view the full section (1006.15) please click here.  

1006.15(8)(a): The Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA), in cooperation with each district school board, shall facilitate a program in which a middle school or high school student who attends a private school shall be eligible to participate in an interscholastic or intrascholastic sport at a public high school, a public middle school, or a 
6-12 public school that is zoned for the physical address at which the student resides if:
1. The private school in which the  student is enrolled is not a member of the FHSAA and does not offer an  interscholastic or intrascholastic athletic program.
2. The private school student meets  the guidelines for the conduct of the program established by the FHSAA’s board  of directors and the district school board. At a minimum, such guidelines shall  provide:
a. A deadline for each sport by  which the private school student’s parents must register with the public school  in writing their intent for their child to participate at that school in the sport.
b. Requirements for a private  school student to participate, including, but not limited to, meeting the same  standards of eligibility, acceptance, behavior, educational progress, and  performance which apply to other students participating in interscholastic or  intrascholastic sports at a public school or FHSAA member private  school.
(b) The parents of a private school  student participating in a public school sport under this subsection are  responsible for transporting their child to and from the public school at which  the student participates. The private school the student attends, the public  school at which the student participates in a sport, the district school board,  and the FHSAA are exempt from civil liability arising from any injury that  occurs to the student during
such transportation.
(c) For each academic year, a  private school student may only participate at the public school in which the  student is first registered under sub-subparagraph (a)2.a. or makes himself or  herself a candidate for an athletic team by engaging in a practice.
(d) The athletic director of each  participating FHSAA member public school shall maintain the student records  necessary for eligibility, compliance, and participation in the  program.
(e) Any non-FHSAA member private  school that has a student who wishes to participate in this program must make  all student records, including, but not limited to, academic, financial,  disciplinary, and attendance records, available upon request of the  FHSAA.
(f) A student must apply to  participate in this program through the FHSAA program application  process.
(g) Only students who are enrolled  in non-FHSAA member private schools consisting of 125 students or fewer are  eligible to participate in the program in any given academic year.