How to Homeschool in Florida (2025 Guide)
Everything you need to start homeschooling in Florida—legal steps, graduation rules, annual evaluations, and how to tap the new Personalized Education Program (ESA) for financial help.
Disclaimer: Laws and scholarship rules change. Always confirm current requirements on the Florida Department of Education sites:
• Home Education — https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/other-school-choice-options/home-edu/
• Personalized Education Program (PEP) ESA — https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/personalized-education-program/
• Scholarship-funding organization Step Up For Students — https://www.stepupforstudents.org
This article is informational only and not legal advice.
Florida Homeschooling Laws & Options
Quick snapshot
| Requirement | Florida Rule |
|---|---|
| Notice of intent | File a signed Letter of Intent to Establish a Home Education Program with your county school superintendent within 30 days of beginning (or moving to Florida). |
| Parent qualifications | None—no teacher certification or minimum education required. |
| Required subjects | Florida statute does not list specific subjects. Most families cover language arts, math, science, social studies, and life skills in a “sequentially progressive” manner. |
| Portfolio/record-keeping | Keep a portfolio: lesson samples, work samples, reading log. Make it available for district review with 15-day written notice (reviews are rare). Retain records two years. |
| Annual evaluation | Required every 12 months. Choose one: (1) nationally normed test by certified teacher; (2) portfolio review and written evaluation by certified teacher; (3) statewide assessment; (4) licensed psychologist evaluation; or (5) another method agreed on with the superintendent. |
| Withdraw/terminate | File a Letter of Termination when you stop homeschooling or move out of county. |
Your structural options
| Option | What it means | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Home Education Program | File notice, keep portfolio, complete annual evaluation. Full parental control. | Families wanting maximum freedom with minimal state interaction. |
| Umbrella Private School | Enroll in a registered private “umbrella” school; the school reports attendance, not the parent, and home instruction happens under its umbrella. No notice or evaluation to the district, but you meet the private-school’s policies. | Families who dislike district paperwork or want third-party transcripts. |
| Florida Virtual School Flex (public courses) | Stay registered as homeschool but take à-la-carte FLVS courses for free. Parents still handle portfolio and evaluation. | Families wanting state-aligned classes without full public enrollment. |
| Personalized Education Program (PEP) ESA | Accept ESA funds (~$8–9 k per student). Student is not legally a home-education student; you terminate the notice and educate under ESA rules with audits and annual assessments. | Families who want funding for curriculum, tutors, therapies, and can manage receipts/audits. |
Florida High-School Graduation & Diploma Requirements
Florida does not issue homeschool diplomas. Parents decide when the teen has met graduation requirements and may:
- Create a parent-defined plan – tailor credits to entrepreneurship, trades, or gap-year goals.
- Mirror the public-school 24-credit plan – smoother college admissions:
- 4 credits English
- 4 credits Math (Alg I, Geo, Alg II + advanced)
- 3 credits Science (with two labs)
- 3 credits Social Studies (World Hist., U.S. Hist., Gov/Econ)
- 1 credit Fine/Performing Arts, Speech, or Debate
- 1 credit Physical Education w/ Health
- 8 elective credits (many teens fill these with FLVS or dual-enrollment courses)
Transcripts & diploma: Parents create a transcript, sign a diploma (optionally notarize), and can attach Florida’s Home Education Completion Affidavit if requested by colleges or employers.
Standardized Test Requirements for Florida Homeschoolers
Florida does not mandate standardized testing unless you choose a test as your annual evaluation method. If you prefer portfolio review or psychologist evaluation, no testing is required.
Reasons families still test
- Track progress (IOWA, Stanford, TerraNova, CAT 5)
- Qualify for Bright Futures scholarship (ACT/SAT scores)
- Meet dual-enrollment placement or NCAA eligibility
Districts may require placement exams if your child re-enters public school.
Using an ESA for Homeschool Financial Aid in Florida
Personalized Education Program (PEP) — Universal ESA
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Any Florida K-12 student not enrolled full-time in a public school; no income cap. |
| Funding amount | Average $8,000–$9,000 per student per year (exact cap set annually). |
| Spending categories | Curriculum, textbooks, online courses, tutoring, AP/ACT/SAT fees, therapy services, technology, instruments, sports/arts lessons—must be on the approved list. |
| Key compliance | • Sign contract with scholarship-funding org (Step Up for Students or AAA). |
| • Upload quarterly receipts. | |
| • Provide annual “accountability report” via norm-referenced test, portfolio review, or other approved measure. | |
| Relationship to homeschooling | PEP students are private-school scholarship students, not home-education students. You must terminate your Letter of Intent before funds are disbursed. |
Pros & cons in a nutshell
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Significant funding for curriculum, tutors, therapies, extracurriculars | Receipt uploads and audits |
| No district oversight—just scholarship rules | Must exit the home-education statute and meet ESA testing requirement |
| Works well for special-needs supports | Accounts freeze if documentation is late |
Key Takeaways
- Simple start: One Letter of Intent launches a Florida home-education program.
- Portfolio + annual evaluation: Keep work samples and pick one of five evaluation options each year.
- Parent-issued diploma: Decide credits yourself; mimic the 24-credit public template if college-bound.
- Testing optional unless you select it for the annual evaluation or accept ESA funds.
- PEP ESA: Universal funding opens doors but comes with audits, stricter purchase rules, and required accountability testing.
Ready to dive in? Download the Letter of Intent form from your county site, sketch out your high-school plan, and decide whether the PEP ESA trade-offs fit your family budget and philosophy. Enjoy the freedom of homeschooling under the Florida sunshine!