Florida Homeschool Laws (2026): Notice, Portfolio and Annual Evaluation
Checked against the state's sources on ; next check .
Updated
The year at a glance
No set date
- Annual evaluation, filed once a year
Depends on your first day
- Notice of intent, new programs: Within 30 days of starting
Florida requires a signed written notice to your county superintendent within 30 days of starting, a portfolio (a log made as you teach, naming reading materials, plus work samples) kept for 2 years, and an annual evaluation filed with the superintendent. There is no day or hour minimum.
- File
- Notice of intent, new programs, within 30 days of starting Notice
- Count
- No legal minimum: Florida sets no day or hour requirement for home education programs Days and hours
- Keep
- Portfolio (a log plus work samples), kept 2 years Records
- Test
- Once a year, and again with the notice of termination when the program ends Testing and evaluation
On this page
Florida's home education law fits in one statute section, § 1002.41, and it is mostly about process: tell the county you've started, keep a portfolio as you go, and show once a year that your child is making progress. It says nothing about what to teach or how many days to teach it.
How to start
A home education program in Florida is the parent's own program, not something run by the school district. The statute puts it this way: "A home education program is not a school district program and is registered with the district school superintendent only for the purpose of complying with the state's attendance requirements" under the compulsory attendance law. You also don't need a teaching license. In the statute's words: "The parent is not required to hold a valid regular Florida teaching certificate."
The district's reach is limited on purpose. Section 1002.41(13) says: "A school district may not further regulate, exercise control over, or require documentation from parents of home education program students beyond the requirements of this section unless the regulation, control, or documentation is necessary for participation in a school district program."
Notice
The notice goes to the district school superintendent of the county where you live. The statute sets its form: "The notice must be in writing, signed by the parent, and include the full legal names, addresses, and birthdates of all children who shall be enrolled as students in the home education program." It also sets the deadline: "The notice must be filed in the district school superintendent's office within 30 days of the establishment of the home education program."
The superintendent can't sit on it or ask for more. The law says: "The district school superintendent shall accept the notice and immediately register the home education program upon receipt of the notice." And: "The district may not require any additional information or verification from the parent unless the student chooses to participate in a school district program or service."
The statute doesn't prescribe a statewide notice form. Individual county superintendents provide their own templates as an administrative convenience; a signed letter with the required details meets the statute just as well.
When you stop homeschooling, there's one more filing: "The parent shall file a written notice of termination upon completion of the home education program with the district school superintendent, along with the annual evaluation required in paragraph (f), within 30 days of termination."
Required subjects
Florida has no list of required subjects for home education. The statute was read in full for this guide, and it contains none. You decide the curriculum, and the portfolio shows what you chose.
Days and hours
There's no minimum number of days or hours for a Florida home education program; the statute expressly excludes home education from the school-day rules that apply elsewhere. You set your own calendar and pace.
That makes a log more useful, not less. The portfolio has to show your educational activities as they happened, and dated entries are the plainest way to do it. The attendance tracker keeps a dated record with hours and notes and shows totals for Florida without a target. The year planner helps if you'd like to set a calendar of your own.
Records
The portfolio is the heart of Florida's law. It has two required parts. The first is "A log of educational activities that is made contemporaneously with the instruction and that designates by title any reading materials used." The second is a collection of your child's work: writing, worksheets, workbook pages and creative projects your student used or produced.
You decide what goes in beyond that. The parent keeps the portfolio for 2 years and makes it available if the superintendent, or the superintendent's agent, asks to inspect it with 15 days' written notice. Inspection isn't automatic; the statute adds: "Nothing in this section shall require the district school superintendent to inspect the portfolio."
Testing and evaluation
Once a year you need an evaluation. The statute begins: "The parent shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the student's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with her or his ability." The parent chooses the method and files a copy with the superintendent's office in the county of residence each year.
There are five ways to meet it:
- A Florida-certified teacher you choose reviews the portfolio and talks with your child.
- Your child takes any nationally normed student achievement test, given by a certified teacher.
- Your child takes a state student assessment test used by the district, given by a certified teacher at a place and under conditions the district approves.
- A licensed psychologist or school psychologist evaluates your child.
- Any other valid measurement tool that you and the superintendent agree on.
If the evaluation doesn't show progress, the superintendent notifies you in writing. Then, per § 1002.41(2): "The parent shall have 1 year from the date of receipt of the written notification to provide remedial instruction to the student." Your child is evaluated again at the end of that year.
Records checklist
- A copy of your signed notice of intent and the date you filed it.
- The log of educational activities, with the titles of reading materials.
- Work samples from across the year.
- Each annual evaluation, with the date you filed it with the superintendent.
- A copy of any notice of termination.
- Keep each year's portfolio for at least 2 years.
Sources (1)
- Fla. Stat. § 1002.41, Home education programs leg.state.fl.us
Get new tools by email
When we add a tool to Homeschool Year, we'll send you one short email. Nothing else.