State law guide
How to Homeschool in Florida
Checked by hand against Fla. Stat. 1002.41 (2025), Home Education Programs, last verified June 13, 2026.
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Is homeschooling legal in Florida?
Yes, homeschooling is fully legal in Florida. Florida is one of the friendliest big states for homeschooling, and tens of thousands of families do it every year. You have real choices here: run your own home education program, enroll through an umbrella school, or use the state's Personalized Education Program scholarship. The paperwork is light once you understand the rhythm of notice, portfolio, and an annual evaluation.
Florida homeschool requirements at a glance
| Notice required | Yes, a one-time written notice to your district school superintendent. |
|---|---|
| Required subjects | No, Florida does not mandate specific subjects for home education programs. |
| Testing / assessment | Yes, an annual evaluation chosen from five options. |
| Recordkeeping | Yes, a portfolio of work and an activity log kept for two years. |
| Parent qualifications | None. No diploma or certification is required. |
Florida homeschool law in detail
Each requirement below links to the statute that governs it, so you can read the law yourself instead of taking our word for it. The governing law is Fla. Stat. 1002.41.
Notice / letter of intent
Under Fla. Stat. 1002.41, you file a written notice of intent with the school superintendent of the county where you live within 30 days of starting your home education program. The notice must be signed by you and include the full legal name, address, and birthdate of each child you are homeschooling. It is a one-time filing, not an annual one. When you stop homeschooling or move out of the county, you file a written notice of termination within 30 days, along with the final annual evaluation.
Read the law: Fla. Stat. 1002.41 (notice of intent within 30 days)
Required subjects
Florida's home education statute does not list any required subjects, and parents are free to choose their own curriculum. The annual evaluation is how the state checks that learning is happening, rather than dictating what you teach. Families using the private tutor option or an umbrella school follow that program's requirements instead.
Read the law: No subject mandate; Fla. Stat. 1002.41 Florida's home education statute lists no required subjects.
Required days or hours
There is no required number of days or hours for a home education program in Florida. Only the certified private tutor option carries a 180-day requirement.
Read the law: No instruction-time mandate; Fla. Stat. 1002.41 Only the private-tutor option carries a 180-day requirement.
Recordkeeping
You must keep a portfolio with two parts: a log of educational activities written as you go (including titles of reading materials used) and samples of your child's writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative work. Keep the portfolio for two years after the work is completed. The superintendent may ask to inspect it, but only with 15 days' written notice, and inspections are rare in practice.
Read the law: Fla. Stat. 1002.41 (portfolio: activity log plus work samples, kept 2 years)
Testing and assessment
Each year you submit an annual evaluation of your child's progress to the superintendent. Fla. Stat. 1002.41 gives you five options: a portfolio review and discussion with a Florida-certified teacher you choose, a nationally normed achievement test administered by a certified teacher, a state assessment administered at a district-approved location, an evaluation by a Florida-licensed psychologist, or any other valid measurement tool you and the superintendent agree on. Most families use the certified-teacher portfolio review because it is flexible and low stress.
Read the law: Fla. Stat. 1002.41 (annual evaluation, five options)
Withdrawing from public school
If your child is currently enrolled in public school, contact the school to formally withdraw them, then file your notice of intent with the county superintendent within 30 days of starting your program. Filing the notice is what legally covers your child under compulsory attendance law, so do not let a gap open between withdrawal and filing. Many districts have a home education office that handles both steps.
Read the law: Fla. Stat. 1002.41 (withdraw, then file notice within 30 days)
Good to know
Florida's Tebow law (Craig Dickinson Act, Fla. Stat. 1006.15) lets home education students join public school sports and extracurriculars; SB 538/HB 731 (2026) rewrote it effective July 1, 2026, covering all extracurriculars and barring fees for home education students that public school students do not pay. Umbrella schools remain a popular alternative to the district notice route, and home education students keep access to dual enrollment, Bright Futures, and state university admission.
How to start homeschooling in Florida
- Decide which path fits your family: your own home education program under Fla. Stat. 1002.41, enrollment in a registered umbrella (private) school, or the PEP scholarship program.
- If your child attends public school, formally withdraw them through the school or district office.
- File your signed notice of intent with your county's district school superintendent within 30 days of starting (most district home education offices accept it by mail or online).
- Start teaching, and keep your portfolio as you go: a running activity log plus samples of your child's work.
- Before each anniversary of your program, arrange one of the five annual evaluation options and submit the result to the superintendent.
File your notice
Florida requires a written Notice of Intent signed by the parent and filed with the county district school superintendent within 30 days of starting, but there is no mandatory statewide form, so send a letter to your county superintendent or use your district's own form.
No login and no fee to file. If you need wording, our fill-in-the-blank letter template is just below.
Form links checked when we built this page.
Homeschool funding in Florida
We're verifying Florida's funding programs against official sources right now, dollar amounts and rules change yearly, and we'd rather be right than first. Check back soon.
Free Florida notice of intent template
Fill-in-the-blank and ready to send. Free, no email required.
Download the free templateFind homeschool families near you in Florida
Co-Op
- Christian Home Educators of Southwest Florida (CHESF) · Fort Myers (Lee County)
Supporting Lee County homeschool families since 1990, CHESF offers monthly meetings, an annual family picnic, used curriculum sales, and getting-started resources for new homeschoolers. It's a Christ-centered community, and membership is open to families who don't share the faith too.
Visit website - Florida Parent-Educators Association (FPEA) · Statewide
Florida's statewide homeschool association, serving thousands of families through support group networking, a beloved annual state convention, local conferences and events, and advocacy for the legal right to homeschool. A great first stop for any family starting out anywhere in the state.
Visit website - Home Grown Kids of Central Florida · Oviedo (Greater Orlando)
A non-profit Christian co-op for Greater Orlando families with kids from newborn through 18, offering weekly PE at local parks, Thursday enrichment classes, monthly field trips, and genuine mom fellowship. Year-round open enrollment makes it easy to jump in.
Visit website - Homeschoolers By The Sea · St. Johns (Jacksonville area)
A Christian-based support group founded in 1994 and open to all homeschoolers, with weekly co-op classes from PreK through high school, monthly field trips, park meetups, science fairs, and talent shows. Open enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year is underway.
Visit website - PATH - Parents' Association for Teaching at Home · Miami (Kendall)
A secular, parent-volunteer-run co-op and support group welcoming all homeschoolers in Miami-Dade, with Thursday enrichment classes in Kendall during fall and winter terms. Families also enjoy field trips, park days, and annual IOWA testing together.
Visit website - Parents Educating on the Treasure Coast (PETC) · Port St. Lucie (Treasure Coast)
A volunteer-led, non-sectarian support group of 100-150 homeschooling families across Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, Stuart, Palm City, and Jensen Beach. Members share co-op classes, field trips, beach days, and plenty of encouragement, with membership accepted year-round.
Visit website - Space Coast Christian Co-op · Cocoa (Brevard County)
A Christian co-op meeting Thursdays in Central Brevard with over 50 classes to choose from for grades 5-12, taught by a team of dedicated tutors. Beyond academics, families enjoy field trips, dances, and fellowship rooted in shared values.
Visit website - Tallahassee Homeschool Group · Tallahassee
An all-ages, all-inclusive, secular homeschool group for families in Tallahassee and surrounding areas, best known for its weekly Park Day social meetup. The group also runs the THG Cooperative and hosts special events throughout the year.
Visit website - Tampa Bay Community Homeschool · Tampa
A two-day, faith-based hybrid and a-la-carte co-op program for grades 4 through high school, with hands-on academic and enrichment classes designed for every learning style. Parents stay in the driver's seat as primary educators while kids get core academics, electives, and community.
Visit website - The Vine Homeschooling Co-op · Jacksonville
An academic Christian co-op meeting Fridays at Fort Caroline Christian Church, offering writing, history, and science for 1st-12th grade plus nursery, preschool, and kindergarten enrichment. Families work together, sharing their talents and gifts to teach and serve.
Visit website - West Florida Home Education Support League (WFHESL) · Pensacola
A Christ-centered, family-oriented support league established by homeschooling moms and dads to help, support, and encourage home educators across Northwest Florida. Members connect through community events, activities, and a network of local homeschool resources.
Visit website
Forest & Nature School
- 30A Nature School (Wildlife Nature School) · Santa Rosa Beach (Walton County)
A faith-based homeschool enrichment program for ages 6-12 that meets in Topsail Hill Preserve, Grayton Beach, and Eden Gardens State Parks along the 30A corridor. Kids spend their days on habitat discovery, wilderness skills like shelter building and animal tracking, nature crafts, and outdoor team games.
Visit website - Flatwoods Forest School · Palm Coast (Flagler County)
Set on 460 acres of forest, pasture, and old Florida history at the Florida Agricultural Museum, this nature school builds children's connection to the outdoors through discovery learning and wild edible walks. Currently enrolling for the 2026-2027 school year.
Visit website - Forest Trails Playschool · Orlando
A play-based nature immersion program where days start with a hike to base camp, then unfold into bug hunting, log climbing, fort building, and mud kitchen creativity. They also run a farm and forest program and nature-themed summer camps for Orlando-area families.
Visit website - Prairie's Edge Forest School · Gainesville
A fully outdoor nature immersion program for young children on Gainesville's south side, where free play in the forest guides the learning. Enrollment for Fall 2026 is open, though spots fill quickly.
Visit website - Spring River School Forest School · Jacksonville Beach
A nature-immersion homeschool enrichment program for grades K-8 meeting in Jacksonville's gorgeous parks, including Timucuan Preserve, Dutton Island, and Hanna Park. Younger kids dive into plant identification and nature journaling while middle schoolers learn bushcraft like fire-making, shelter building, and orienteering.
Visit website - Take Root Forest School · Fort Lauderdale & Miami (Broward/Miami-Dade)
A forest learning community holding drop-off classes Monday through Friday in beautiful state parks and preserves across Broward and Miami-Dade, designed to supplement each child's homeschool experience for ages 5 and up. Littles aren't left out either, with programs for children as young as 1.5.
Visit website
Waldorf School
- Mangrove School of Sarasota · Sarasota
Founded in 2000 by parents and experienced Waldorf teachers, this Waldorf-inspired outdoor school serves early childhood through 8th grade with handwork, woodworking, gardening, music, and frequent hands-on exploration of Florida's natural surroundings. A nurturing head-heart-hands community for families wanting nature woven into a rich academic curriculum.
Visit website - Seaside Charter Schools · Jacksonville
A tuition-free public Waldorf charter - the first and largest in the Southeast - with three Jacksonville campuses serving early learners through 8th grade. Art, music, and movement are woven into core academics for families who want Waldorf education without private school tuition.
Visit website - Star Song School · St. Augustine
A Waldorf-inspired homeschool center bringing Waldorf education to the St. Augustine area, currently offering a full-time experience for grades one through three with part-time options and individual classes planned for 2026-27. A sweet fit for families wanting Waldorf rhythm alongside home education.
Visit website - The Waldorf School of Tampa Bay · Palm Harbor (Tampa Bay)
An independent Waldorf school on the Gulf Coast serving children age 3 through 8th grade, with parent-child classes, early childhood, elementary, and middle school programs. Expect hands-on learning, artistic exploration, woodwork, and a curriculum that meets kids where they are developmentally.
Visit website - Waldorf School of Palm Beach · Boca Raton
An independent Waldorf school with two Boca Raton campuses serving nursery through Grade 11, blending academic rigor with arts, music, world languages, handwork, and seasonal festivals. Their whole-child approach educates head, heart, and hands for families across South Florida.
Visit website
Homeschooling in nearby states
Florida homeschooling FAQ
Do I have to file a notice every year in Florida?
No. The notice of intent is a one-time filing with your county superintendent. After that, your only annual obligation is submitting the evaluation, and you file a termination notice when you finish or move counties.
What is an umbrella school and do I need one?
An umbrella school is a registered Florida private school that enrolls homeschoolers and handles compliance for them. You do not need one, but some families like skipping the district notice and evaluation in exchange for the school's own attendance and record rules.
What happens if my child's evaluation shows they are behind?
The evaluator's job is to confirm progress commensurate with your child's ability, not grade-level perfection. If the superintendent finds the evaluation unsatisfactory, the statute provides a remediation period before any further action
Can my homeschooled child play sports at the local public school?
Yes. Florida's Craig Dickinson Act, widely known as the Tebow law, gives home education students access to interscholastic extracurriculars. A 2026 rewrite (effective July 1, 2026) broadens and clarifies these rights, so check the new rules for your school year.
Does Florida require me to teach specific subjects or use an approved curriculum?
No. You choose your own curriculum and pace. The annual evaluation is the state's only check on academic progress.
What is the PEP scholarship?
The Personalized Education Program under Fla. Stat. 1002.395 gives eligible families education savings funds while they direct their child's learning. PEP students are legally distinct from home education students and follow the scholarship organization's rules instead of the 1002.41 notice-and-evaluation process.
Sources
This is a plain-language summary, not legal advice. Homeschool laws change, always confirm current requirements with your state's official sources before relying on them.
