Florida homeschool requirements and record-keeping, 2026-27
In Florida you send a signed written notice of intent to your county's district school superintendent within 30 days of establishing a home education program. It lists each child's full legal name, address and birth date. You keep a portfolio: a log of educational activities made as you go, naming reading materials by title, plus samples of the student's work. You keep it for two years, and the superintendent may inspect it with 15 days' written notice. Once a year you file an educational evaluation using one of five methods, and when the program ends you file a notice of termination within 30 days.
What you file and when
- Written, signed notice of intent with each child's full legal name, address and birth date
To: District school superintendent of the county where you live. When: Within 30 days of establishing the home education program - Annual educational evaluation
To: District school superintendent's office. When: Annually (commonly around the anniversary of your notice) - Notice of termination, with the annual evaluation
To: District school superintendent. When: Within 30 days of ending the program
What you keep
- Log of educational activities made at the time of instruction, naming reading materials by title
- Samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials
Portfolio. Activity log and work samples; you decide the content. Keep for 2 years; available for inspection on 15 days' written notice.
How long to keep it. 2 years.
Who evaluates. One of: a Florida-certified teacher chosen by the parent (portfolio review and discussion); any nationally normed achievement test given by a certified teacher; a state assessment given by a certified teacher; a licensed psychologist or school psychologist; or another tool agreed with the superintendent.
Hours, days and subjects
- No fixed number of hours or days found in the sources we read.
- Compulsory attendance ages: 6 to 16
Children who are 6 (or will be by February 1) until 16.
Florida's home education statute sets no required subjects.
Work out your hours for Florida with the free calculator.
Things people miss
- Home education is excluded from school-day requirements; there is no set number of days or hours.
- The statute says 'annually' without a fixed date; many districts use the anniversary of your notice, so set your own reminder.
- Districts may not ask for more documentation than the statute requires unless your child joins a district program.
- If the evaluation does not show progress, you get one year of remedial instruction before re-evaluation.
Official sources
- Fla. Stat. § 1002.41 Home education programs (2026) (Fla. Stat. § 1002.41)
Verified checked on 2026-10-18 - Fla. Stat. § 1003.21 School attendance (Fla. Stat. § 1003.21)
Verified checked on 2026-10-18
How Schoolkeeper helps
A twenty-second daily log, and then an export in the shape Florida asks for:
- A portfolio of work samples, photos and what they read, in date order.
- An attendance record showing the days you taught.
- Minutes by subject, totalled for the year.
Questions parents ask
What do I have to file to homeschool in Florida?
Written, signed notice of intent with each child's full legal name, address and birth date, to District school superintendent of the county where you live. When: Within 30 days of establishing the home education program. Annual educational evaluation, to District school superintendent's office. When: Annually (commonly around the anniversary of your notice). Notice of termination, with the annual evaluation, to District school superintendent. When: Within 30 days of ending the program.
What records do I keep for homeschooling in Florida?
Log of educational activities made at the time of instruction, naming reading materials by title; Samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials. Keep them for 2 years.
How many hours or days does Florida ask for?
Florida does not set a minimum number of hours or days in what we found.
Does Florida require testing or an evaluation?
One of: a Florida-certified teacher chosen by the parent (portfolio review and discussion); any nationally normed achievement test given by a certified teacher; a state assessment given by a certified teacher; a licensed psychologist or school psychologist; or another tool agreed with the superintendent.
This is a plain-English summary with its sources, not legal advice. Tell us if this is wrong.