Florida Homeschool Laws and Funding (2026-27)

What Florida’s law requires

The law that allows it: Florida Statutes 1002.01(1) defines a home education program as parent-directed instruction that satisfies the state's attendance requirements, and 1002.41 sets its rules.

“A “home education program” means the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent to satisfy the attendance requirements of ss. 1002.41 , 1003.01 (16), and 1003.21 (1).” Florida Statutes 1002.01, definitions (Florida Senate)
Telling the state or district: The parent must notify the district school superintendent of the county where the family lives of the intent to start a home education program.

“shall notify the district school superintendent of the county in which the parent resides of her or his intent to establish and maintain a home education program” Florida Statutes 1002.41, home education programs (Florida Senate)

The written notice is due at the superintendent's office within 30 days of starting the home education program.

“The notice must be filed in the district school superintendent’s office within 30 days of the establishment of the home education program.” Florida Statutes 1002.41, home education programs (Florida Senate)

When the program ends, the parent files a written notice of termination, with the annual evaluation, within 30 days.

“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.” Florida Statutes 1002.41, home education programs (Florida Senate)
What and how long to teach: The law says a home education program does not have to meet the requirements of a school day.

“A home education program shall be excluded from meeting the requirements of a school day.” Florida Statutes 1002.41, home education programs (Florida Senate)
Testing or evaluation: The parent must arrange an annual educational evaluation that documents the student's progress at a level that fits the student's ability.

“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.” Florida Statutes 1002.41, home education programs (Florida Senate)

The parent chooses the evaluation method and files a copy with the district superintendent's office every year. The law lists five methods, including review by a Florida certified teacher and a nationally normed test given by a certified teacher.

“The parent shall select the method of evaluation and shall file a copy of the evaluation annually with the district school superintendent’s office in the county in which the student resides.” Florida Statutes 1002.41, home education programs (Florida Senate)
Records to keep: The parent must keep a portfolio: a log of educational activities kept as instruction happens, naming reading materials by title, plus samples of the student's work.

“A log of educational activities that is made contemporaneously with the instruction and that designates by title any reading materials used.” Florida Statutes 1002.41, home education programs (Florida Senate)

The portfolio must be kept for 2 years and shown to the superintendent if requested, with 15 days' written notice.

“The parent shall determine the content of the portfolio, preserve it for 2 years, and make it available for inspection, if requested, by the district school superintendent, or the district school superintendent’s agent, upon 15 days’ written notice.” Florida Statutes 1002.41, home education programs (Florida Senate)
Who may teach: The parent does not need a Florida teaching certificate.

“The parent is not required to hold a valid regular Florida teaching certificate.” Florida Statutes 1002.41, home education programs (Florida Senate)
Ages the law covers: Florida's attendance law covers children from age 6 (or turning 6 by February 1 of the school year) until they turn 16.

“All children who have attained the age of 6 years or who will have attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school year or who are older than 6 years of age but who have not attained the age of 16 years” Florida Statutes 1003.21, school attendance (Florida Senate)

State money for homeschoolers in Florida

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA)

A student who qualifies for the Family Empowerment Scholarship under the disability route (paragraph (3)(b)) can stay eligible while enrolled in a home education program. (Florida Statutes 1002.394, Family Empowerment Scholarship Program (Florida Senate))

For a student with a disability, the law lists tuition and fees for a home education program among the allowed uses of scholarship funds. (Florida Statutes 1002.394, Family Empowerment Scholarship Program (Florida Senate))

Personalized Education Program (PEP), under the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship

Florida law defines a personalized education program as parent-directed instruction registered with a scholarship-funding organization under 1002.395. It is a separate status from a home education program. (Florida Statutes 1002.01, definitions (Florida Senate))

PEP gives students who are not enrolled full time in a public or private school an education savings account for approved expenses. (Step Up For Students (the scholarship organization that runs PEP), Personalized Education Program)

PEP is open to all families, whatever their income. (Step Up For Students (the scholarship organization that runs PEP), Personalized Education Program)

Eligible expenses listed for PEP include instructional materials and a home education instructional program. (Step Up For Students (the scholarship organization that runs PEP), Personalized Education Program)

Programs that do not pay homeschoolers

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship (FTC) and Personalized Education Program. The Tax Credit Scholarship law lists taking part in a home education program among the conditions under which a student is not eligible for a scholarship. (Florida Statutes 1002.395, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program (Florida Senate))

Florida FES / FTC: amount and how to apply Private schools in Florida

Which states pay homeschoolers, and how: Florida next to every other state.

Questions parents ask

Do I have to tell anyone I am homeschooling in Florida?

The parent must notify the district school superintendent of the county where the family lives of the intent to start a home education program. The written notice is due at the superintendent's office within 30 days of starting the home education program. When the program ends, the parent files a written notice of termination, with the annual evaluation, within 30 days.

Do homeschoolers in Florida have to take tests?

The parent must arrange an annual educational evaluation that documents the student's progress at a level that fits the student's ability. The parent chooses the evaluation method and files a copy with the district superintendent's office every year. The law lists five methods, including review by a Florida certified teacher and a nationally normed test given by a certified teacher.

Can a homeschooler in Florida get state money?

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA): A student who qualifies for the Family Empowerment Scholarship under the disability route (paragraph (3)(b)) can stay eligible while enrolled in a home education program. For a student with a disability, the law lists tuition and fees for a home education program among the allowed uses of scholarship funds. Personalized Education Program (PEP), under the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship: Florida law defines a personalized education program as parent-directed instruction registered with a scholarship-funding organization under 1002.395. It is a separate status from a home education program. PEP gives students who are not enrolled full time in a public or private school an education savings account for approved expenses. PEP is open to all families, whatever their income. Eligible expenses listed for PEP include instructional materials and a home education instructional program.

Every line above is our plain-English summary of the quoted text, which is copied from the official page named beside it. Laws change: the quoted page is the authority, and a lawyer or the state can answer questions about your family.

Homeschooling in Florida: what the law requires and who pays