Homeschooling in Florida
HomeLife Academy is a FL state recognized "600" school, providing complete legal
covering for homeschoolers homeschooling in Florida. Families in
Florida may join and benefit from Homelife Academy's record keeping, transcript,
diploma, and counseling services. We are happy to serve you and your family.
- Testing/Evaluations Optional
- Florida Virtual School Courses Accepted
- Bright Futures Scholarships Granted
- Dual Enrollment Available
- Help with College Placement
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HLA falls under HSLDA's Option 2. "More than one home school can operate
as a private school. A child who “attends” a private, parochial, religious, or denominational
school is exempt from compulsory attendance. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 1002.01(2).
Florida’s intermediate appellate court ruled in State v. Buckner, 472 So. 2d 1228
(Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1985) that one home school does not qualify as a private school
by itself. However, groups of home schools file as private schools under Fla. Stat.
Ann. Ch. 623."
Does being a member of a HomeLife Academy take
the place of Florida's record keeping and testing requirements for homeschoolers?
YES.
It is not necessary for you to register with the Local education agency if you meet
the requirements to be an HLA teacher.
Will my student be required to take standardized tests?
Once you withdraw from the state of FL home education program (see below) and are
accepted by HomeLife Academy you will be exempt from state requirements for testing.
Standardized tests are "Only required for parents complying with the homeschool
law in Option one."
In order to earn a diploma from HLA, are Florida students required to take/pass the FCAT? No. Since HLA is strictly a private school, or "600" school, listed
with FL in Leon county, our students earn diplomas by completely
our credit requirements.
What does the term "600 school" mean?
Many private schools serving homeschoolers call themselves "600" or "umbrella" schools.
The fact is that they are non-public schools just the same as every other non-public
school in Florida. The "600" refers to the statute numbers that some school choose
to incorporate under. Incorporatation is not required to to be a non-public school.
Will this cost more than the normal fees?
No. The Annual Registration Fees are as follows: $50 for 1st student, $20 for each
additional, $100 max.
Includes Instant Online Grade Reporting.
($50 extra for seniors is also required.)
If I am registered with FL how do I withdraw and register only with HLA?
When you enroll with HLA, you do NOT need to register with the Home Education program
though your county. (Registering with the county as a home education student AND
registering with a private school is not statutory. If your county requests it,
please follow up with them concerning the law.)
However, if you are currently registered with the state home education program (via
your local school board), you must send them a notice of termination. NOTE: This
is required of any child registered with the state home education program regardless
if you choose to enroll the child in a public school, a private school, or transfer
your home education program to another county. Therefore, this is the same process
of transferring from the state home education program to any private school.
When you send your letter of withdraw, the only thing required by law is the child's
name, address and the parents signature on the letter stating you are "ending your
state home education program". You can tell them where you plan to enroll, or if
you are moving out of state, but it is not required by law.
How does HLA honor classes from the Florida Virtual School (FLVS)?
When you go to the
Florida Virtual School website, you will see a
link for Homeschoolers. This link has directions to follow for those
homeschoolers under the Department of Education only. HomeLife Academy
is listed with Florida Virtual School as a private school under "Leon County." Do
not select "homeschooler." Instead, just look for "HomeLifeAcademy" when you get
to that step. We will receive confirmation of your chosen courses and login as a
school to approve them within about 24 hours.
Bright Futures News:
Volunteer hours need to be placed in the
Portfolio section, so that HLA will make note and put it in the official
transcript.
Parents should send the volunteer hours on letterhead from the institution they
volunteered from (to avoid any future problems) to HLA. When BFS requests
students transcripts for evaluation, the volunteer hours need to be reflected there
in the official transcripts, at least on the final transcript requested by BFS in
April/May.
Associations
Florida Parent Educators Association
Home Education Foundation
LIFE of Florida
Events
FPEA Homeschool
Convention
LIFE Fest
Conference
South
Florida Homeschool Convention
Tampa Bay Homeschool Conference & Expo
Legal Information
Florida Education
Code For Homeschooling
Florida Portfolio Review Alert
How to
Homeschool
Learning
is for Everyone's Homeschooling in Florida FAQ
Starting
Point: An Introduction to Homeschooling in Florida
What a Portfolio
Review by the County Should Look Like
Support Groups
Toll Free: (888) 560-0774
