1. HOW TO Get Started?
Register with the School Board
Register with the School Board
Leon County:
Superintendent Jackie Pons
2757 W. Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32304
Carolyn Spooner 413-0441
Homeschool and helper Sharee Klein
Superintendent Jackie Pons
2757 W. Pensacola Street
Tallahassee, Fl 32304
Carolyn Spooner 413-0441
Homeschool and helper Sharee Klein
Gadsden County
LaTrenda Gainous-Goldwire 627-9651 ex 494
fax 627-2760
35 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Quincy , Fl 32352
LaTrenda Gainous-Goldwire 627-9651 ex 494
fax 627-2760
35 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Quincy , Fl 32352
Wakulla County
Tanya English 926-0065 ex 252
69 Arran Road
Crawfordville, Fl 32327
Tanya English 926-0065 ex 252
69 Arran Road
Crawfordville, Fl 32327
- Contact the School Board and submit an ‘intent to homeschool’ letter within 30 days of beginning your home school program. Include the child’s name, birth date, grade level being taught as well as your contact information (parents’ names, address, phone number). The School Board will send complete guidelines outlining the remaining requirements. They are briefly as follows:
- You must maintain a portfolio on each child consisting of a log of daily work, samples of child’s work, and list of reading materials used. Portfolios must be kept for 2 years and made available for inspection by the School Board Superintendent upon a 15 day written notice. (see FAQ on portfolios)
- An annual evaluation of the child’s progress must be made and a copy of the results filed with the School Board. There are several options for group testing – see the testing on the menu bar. However this is one of 5 options for evaluation - all options are included in the guidelines.
- If you discontinue your home education program or move out of your county, you must submit a notification of termination to the School Board within 30 days of termination. This step is often overlooked and creates added work for the homeschooling officials at the School Board. Please be diligent to notify them of termination of your homeschooling program - this includes completion of high school.
- For complete guidelines go to www.fpea.com and read The Guide to Homeschooling in Florida
Just a Reminder:
"Your five Responsibilities"
(Excerpts from FPEA's Guide to Homeschooling in Florida):
- Send a notice of intent to homeschool to your district school superintendent.
- Maintain a portfolio of records. (see FAQ on portfolios)
- Make your portfolio available for inspection by the superintendent upon a 15-day written notice.
- Submit an annual evaluation for each child to the district school superintendent.
- Preserve your child's portfolio for two years.
2. Ideas on Beginning Homeschooling:
http://www.loveathome.com/homeschool/begin.htm
http://www.loveathome.com/homeschool/begin.htm
http://www.fpea.com/starting/index/css/starting_point.html
FPEA’s online brochure for getting started and continuing.
FPEA’s online brochure for getting started and continuing.
3. Why homeschool?
Every family has to come to terms with why you are homeschooling. Write it down, so that when challenges arise (and they will) you can be reminded of the reasons that led you down this path.
Every family has to come to terms with why you are homeschooling. Write it down, so that when challenges arise (and they will) you can be reminded of the reasons that led you down this path.
Whatever the reason, remember that the purpose is the spiritual training and character development as well as the social and academic welfare of your children. Don’t fall into the trap of duplicating a failed public system.
http://www.teachinghome.com/started/q&a/why.cfm
http://www.teachinghome.com/started/q&a/why.cfm
Remember: There is no ONE way to homeschool!
4. What are the requirements of a portfolio?
The following was taken from the link below:
http://www.helpsonline.org/HELPS/index_files/Page374.htm
The following was taken from the link below:
http://www.helpsonline.org/HELPS/index_files/Page374.htm
Please note that this does not comprise legal advice. Read the statute for yourself. (see links for the Florida statute)
From: Title XVI Section 232.0201 Home education programs.
b) The parent or guardian shall maintain a portfolio of records and
materials. The portfolio shall consist of the following:
From: Title XVI Section 232.0201 Home education programs.
b) The parent or guardian shall maintain a portfolio of records and
materials. The portfolio shall consist of the following:
1. A log of educational activities which is made contemporaneously with the instruction and which designates by title any reading materials used.
2. Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials
used or developed by the student.
The portfolio shall be preserved by the parent or guardian for 2 years and
shall be made available for inspection by the superintendent, or the
superintendent's agent, upon 15 days' written notice. Nothing in this
section shall require the superintendent to inspect the portfolio.
used or developed by the student.
The portfolio shall be preserved by the parent or guardian for 2 years and
shall be made available for inspection by the superintendent, or the
superintendent's agent, upon 15 days' written notice. Nothing in this
section shall require the superintendent to inspect the portfolio.
MEETING THE STATUTE FOR THE PORTFOLIO INSPECTION:
Either you are in compliance or you are not. In other words, either your portfolio has the following or it doesn't. If you are called for an inspection (NOT EVERYONE IS CALLED) and your portfolio doesn’t meet the 2 parts of the portfolio requirement, (as defined above and by statute) you could be forced to enroll your child in public or private school.
You need to have these 2 (actually 3) things:1. A log of educational activities which is made contemporaneously
with the instruction and which designates by title any reading materials
used. (Note: This is really 2 things in one, a log of educational
activities AND a reading materials list)
Either you are in compliance or you are not. In other words, either your portfolio has the following or it doesn't. If you are called for an inspection (NOT EVERYONE IS CALLED) and your portfolio doesn’t meet the 2 parts of the portfolio requirement, (as defined above and by statute) you could be forced to enroll your child in public or private school.
You need to have these 2 (actually 3) things:1. A log of educational activities which is made contemporaneously
with the instruction and which designates by title any reading materials
used. (Note: This is really 2 things in one, a log of educational
activities AND a reading materials list)
2. Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative
materials used or developed by the student.
THAT LITTLE WORD “OR”: Notice that number 2 above has the word "OR" in it. You don't have to show writings AND worksheets AND workbooks AND creative materials. You could show all creative materials OR all writings. Also note that "samples" means more than 1. Don't feel like you have to have a ton of stuff. For example: Your portfolio could be a list of reading materials (this can be materials you read to your child or books you've used to help you teach) and your child's sketch book and pictures of events/field trips. Does this show the whole scope of your home education program? No, of course not. Does it meet the law? Yes, it does.
5. Does HS deprive children of proper socialization?
Homeschooling affords children plenty of time and opportunity for social interaction and friendships, as well as time to learn appropriate social behaviors from their parents. The available research shows that homeschoolers tend to be very well adjusted. In 1986, even before the rapid growth in the homeschooling movement that we are seeing today, social researcher John Wesley Taylor found that the self-concept of homeschooled children was significantly higher than that of their traditionally schooled peers when tested using the widely accepted Piers-Harris Children Self-Concept Scale.
materials used or developed by the student.
THAT LITTLE WORD “OR”: Notice that number 2 above has the word "OR" in it. You don't have to show writings AND worksheets AND workbooks AND creative materials. You could show all creative materials OR all writings. Also note that "samples" means more than 1. Don't feel like you have to have a ton of stuff. For example: Your portfolio could be a list of reading materials (this can be materials you read to your child or books you've used to help you teach) and your child's sketch book and pictures of events/field trips. Does this show the whole scope of your home education program? No, of course not. Does it meet the law? Yes, it does.
5. Does HS deprive children of proper socialization?
Homeschooling affords children plenty of time and opportunity for social interaction and friendships, as well as time to learn appropriate social behaviors from their parents. The available research shows that homeschoolers tend to be very well adjusted. In 1986, even before the rapid growth in the homeschooling movement that we are seeing today, social researcher John Wesley Taylor found that the self-concept of homeschooled children was significantly higher than that of their traditionally schooled peers when tested using the widely accepted Piers-Harris Children Self-Concept Scale.
Per week, the average homeschooled child participates in at least five outside activities,such as sports teams, scouts, clubs, classes in the community, volunteer activities, etc. Many homeschooling parents are also very involved in their communities, volunteering, attending or teaching classes, pursuing part-time or full-time careers, operating family businesses, and/or developing close friendships with other homeschooling families. Homeschooling parents and children, free of externally imposed school schedules, are in charge of their time and are free to come and go as they please.
Due to the excellent teacher-student ratio that homeschoolers enjoy and the lack of time-consuming administrative tasks such as attendance taking, busywork, etc., the academic aspects of homeschooling require only a fraction of the time necessary for the same tasks in a conventional school setting, leaving lots of extra time for social activities. Not limited by strict school hours and brief interactions in the hall, homeschooled children are often found instead spending long days at the park with friends, gathering with other kids for group activities, sleeping over at each other’s houses on weeknights or weekends, and enjoying long conversations with their parents and siblings. Homeschooled children also tend to have both homeschooled and conventionally schooled friends, and, like conventionally schooled children, they can and do play with neighborhood children and participate in scouts, 4H, church groups, community bands, orchestras, and sports groups, as well as outside classes such as dance and martial arts. Many homeschooling parents consider their children’s social learning to be as integral a part of their education as academic subjects, and they are careful to provide their children with both social skills and opportunities to use them.
