Florida's homeschool rules seem intense when you read them, but they actually aren't. You just have to have an annual evaluation done. Takes 15-20 minutes. As far as the time to homeschool, they certainly have it & could still go to the parks daily if they wanted. When you are teaching a child one on one, it takes maximum 3-4 hours a day until they get older. Preschool/Kindergarten can be done successfully in 1.5 - 2 hours. I know plenty of people who work/go to school themselves & still get it done. Myself included.
I don't think they will homeschool though. We have fellow homeschool friends from every walk of life...but the Trackers just don't fit the mold. I can't really put my finger on WHY, they just have always seemed to me as if they would look down on homeschool families. I just don't see them doing it. Even with the freedom it would bring.
The rules / requirements are not exactly a walk in the park either.
We're talking about the Trackers here, and we all know they wouldn't get past no. 1 on this list, i.e. send a written notice of intent to the superintendent, nor could they maintain a portfolio of records, or develop a curriculum, or anything of that nature.
That being said, I agree with you. They're not going to homeschool. My guess is private schooling for flexing purposes.
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Section 1002.01, Florida Statutes (F.S.), defines home education as the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent or guardian in order to satisfy Florida's compulsory education requirements.
Florida Statute 1002.41 specifies the responsibilities of parents who establish a home education program.
- Send a written notice of intent to the school district superintendent. The notice must be filed within 30 days of beginning the home education program and must include the following information:
- Name of the home education student(s)
- Birthdate(s)
- Address
- Parent's signature
- Maintain a portfolio of educational records. Statute defines a portfolio as
- A log of educational activities which is made contemporaneously with the instruction and which designates by title any reading materials used, and
- samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials used or developed by the student.
- Make the portfolio available for inspection by the superintendent upon 15-day written notice (The statute does not require the superintendent to inspect all portfolios).
- Provide an annual educational evaluation of the student's educational progress to the superintendent. The evaluation must consist of one of the following:
- A Florida certified teacher chosen by the parent may evaluate the child's progress based on a review of the portfolio and discussion with the student.
- The student may take any nationally-normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher.
- The student may take a state student assessment test at a location and under testing conditions approved by the school district.
- The student maybe evaluated by a psychologist holding a valid, active license pursuant to section 490.003 (7) or (8), F.S.
- The student may be evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the parent and the superintendent.
- Preserve each student's portfolio for two years.
- Submit a letter of termination and annual evaluation upon completion of the home education program to the district.
- Should there be a change of residence, but do not wish to terminate the home education program, the parent should notify the new district to which the child is moving to that they are transferring their home education program to the new district, and the new district home education contact must request the records from the previous district notifying the old district that the student no longer resides in the previous district. Records are transferred, and the previous district shall simply close out the student’s files. A home education transfer between districts does not require the parent to terminate the home education program (as they are not terminating; simply moving) and the parent does not need to provide an annual evaluation to the previous district.