A "home education program," as defined by Florida law, is "sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent in order to satisfy the attendance requirements of ss. 1002.41, 1003.01(13), and 1003.21(1)."

Section 1002.41, Florida Statutes, states, "A home education program is not a school district program and is registered with the district school superintendent only for the purpose of complying with the state's attendance requirements under s. 1003.21(1)."

For more information, please refer to Section 10 (pages 210-223) of the Santa Rosa County District Schools Student Progression Plan.

See also the Florida Department of Education's Home Education FAQ document.

Required Steps for Home Education:

Step 1: SUBMIT A LETTER OF INTENT

You can complete and sign the Intent to Establish and Maintain a Home Education Program and the Summary of Home Education Requirements. If you choose to submit your own letter of intent, the letter should state your intent to establish and maintain a home education program. It must be in writing, signed by the parent, and include the full legal names, addresses, and birthdates of all children who shall be enrolled as students in the home education program.

Step 2: KEEP A PORTFOLIO

Section 1002.41, F.S., 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.” The portfolio shall be preserved by the parent for two years and shall be made available for inspection by the superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee, upon a 15-day written notice. The superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee, is not required to inspect portfolios.

Step 3: SUBMIT AN ANNUAL EVALUATION

A student in a home education setting must be evaluated once a year to demonstrate educational progress at a level commensurate to the child’s abilities. The parent/guardian selects the method of evaluation from those provided in Florida Statute, then files a copy of the evaluation annually in the Santa Rosa Home Education office. The evaluation must consist of one of the following:

1. A Florida certified teacher chosen by the parent may evaluate the child’s progress based on the review of the portfolio and discussion with the student;

2. The student may take any nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher;

3. The student may take a state student assessment test used by the school district and administered by a certified teacher, at a location and under testing conditions approved by the school district;

4. The student may be evaluated by a psychologist holding a valid, active license pursuant to the provisions of Section 490.003 (7) or (8), F.S.; or

5. The student may be evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the school superintendent of the district in which the student resides and the student’s parent.

*** Parents may contact the local district home education office or a state or local parent group to obtain the names of available evaluators. All evaluators for home education students must have a current certification in academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level in the state of Florida.

*** Section 1002.41, F.S., requires the parent to provide for an annual evaluation of the home education student. Failure to do so places the home education program in non-compliance and permits the superintendent, after notice to the parent, to terminate the program.

Step 4: TERMINATE

If your student will be moving to another county or state, enrolling in public, private, or charter school, or completing their home education program, you will need to submit a Notification of Termination.

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, within 30 days of termination.

***Home education is a NON-DIPLOMA option in the state of Florida. Please note that "a signed affidavit of completion (notarized letter) submitted by the student's parent attesting that the student has completed a home education program, pursuant to the requirements of s. 1002.41, F.S., is the legal document of completion. As stated in s. 1007.263(2)(a), F.S., it is equivalent to a high school diploma and is regularly accepted by the state colleges and universities as proof of high school completion. This statement can be included on a student's academic transcript or parent-issued diploma. While not required, some students elect to culminate their home education program by taking the General Educational Development (GED) test. A student is issued a diploma from the Department of Education upon passage of the GED. The toll-free number for information pertaining to the GED is 1-800-237-5113."

Home Education Contacts:

Jerilyn O'Brien, Principal of Santa Rosa Online

Meredith Powers, Home Education Liaison

Megan Holland, Home Education Data Entry

Debbie Werner, Receptionist/Secretary

Lynn Sharp, Testing Coordinator
Santa Rosa Home Education Department

New Address:

6556 Firehouse Rd, Milton, FL 32570

PH (850) 981-7860 

FAX (850) 378-5235