heartofdakota.com

I know that MamaMary is from Florida but I wasn't sure who else is from there. I'll keep it brief. My husband is beginning what we hope to be a new career transition out of factory work into professional videography. He is teaming up with a man in our town that is a very successful and amazing photographer who wants to include videography for weddings, senior portraits, and engagements. This man is talking with a gentleman in Ocala, FL about possibly joining together so my husband's friend can eventually take over the business for him, but my husband's friend wants my husband to join him down there if this happens. This would most likely happen in a year or two at most if it does at all.

We live in IL and IL homeschool laws are VERY relaxed. I went to HSLDA and saw that Florida requires a lot more. How easy is it to do HOD in Florida? Have you had any trouble with school districts? Are there any subjects FL requires that HOD does not cover? Also, what are some benefits of homeschooling in FL where they have more laws and government intervention as opposed to a place like IL where we have so much freedom from the watchdogs? I am hoping to get info from ladies in the trenches down there so they'll put my heart at ease if this happens.

Also, on a scale of 1 to 10, how scary are hurricanes? LOL just kidding...

Hi Jessi,

Florida requires 3 things.

1- That you send in a letter of intent to homeschool to the county school board. You will get an acceptance letter that has a date on it and that then becomes your anniversary date.

2- That you have your child either tested or evaluated once a year by the anniversary date on your letter of intent. You do not even have to put down their scores, just that they simply made forward progress.

3- That you keep a portfolio of each year for up to two years. In your portfolio you need a log of educational activities. I just photocopy the table of contents from my HOD, and other subjects and date them as we do them. (actually I probably need to work on this) Keep a reading log of books your child is reading. And samples of your childs work. Just a couple of pages of each subject every semester.

There is no attendance, no required subjects and in eleven years no one in my county has ever been asked to have their portfolio reviewed unless there was a court action by a spouse or someone outside the home. I actually have always been surprised that according to the HSLDA site Florida does not seem to be a very homeschool friendly state? Jessi, you can also go to http://www.fpea.com (Florida Parent Educators Association)

A positive is that Florida has one of the best and largest homeschool conventions in the world according to HSLDA! I wish you were moving to Pinellas county.

Thank you Mary! That was very helpful. HSLDA does make it seem like FL is not so homeschool-friendly. I have nothing wrong with making sure my children are progressing though. How far is Ocala from Pinellas county? Well that does ease my heart if this takes off.

Jessi,

It's only about an hour! (excited smile)

Hey Jessi,
I sent you a PM!

Got it!