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FAQs



Q:

What exactly is homeschooling?

A:

Home education, as defined by Florida law, is “sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent or guardian in order to satisfy the requirements of Statute 1003.21 and 1002.41.” The law is broad, giving parents quite a bit of freedom to direct their child’s education. Children of all ages are home-educated across the state, and many are entering college straight from their courses of study at home.

Q:

Is homeschooling legal?

A:

Homeschooling is legal everywhere in the United States, but homeschooling laws vary from state to state. The best way to find out what Florida State laws have to say about homeschooling is to contact a local support group or your FPEA District Director.

Q:

Can children really learn adequately at home instead of in a classroom?

A:

Trust in your child. They learned how to love, smile, crawl, walk, talk, run, dress themselves, and understand their world before starting school, and they can continue to grow and learn outside a formal classroom setting.

Q:

Am I qualified to homeschool?

A:

You are qualified to homeschool your children if you love to read to them, love to spend time with them, love to explore the world with them, love to see them learn new things and, most important, love them.

Q:

 How will homeschooling affect my family?

A:

Homeschooling can be life changing. Ideally, it creates personal growth for both parents and children. Parents get a second chance to discover your own special genius while helping your children discover theirs. Nothing you ever do will have a more profound effect on your child and your family's future as homeschooling.

Q:

Can I homeschool other children?

A:

People often ask if it is legal to teach other people’s children. If someone else becomes a child’s primary instructor and directs the child's education whether in the home or not, and if the instruction takes place daily and consistently, then the instructor must hold a valid Florida teaching certificate in the subjects and grades being taught. Legally, this type of teaching falls under private tutoring. However, this does not preclude someone with primary responsibility for the child from home-educating the child. The definition of “parent” in Statute 1000.21(5) “is either or both parents of a student, any guardian of a student, or any person in a parental relationship to a student, or any person exercising supervisory authority over a student in place of the parent.”

Q:

What about socialization?

A:

Your child will not become a social misfit. Quite the opposite, children do not need to be socialized in a large group of same-age children to become well adjusted socially. Most parents want their children to learn their social graces from adults, not other children. Homeschoolers have healthy relationships with people of all ages from the retired couple next door to their soccer coach. They can enjoy friends at 4-H, scouting, dance martial arts or any other activity. 

Q:

How many hours a day must I teach my child?

A:

It does not take six to eight hours a day to homeschool your child. Most of the time children spend at school consists of waiting. Design a plan that works for your family and be prepared to scratch it several times and start over. There are many ways families homeschool; find what works for you and your family.

Q:

How will I know if my child is learning?

A:

Children love to learn. It is as natural to them as breathing. They have an inborn hunger to explore the world and examine what is interesting and absorb new information like a sponge. They learn by following their interests, with one interest leading to another. This is the way we all learned as younger children and how as adults we learn after we leave school. Homeschooling families learn together and know that learning is a life-long process. .  Evaluations and Standardized testing are required by Florida law.  Use these as markers and tools in evaluating your child’s progress and planning for their learning style and curriculum needs for the future.  Remember every child learns differently and has different interests.  One of the great opportunities of home education is the ability to motivate your children to learn and grow through their individual interests and gifts

Q:

My kids won't listen to me. How can I do this?

A:

Pray and keep going.  You will question yourself a lot, maybe several times a day in the beginning. This is normal. Find a fellow homeschooling friend and support each other. Tell each other that it's okay to sometimes feel that your children didn't seem to learn anything on a given day. In actuality they learn new things everyday and so do you!

When we bring our children home for the academics we find many other opportunities to teach much more than math, reading, history, science, etc.  Our responsibility as parents is also to train them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.  When we see character or obedience issues in our children, we have been given the opportunity and time to address these things as the priority in their education at the time.  Work first on creatively building the relationship with your child and teaching the importance of obedience and good character. 

Q:

What if I don't know how to teach a subject?

A:

You will not have to teach higher-level academics unless you want to. It is not necessary to teach pre-algebra, biology, or chemistry to ten year olds. When your teen is ready to explore the requirements of college admission, together you will explore the ways they can learn the necessary higher-level academics. Many curriculum choices are geared for self education. Other options include taking classes in Florida Virtual School, dual enrollment in a community college class or working with a private tutor.

Q:

Can I afford to homeschool? Isn't curriculum expensive?

A:

Homeschooling materials have come a long way in the past few years. Our options now extend beyond private school curricula and used textbooks. Packaged curriculum can cost a few dollars to many hundreds of dollars. Used products are often available at used curriculum sales, online or from other homeschool families. The web is filled with free curriculum.  There are many options and resources available to fit your families needs if you just look around!