Orange County Public Schools

School districts are required to provide state assessment tests, if the parent chooses this option as a form of evaluation. School districts may offer standardized tests to home education students. Please refer to the district testing calendar for upcoming assessment dates. Parents must make arrangements at their zone schools for testing options in a timely manner.
STUDENT AND PARENTAL RIGHTS AND EDUCATIONAL CHOICES: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=1002.01&URL=1000-1099/1002/Sections/1002.41.html

No. A parent is not required to have a valid Florida teaching certificate to home educate his or her child.

Yes, there will be expenses associated with home education: books, materials, and any other instructional materials you choose to utilize. All expenses for the home education program are paid by the parents.

As set forth by Florida Statute 1002.41(1)(a), to establish a Home Education Program and maintain compliance, the parent must:

1. Maintain a portfolio or records and materials for each student that contains:
   
   
   • A log, made contemporaneously with the instruction and which designates by title any reading material used, and 
     
     
   • Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, and creative materials used or developed by the student(s) 
     
     
2. Preserve each student’s portfolio for two years and make it available for inspection by the Superintendent, upon a 15-day written notice. 
   
   
3. Provide an annual educational evaluation of each student by: 
   
   
   • Selecting a teacher holding a valid regular Florida certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level to review and discuss with the student the contents of the portfolio, or 
     
     
   • Having the student take a nationally-normed student achievement test that is administered by a certified teacher, or 
     
     
   • Having the student take a state student assessment test, or 
     
     
   • Having each student evaluated by a psychologist holding a valid, active license, or
      
   • Having each student evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the Superintendent’s designee and the student’s parent prior to the evaluation. 
     
     
4. Submit the results obtained from the annual educational evaluation in writing to the Superintendent’s designee.

No. Once a student is withdrawn from the Orange County Public Schools and registered in a Home Education Program (HEP), the decision of what to teach, when to teach, etc. is the parent’s responsibility. To view the competencies taught in various courses, visit our website at www.ocps.net. Select the icon “Departments”, and then click “Curriculum”.

There are five options for evaluating your child: 

1. Selecting a teacher holding a valid regular Florida teaching certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level to review and discuss with the student the contents of the portfolio, or 
   
   
2. Having the student take a nationally-normed student achievement test that is administered by a certified teacher, or 
   
   
3. Having the student take a state student assessment test, or 
   
   
4. Having each student evaluated by a psychologist holding a valid, active license, or 
   
   
5. Having each student evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the Superintendent’s designee and the student’s parent prior to the evaluation.
   

There are five options for evaluating your child:

1. Selecting a teacher holding a valid regular Florida teaching certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level to review and discuss with the student the contents of the portfolio, or
   
   
2. Having the student take a nationally-normed student achievement test that is administered by a certified teacher, or
   
   
3. Having the student take a state student assessment test, or
   
   
4. Having each student evaluated by a psychologist holding a valid, active license, or
   
   
5. Having each student evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the Superintendent’s designee and the student’s parent prior to the evaluation.
   
   

That is the parent’s decision. If the student re-enters public school, testing or performance review by the school’s administration may indicate another grade level as more appropriate placement.

Provide written notice of termination of your home education program to the Superintendent within 30 days of the termination. 
***NOTE***
THE TERMINATION PROCESS IS DONE ELECTRONICALLY. THE LINK FOR WITHDRAWAL CAN BE FOUND ON THE HOME EDUCATION PAGE UNDER THE LETTER OF TERMINATION TAB.

Yes. Home education students may participate in interscholastic, extracurricular activities as long as they meet the requirements of Florida Statute 1006.5. Home education students must be given the same opportunity as public school students. The law prohibits any requirement that would make participation less accessible for home education students. Florida Statute 1002.41 only addresses the participation and requirements of public school and home education students. There is no requirement that public schools provide activities to private school students. 

Florida Statute 1002.41 primarily applies to students in grades 9 – 12 but does not prohibit students in lower grades from participating in activities involving interscholastic competition. 

In accordance with Florida Statute 1006.15(4)(c), a home education student must be able to participate in curricular activities if that is a requirement for an extracurricular activity. For example, the school must allow a home education student to take a band class during the day if that class is required for participation in the school’s marching band. 

There are five options for evaluating your child:

1. Selecting a teacher holding a valid regular Florida teaching certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level to review and discuss with the student the contents of the portfolio, or
   
   
2. Having the student take a nationally-normed student achievement test that is administered by a certified teacher, or
   
   
3. Having the student take a state student assessment test, or
   
   
4. Having each student evaluated by a psychologist holding a valid, active license, or
   
   
5. Having each student evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the Superintendent’s designee and the student’s parent prior to the evaluation.