Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the responsibilities of parents who establish a home education program?
· Complete and return the NOTICE OF INTENT, which can be found on our website, to the home education office. At such time, your child will be withdrawn from Charlotte County Public Schools and enrolled in home education.
· Within 30 days of establishing your program, finalize your curriculum provider and actively direct your student's education.
· Maintain your parent-created portfolio.
· Provide an annual educational evaluation for the student’s educational process to the home education office.
· Preserve each student’s portfolio for two years.
· Submit a letter of termination and annual evaluation upon completion of the home education program or change of residence.
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Will you tell me what to teach my child?
NO, the parent who assumes the responsibility of educating a child at home also assumes the responsibility for providing a curriculum, educational materials, and evaluations necessary to determine student progress. The school system does not supply texts, curriculum guides, technology, or education standards for the home education student.
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What are Charlotte County Public Schools’ responsibilities to me as a home education parent?
Public school systems have very few responsibilities for the Home Education Program because the family has essentially withdrawn their child from the public school system and entered him/her in a separate system, much the same as if the student were entering any private school. Instead, the school system's responsibilities are to the requirements of compulsory school attendance. That is the reason home education students must register with the superintendent's designee.
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Who can teach in home education setting?
A parent is not required to have a valid Florida teaching certificate to home educate a student. Furthermore, the instruction is no longer required to take place in the home nor must the parent be the person to deliver instructions.
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How do I know if my student passes to the next grade level?
As long as the student is registered with the district and enrolled in a non-accredited Home Education Program, promotion to the next grade level is a decision made by the parent operating the program. However, when the child returns to the district public school, grade placement is subject to those standards outlined in the Charlotte County Public School Student Progression Plan.
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Do I submit a notice of intent each year?
Once enrolled, state law does not require the parent to register their child each year for the home education program. Parents should notify the Home Education Office via email to report address, phone number or email changes.
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When is my portfolio due for review?
A student in a home education setting must be evaluated once a year to demonstrate educational progress at a level equivalent to his or her abilities. The annual evaluation is due on the anniversary date of the submission of the letter of intent. This date is not to be confused with the date of the submission of the last annual evaluation. The parent selects the method of evaluation from those provided in the Florida Statute, then files a copy of the evaluation annually with the Home Education Office.
If a student has been found to exhibit a pattern of nonattendance, the parent must submit a portfolio to be reviewed by a home education committee every 30 days until the committee determines that the Home Education Program is in compliance with Section 1003.26, F.S.
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What does the annual educational evaluation include?
A student in a home education setting must be evaluated once a year to demonstrate educational progress at a level equivalent to his or her abilities. "Annually" is defined in Florida Statute as one year from the date of the Notice of Intent. The parent selects the method of evaluation from those provided in Florida Statute, then files a copy of the evaluation annually in the superintendent’s office. The evaluation must consist of one of the following:
- A Florida certified teacher is chosen by the parent may evaluate the child’s progress based on the 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 used by the school district and administered by a certified teacher, at a location and under testing conditions approved by the school district;
- 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
- 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.
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Do you have a list of Florida certified teachers for home school evaluations?
Rowena Anderson
727- 463-0577
Jennifer Belknap
homeschoolinginthemidstofchaos.com
660-441-7422
Sandy Drexler
352-376-4853
Julianne Farricker
Julianne.Farricker@yourcharlotteschools.net
941-275-2847
Jennifer Geisel *
Jennifer.Geisel@yourcharlotteschools.net
941-255-7535
Loraine Materasso
loraine@homeschool-evaluator.com
727-560-4509
Kristina Mulholland
941-763-0450
Julie Munger
239-272-3719
Katharine Oliver *
980-875-8981
Stephanie Rusch *
Stephanie.Rusch@yourcharlotteschools.net
941-255-7500
Cheryl Trzasko
Cheryl@FLHomeschoolEvaluations.com
561-798-3842
Charles Tucker*
www.Homeschool-Evaluations.com
cctucker7@gmail.com
Cell: 786-525-3545Kimberlee Tucker
Florida Homeschool Evaluations and Testing
*holds ESE certification
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What type of diploma do home education students receive?
School districts, adult high schools, and community colleges are NOT authorized to award a regular high school diploma to home education students. A home education student may take the General Educational Development (GED) test at an education center and be awarded a Florida GED diploma if the student receives a passing score. A homeschooling parent may issue their child a diploma. The parent confers the diploma on the student, indicating the successful completion of their prescribed homeschooling course of study.
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How are my student’s credits validated?
School districts, adult high schools, and community colleges are NOT authorized to award a regular high school diploma to home education students. A home education student may take the General Educational Development (GED) test at an education center and be awarded a Florida GED diploma if the student receives a passing score. A homeschooling parent may issue their child a diploma. The parent confers the diploma on the student, indicating the successful completion of their prescribed homeschooling course of study.
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How does a home school student apply to university?
According to State University System (SUS) general admission requirements, homeschool students should submit an Affidavit of Home Education Completion attesting that he or she has completed a home education program including the 4-4-3-3 core curriculum plus 2 consecutive levels of a Foreign Language. This affidavit must be completed by the Homeschool Official (parent or guardian) and signed and sealed by a Florida Commissioned Notary.
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Can my child enroll in public school during their senior year to receive a diploma?
If a home education child is working at the secondary level (grades 9-12), no high school credit is earned. If the student enrolls in a public school, grade placement and credits will be determined by the school administrators according to district policies and the transfer of credit rules.
Home education students who wish to receive a diploma and participate in the graduation ceremonies MUST enroll in a Charlotte County high school for the last SEMESTER of their senior year.
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Concentrated Curriculum Providers (non-diploma granting programs)
There is no requirement for districts to provide instructional materials to home education students. The parent who assumes the responsibility of educating their child at home also assumes the responsibility for providing the curriculum, educational materials and evaluations necessary to determine student progress Charlotte County Public Schools does NOT supply technology, texts, curriculum guides or educational standards for the home education student. There are many methods a parent may use to direct a home education program:
- instruct the student;
- enroll the student in courses part-time in a private school;
- enroll the student in virtual/online courses;
- enroll the student in correspondence courses;
- hire a tutor, or
- choose any other means that provides "sequentially progressive instruction" directed by the parent.
Note: These sources are provided only as a reference and should not be considered as an endorsement for or against any of the parties indicated by Charlotte County Public Schools.
CHARLOTTE VIRTUAL SCHOOL part-time
EASY PEASY ALL-IN-ONE HOMESCHOOL
PENN FOSTER ONLINE HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM
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Homeschool Parent Groups
Home School Rocks Home School Legal Defense Association
Florida Homeschool Association
Florida Parent Education Association
Piecing Together the High School Puzzle
Home School Legal Defense Association
Note: These sources are provided only as a reference and should not be considered as an endorsement for or against any of the parties indicated by Charlotte County Public Schools.
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Local Facebook Homeschool Groups
Homeschool Charlotte County and North Port, Florida
Homeschooling Tweens/Teens in North Port and Surrounding Areas
Note: These sources are provided only as a reference and should not be considered as an endorsement for or against any of the parties indicated by Charlotte County Public Schools.
