FAQ
Attendance
1. How many days are required?
You are required to report at least 180 days attendance each school year.
2. What counts?
This decision is up to you. For some home schools, everyday counts. For some, only days which include more than 4 or 6 hours of actual book time will count. While still others may count a day if at least one subject is taught. Some have a flexible homeschool and others have a more rigid philosophy. You decide where you fall.
3. When is attendance due?
Attendance is due by June 1st for the entire school year. You may submit attendance earlier if you complete the school year prior to June 1.
4. What about the days before RSA enrollment?
You begin counting your attendance on the enrollment date. If you join in the middle of the school year, your other days will reported at the previous school.
5. Don't I need to report what we are doing?
According to the Florida Satutes, the only thing that you need to report to RSA on an annual basis is your attendance.
6. What if I do not report attendance?
Your child's enrollment will be terminated.
General
1. I have never heard of this private school option before. Is this the same thing as an umbrella school
or a 600 school?
It is estimated that about half the homeschoolers in Florida use the private school option. These schools are called cover schools, umbrella schools, 600 schools (if they are incorporated), church schools, etc.
The Florida Statute associated with the Private School option is Florida Statute 1002.42.
2. Why do you need my child's birth certificate and medical records?
It is the law. These documents are required for all private schools, including private umbrella schools.
These documents will be safe at RSA. They will not be distributed or even shown to anyone, unless an audit is done by the state, of my records. They will simply be placed in a folder with the rest of what the Florida Statute (1002.42 (3) (a) 2. a and b) considers permanent and temporary information.
3. Who do I need to tell or notify if I choose the private school option?
You do not need to notify anyone about your decision to enroll your child in a private school, UNLESS... your child is already enrolled somewhere else.
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school and you want to change to a private school, you MUST formally withdraw him from public school. The front office of the public school will have a form for you to fill out. It is extremely important that you do this. If you simply stop showing up at the public school, you start the ball rolling on truancy issues.
When the public school wants to know where you are transferring your child, the answer is, "He is being enrolled in a private school." If they want the name of the school, give it to them.
If your child is enrolled in another private school, you should also formally notify them of the transfer.
If you want your child's records from the previous school, ask for them. They may give them to you or they may want a letter from me requesting the records. I am happy to send the request if you give me the name and address of the school and then I will just forward the records to you.
If you have sent a letter of intent to the county, establishing your Home Education Program, and want to change to the private school option, you MUST send a letter of termination to the county. It should be something along the lines of: "This is to notify you that the
Home EducationProgram for Student X has been terminated. He is now enrolled in a private school." This goes to the Superintendent or the person at the school board you sent your letter of intent to.
(Yes, you are still home schooling. You are just doing it under the private school option instead of the HEP option.)
4. Do I have to keep a log or portfolio?
No. These are required only if you are home schooling under the HEP option. It is not a requirement of RSA or the law concerning private schools.
Attendance
1. How many days are required?
You are required to report at least 180 days attendance each school year.
2. What counts?
This decision is up to you. For some home schools, everyday counts. For some, only days which include more than 4 or 6 hours of actual book time will count. While still others may count a day if at least one subject is taught. Some have a flexible homeschool and others have a more rigid philosophy. You decide where you fall.
3. When is attendance due?
Attendance is due by June 1st for the entire school year. You may submit attendance earlier if you complete the school year prior to June 1.
4. What about the days before RSA enrollment?
You begin counting your attendance on the enrollment date. If you join in the middle of the school year, your other days will reported at the previous school.
5. Don't I need to report what we are doing?
According to the Florida Satutes, the only thing that you need to report to RSA on an annual basis is your attendance.
6. What if I do not report attendance?
Your child's enrollment will be terminated.
General
1. I have never heard of this private school option before. Is this the same thing as an umbrella school
or a 600 school?
It is estimated that about half the homeschoolers in Florida use the private school option. These schools are called cover schools, umbrella schools, 600 schools (if they are incorporated), church schools, etc.
The Florida Statute associated with the Private School option is Florida Statute 1002.42.
2. Why do you need my child's birth certificate and medical records?
It is the law. These documents are required for all private schools, including private umbrella schools.
These documents will be safe at RSA. They will not be distributed or even shown to anyone, unless an audit is done by the state, of my records. They will simply be placed in a folder with the rest of what the Florida Statute (1002.42 (3) (a) 2. a and b) considers permanent and temporary information.
3. Who do I need to tell or notify if I choose the private school option?
You do not need to notify anyone about your decision to enroll your child in a private school, UNLESS... your child is already enrolled somewhere else.
If your child is currently enrolled in a public school and you want to change to a private school, you MUST formally withdraw him from public school. The front office of the public school will have a form for you to fill out. It is extremely important that you do this. If you simply stop showing up at the public school, you start the ball rolling on truancy issues.
When the public school wants to know where you are transferring your child, the answer is, "He is being enrolled in a private school." If they want the name of the school, give it to them.
If your child is enrolled in another private school, you should also formally notify them of the transfer.
If you want your child's records from the previous school, ask for them. They may give them to you or they may want a letter from me requesting the records. I am happy to send the request if you give me the name and address of the school and then I will just forward the records to you.
If you have sent a letter of intent to the county, establishing your Home Education Program, and want to change to the private school option, you MUST send a letter of termination to the county. It should be something along the lines of: "This is to notify you that the
Home EducationProgram for Student X has been terminated. He is now enrolled in a private school." This goes to the Superintendent or the person at the school board you sent your letter of intent to.
(Yes, you are still home schooling. You are just doing it under the private school option instead of the HEP option.)
4. Do I have to keep a log or portfolio?
No. These are required only if you are home schooling under the HEP option. It is not a requirement of RSA or the law concerning private schools.
