HOME EDUCATION PROGRAM | Policy Manual | Brevard Co. Public Schools

9270 - HOME EDUCATION PROGRAMS

A "home education program" means the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his/her parent/legal guardian in order to satisfy the attendance requirements set forth in State law.

Home education programs are excluded from meeting the day or hour requirements of the school day or school year.

Establishment of a Home Education Program
1. Parents/Legal guardians residing in the District seeking to establish a home education program for their child shall notify the Superintendent of their intent to establish and maintain a home education program. Home school students will not be assigned a grade level by the District.
2. If the student has previously not been enrolled in the District, when making such notification, the parent shall also comply with the residency verification required by State law and Policy 5112 - Entrance Requirements.
3. The notice must be in writing, signed by the parent/legal guardian, and must include the full legal names, addresses, and birthdates of all children who shall be enrolled as students in the home education program. The District may not require any additional information or verification from the parent/legal guardian unless the student chooses to participate in a District program or service. If the parent/legal guardian of a child who has been identified as exhibiting a pattern of nonattendance enrolls the child in a home education program, the Superintendent shall provide the parent/legal guardian with a copy of F.S. 1002.41, a copy of the accountability requirements set forth in F.S. 1003.26(1)(f) with which the parent/legal guardian shall be expected to comply, and a copy of Policy 5200 which sets forth the actions that must be taken for noncompliance.
4. Parents/Legal guardians establishing and maintaining a home education program are not required to hold a valid regular Florida teaching certificate.
5. The notice must be filed in the Superintendent's office within thirty (30) days of the establishment of the home education program.
6. The Superintendent shall accept the notice and immediately register the home education program upon receipt of the notice. A parent is not required to submit any additional information or verification unless the student chooses to participate in a District program or service. If the student chooses to participate in a District program or service, s/he will be required to supply the District with the same information that is required of the District's students in order to participate in the program or service.
Home education program students will be provided written notification of the available industry certifications, national assessments, and Statewide, standardized assessments offered by the District. The notice will include the following:
1. the date, time, and locations of the administration of each certification and assessment; and
2. the deadline for notifying the District of the student's intent to participate and the student's preferred location.

Parents must file a written notice of termination in the Superintendent's office within thirty (30) days of completion of the home education program. The written notice must also include a copy of the student's Annual Educational Evaluation.

Portfolios
1. Parents/Legal guardians who establish a home education program shall maintain a portfolio of records and materials. As required by State law, the portfolio must consist of the following:
  1. a log of educational activities that is made contemporaneously with the instruction and that designates by title any reading materials used; and
  2. samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student.

Parents shall determine the content of the portfolio, preserve it for two (2) years, and make it available for inspection by the Superintendent, if requested, upon fifteen (15) days' written notice.

Annual Educational Evaluation
1. Parents/Legal guardians who establish a home education program shall provide for an annual educational evaluation documenting their child's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with his/her ability. The parent/legal guardian shall select the method of evaluation and shall file a copy of the evaluation annually with the Superintendent's office in the District. The annual educational evaluation shall consist of one (1) of the following:
  1. A teacher selected by the parent/legal guardian shall evaluate the student's educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the student. Such teacher shall hold a valid regular Florida certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level.
  2. The student shall take any nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher.
  3. The student shall take a State student assessment test used by the District and administered by a certified teacher, at a location, and under testing conditions approved by the District.
  4. The student shall be evaluated by an individual holding a valid, active license pursuant to the provisions of State law.
  5. The student shall be evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the Superintendent and the parent/legal guardian.
2. The Superintendent shall accept the results of the annual educational evaluation of the student in a home education program and may also request that the parent/legal guardian submit the student's portfolio for review. Pursuant to State law, the parent/legal guardian must submit the portfolio within fifteen (15) days of receiving this notice.
3. If the student does not demonstrate educational progress at a level commensurate with his/her ability, the Superintendent shall notify the parent/legal guardian, in writing, that such progress has not been achieved.
4. The parent/legal guardian shall have one (1) year from the date of receipt of the written notification to provide remedial instruction to the student. At the end of the one (1) year probationary period, the student shall be reevaluated as specified in State law. Continuation in a home education program shall be contingent upon the student demonstrating educational progress commensurate with his/her ability at the end of the probationary period.
Home Education Student Participation in Certain Activities
1. In accordance with Florida law, home education program students may participate in certain activities associated with the District. These activities include, but are not limited to, the following:
  1. interscholastic extra-curricular student activities;
  2. dual enrollment programs; and
  3. District virtual instruction programs;
  4. career and technical courses and programs when the student enrolls in a public school solely for career and technical courses and programs; and
  5. industry certifications, national assessments, and statewide, standardized assessments offered by the District.
2. Furthermore, home education program students may also enroll in one (1) or more courses provided by the District for students in grades 7 through 12. The student's enrollment shall be on a space available basis. If the home education program student enrolls in one (1) or more courses, the student shall be subject to the rules and expectations that apply to all other enrolled students.
Exceptional Student Education
1. Parents/Legal guardians of students not enrolled in the District who suspect that their child may have a disability or may be gifted should (1) contact the District's Exceptional Student Education office and request that their child be tested and evaluated; or (2) contact the Florida Department of Education's (FLDOE's) Diagnostic and Resources System (FDLRS) and request that their child be evaluated in accordance with State law. If requested to do so by a parent/legal guardian of a student suspected of having a disability or is gifted, the District shall perform testing and evaluation services for the student.
2. If it is determined that a student meets eligibility requirements for exceptional student education, his/her parent/legal guardian(s) may enroll the child in the District so that the child may receive appropriate instruction and services as an ESE student, choose to educate the child in a home education program, or choose to access other educational options provided by State law, such scholarship programs, virtual education, etc. The District is not obligated to provide ESE instruction and services to eligible students who are not enrolled in the District.
3. If the parent/legal guardian of a child with a disability who is currently enrolled in a home education program chooses to enroll the child full-time in the District, the District shall provide a free appropriate public education in accordance with the terms of Policy 2460 - Exceptional Student Education, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and any other applicable Florida and Federal laws.
4. When a home education student with disabilities requests services from the District, the student is offered exceptional education and related services through an Individual Education Plan (IEP) that provides a free, appropriate, public education (FAPE). Only a full offer of FAPE through an IEP will be provided to students with disabilities who are home educated. All students who are eligible for special education and related services will be provided their services based on full FAPE IEP including students whose IEP provides for speech therapy, language therapy, occupational therapy, and/or physical therapy. In order to access the offer of FAPE, the student must re-enroll in the public school for the portion of the school day that the student accesses IEP services.
5. Parents/Legal guardians are responsible for the transportation of students in home education/private schools programs both to and from the public school providing the course(s) of interest. The school principal will establish the time and place for the arrival and departure of home education/private school student accepted into the part-time program. All home education/private school students who attend District schools on a part-time basis are subject to the same relevant rules and regulations as full-time students. Beginning August, 2009, gifted program services are not provided to students who are enrolled in a private school or in home education.

Revised 4/28/09
Revised 5/09
Revised 12/13/11
Revised 9/11/18
Revised 3/12/24