Florida state statutes consider a home education program to be a series of progressive instructions taught by a child's parent or guardian. To qualify for this option, the instructor(s) must notify the county's superintendent no later than 30 days after the initial creation of the home education program. Required information includes the names, addresses and birth years of any children attending the program. Instructors are required to keep all coursework and material used each year for a minimum period of two years after being taught. This information must be readily available to the county superintendent upon request. Students enrolled in this option are not subject to an attendance requirement.
A single home-schooling program does not qualify as a private school under Florida statutes. However, a group of programs may apply to be a single private school under the Private School Corporation Law of 1959, the Non-Profit Corporation Law or the Florida Business Corporation Act. Groups wishing to go this route must visit their local circuit court to file a charter and find out if a business license is required. A database form must be filled out each year that the school is in existence, and all enrolled children must be physically present at the school as the FLDOE prohibits home-schooling programs from satelliting, or attending remotely, other home-schooling programs. Students must attend school for at least 180 days out of the year.
Florida's private tutor law allows children to be enrolled in a program where the instructor holds a state license in the subjects taught. The instructor must also maintain records and file reports required by the FLDOE and school district. Under this option, students are required to be physically present for at least 180 days out of the year (or the hourly equivalent). There are five standardized test options for students being privately tutored, and one of the options must be met per year. These include taking a national achievement test administered by a certified instructor, taking a state achievement test, and being evaluated by either a school or state psychologist.