CURRENT GRADE: A
Florida has the best education freedom options in the nation. 1.7 million K-12 students attended a school of choice in 2023. Scholarships allow tax dollars to follow the student. Special programs give multiple options for students with special needs.
Homeschool laws are parent friendly but do require annual assessments but can enroll in a private homeschool program and not be subject to the assessments. There is state tax funding available for homeschooled students.
Compulsory education is required for ages 6-under 16 years of age.
Education Options
- K-12 Scholarship Programs
- Family Empowerment Scholarship—Provides funding for use outside public schools.
- Must be resident of FL and eligible to enroll in K-12 in the state.
- Money can be used for approved private schools.
- Priority is given to low-income students and all students can qualify.
- No cap on participants.
- Average award in 2023-24 was $7,950.
- An additional $750 scholarship for transportation is available
- Homeschool students are eligible.
- Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities.
- Money is allocated through an education savings account (ESA) and can be used for both public school or private school for qualified students with disabilities.
- Can be used for private tutoring, online programs, and more.
- Florida Tax Credit Scholarship
- Provides state tax credits for contributions to nonprofit scholarship funding organizations. The money is then awarded to eligible children via scholarships.
- The Hope Scholarship
- For students in K-12 public school who have been victims of battery, harassment, bullying, robbery, sexual offenses, and more.
- Provides for a transfer to another public school with capacity.
- New Worlds Scholarship Accounts
- $1200 for eligible Pre-K/K students who have a deficiency in reading or math or who have dyslexia or dyscalculia or suffer a substantial deficiency in early literacy skills.
- Opportunity Scholarship Program
- A public school student’s parent may request and receive from the state an Opportunity Scholarship for the student to enroll in and attend a higher performing public school if:
- By assigned school attendance area or by special assignment, student spent the prior school year in attendance at a public school that has been designated as earning a grade “F” or three consecutive “Ds” as based on the statewide assessments conducted pursuant to Section. 1008.22, Florida Statutes.
- The student has been in attendance elsewhere in the public school system and has been assigned to such school for the next school year; or
- The student has been assigned to such school for the next school year.
- Charter Schools
- These are public schools of choice that are free to innovate.
- Over 730 charter schools in 2024.
- Virtual Education
- Multiple state or local options for virtual schooling.
- A public school student’s parent may request and receive from the state an Opportunity Scholarship for the student to enroll in and attend a higher performing public school if:
- Family Empowerment Scholarship—Provides funding for use outside public schools.
Homeschooling Laws
Here are state laws on the topic of homeschooling:
- Parents must give a one-time notice to the district superintendent. regarding intent to homeschool
- No parent qualifications or instruction requirements.
- Parents should maintain a portfolio of student work.
- Children must be assessed annually by standardized test or portfolio evaluation and eval provided to the district.
- Parents may enroll their students in a private school simply for the purpose of homeschooling. Students are then subject to the rules of the private school. There are no assessment requirements under this model.
Religious Exemptions:
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The state has no formal laws related to religious exemptions.
The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many argue that a religious conviction to provide a home-based education is constitutionally protected and a state religious exemption law is not a requirement to be able to homeschool on religious grounds.
It should be noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) established that “Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, a state law requiring that children attend school past eighth grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.” (The case involved a challenge of a 16-year-old student to be exempt, so the scope was limited)
