Welcome to the Home Education Office’s web site. This site contains information and resources to assist you as you home-educate your child(ren). Our office will mail you an acknowledgement letter and information packet when we receive your notice of intent. We hope you find this information useful.
What is Home Education?
- A student must be of school age to be enrolled in Home Education as specified in section 1003.21, Florida Statutes (F.S.).
- The law requires the custodial parent(s)/guardian(s) of home education students to:
- Submit a Notice of Intent (click for optional form) to establish a home education program (section 1002.41 (1) (a), F.S.)
- Maintain a portfolio containing work samples, reading list (title, author) and a log of educational activities
- Provide an Annual Evaluation (click for optional form); see Statutes and Frequently Asked Questions and Answers)
- Submit the evaluation results to the Home Education Office annually, no later than your anniversary date
- Preserve each student's portfolio for two years and make it available for inspection by the Superintendent's designee, with a 15-day written notice (section 1002.41 (2), F.S.)
- Submit a Notice of Termination (click for optional form) to conclude the home education program (section 1002.41 (1) (a), F.S.)
Notices of Intent and Termination should be mailed or faxed to:
School District of Palm Beach County Home Education Office
3308 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite C-141
West Palm Beach, FL 33406-5813
(Phone: 561-434-8052; Fax: 561-434-8447)
- There are many home education parent support groups in Palm Beach County. Support groups provide assistance regarding curriculum, instruction, educational activities, annual evaluators, and other educational needs. To receive a list of support groups, call the Home Education Office at 561-434-8052.
- Home Education students may access instruction, if eligible, at their zoned school if the class is related to an extracurricular activity (section 1006.15, F.S.) the student participates in and/or relates to the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) for Exceptional Student Education (ESE). In order to begin this process, contact your zoned public school.
- If a home education student enrolls in a public school within the School District of Palm Beach County, grade placement and credits will be determined by the school administrator(s) according to district policies (district policy 8.14). The student's curriculum, portfolio, official transcripts (e.g., accredited correspondence programs), and annual evaluations may be reviewed at the school prior to placement or credit decisions.
- If your child is currently enrolled in a public or private school, please complete the withdrawal process prior to enrolling in Home Education. In order to begin this process, contact the school your child attends.
- The School District of Palm Beach County does not provide a diploma, books, curricula, or materials for home education students. Off-Adoption Textbooks (books no longer used in our district schools) may be available to the public by contacting your local school.
- The FCAT is one of 5 options of the Annual Evaluation for home education students. Call (561) 434-8052 between January 1 and February 15 if you wish to pre-register your child (grades 3-11) for the FCAT.
- If a home education student enrolls in a public school within the School District of Palm Beach County, grade placement and credits will be determined by the school administrator(s) according to district policies. The student's curriculum, portfolio, official transcripts (e.g., accredited correspondence programs), and annual evaluations may be reviewed at the school prior to placement or credit decisions.
- Students with a prior pattern of public school nonattendance may be subject to monthly portfolio reviews in accordance with Florida law (section 1003.26, Florida Statutes).
- For further information, including translations in Spanish and Haitian-Creole, please contact the Home Education Office at (561) 434-8052.