Robertson Homeschooling Project

No profite grows where is no pleasure ta'en, In brief, sir, study what you most affect.

- Shakespeare

The essence of education is not to transfer knowledge; it is to guide the learning process, to put responsibility for study into the students' own hands. It is not the piecemeal merchandising of information; it is the bestowal of keys that allow people to unlock the vault of knowledge on their own. It does not consist of pilfering the intellectual property amassed by others through no additional effort of own's own; it would rather place people on their own path of discovery and invention.

- Tsunesaburo Makiguchi

Legality of homeschooling in Florida :

Juridic definition: A "home education program" means the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent in order to satisfy the attendance requirements of state statutes. Also: 1002.41, 1003.01(13), and 1003.21(1).

Summary of legal requirements to homeschool in Florida.

3 Ways to Legally Homeschool in Florida:

1) Register with your county school board and follow the Home Education statutes.  Also: 1002.41 Home education programs. 
2) Enroll in a private school that has a homeschooling option.  1002.42 Private schools.  
3) Use a certified tutor.  1002.43 Private tutoring programs.   

State of Florida Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice site.

Home Schooling Legal Defense Association - HLDA - Florida issues. 

Homeschoolers are not required to test under the No Child Left Behind Program and more on testing.

The different ways of homeschooling:

List of types or approaches .  These approaches can be mixed for whatever works.

Online homeschooling option in Florida through University of Miami: http://distancelearn.about.com/lw/Education/Home-schooling-Nontraditional-education/University-of-Miami-Online-High-School-Profile.htm

Sources for unit studies which focuses through a single subject:

KONOS - http://www.konos.com/

"Five in a Row"- http://www.squidoo.com/fiar

Valerie Bendt Books - http://www.valeriebendt.com/

The Well-Trained Mind, classical studies - http://www.welltrainedmind.com/

Curriculum selection and support:

Considering the legal options above, a family in Florida can:

1) Create their own curriculum or purchase one and there are many secular curriculum providers as opposed to Christian oriented.  Under this option the parents report to the local public school superintendant.  No or low cost.

2) Create or purchase a curriculum and register with a private homeschooling umbrella organization such as The Oaks Private School, which provides administrative but not academica support.  This avoids having to report to the local school superintendant.  Low cost.

3) Purchase a curriculum together with accredited interactive faculty support. Between $1500 and $3000 a year. Although not located in the State of Florida, the following seem to be the most sophisticated and satisfy Florida requirements:

Calvert - PK-8:

Pre-kindergarten with placement assesment, no online support but materials provided - $310 per year.
Kindergarten with placement assesment, online support and materials provided - $925 per year.

Oak Meadow - PK-12:

Pre-kindergarten with no online support but materials provided - $100 per year.
Kindergarten with online support and curriculum and materials - $1250 per year.

Laurel Sprinngs - K-12:

Kindergarten with online support and materials provided - $ 1900 per year.

Time4Learning - P-8:

Automated online learning - screen shots - $19.95 a month.

eTAP - e Teaching Assistance Program - K-12:

Online learning - demo - $39.00 a month.

K-12 Learning ToGo - K-12:

Online learning - $1295 per year.

Progress Academy - K-12:

Online learning: - $ 795 a year.

South Florida support groups and coops:

Floria Parent-Educators Association - FPEA - Largest with Memoria Day convention in Orlando.
Secular Home Educators Association of Florida - SHEAF - Convention in Orlando in February.
Home Education Foundation - HEF - Florida home education lobby at state level.
Broward Independent Homeschool Association - BIHA - Broward secular but weak.
South Broward Homeschool Group - Secular but weak.
Society of Parents Lending All-inclusive Support for Homeschoolers, Inc. - SPLASH - Fort Lauderdale, secular.
Homeschool of Miami Enrichment - H.O.M.E. - Miami Dade County - Recommended by Maury Fernandez:

Henry celular (786) 556-6911
Janet home (305) 759-2257
Residence: 45 NW 96th St.
Miami, FL 33150

Florida Homeschoolers - Listserver with activities and discussions - requires registering.

Complete list of Florida support groups.

Most comprehensive homeschooling information sites: