Catholic Homeschooling in Florida
How to Homeschool in Florida
In Florida, there are three options for homeschooling:
1. Homeschooling under Florida’s homeschool statue. With this option, you will file a notice of intent, keep a portfolio, and test annually.
2. Homeschooling under a private school “umbrella” program, using a homeschool program supervised by the school.
3. Homeschooling with a private tutor. In this option, you will hire a private tutor, keep records, and provide the required number of days of instruction.
Compulsory school ages are 6-16 and notification is required only with option 1. There are no state mandated subjects and no testing requirements, except with option 1. No immunizations are required.
Florida Department of Education Home School Information
Home education is a parent-directed educational option that satisfies the requirement for regular school attendance. Parents have the freedom to determine their child’s educational path and the plan for reaching their goals. Students have the opportunity to explore and learn at their own pace, in any location or at any time. Home education students are able to enter institutions of higher learning and are eligible to participate in the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
How to Comply with Florida’s Homeschool Law
How to Withdraw Your Child from School in Florida
Special Education Provisions for Florida
The Importance of Recordkeeping in Florida
Lobbying & Advocacy Organizations
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
HSLDA is the nation’s largest homeschool advocacy organization. They protect the rights of homeschoolers in court, advocate for homeschool freedom in state legislatures, and work to advance homeschooling in the public arena.
Florida Parent Educators Association (FPEA)
The Florida Parent-Educators Association exists solely to serve homeschooling families in Florida. It executes that mission through support for the legal right to homeschool, local school board education and interaction, support group networking, a state convention, local conferences and events, informative communications, and individual encouragement.
Home Education Resources and Information (HERI)
HERI is a non-profit organization that provides support and communication between homeschoolers in the state of Florida.
Catholic Homeschool Support Groups
Arch Angels of South Florida
South Florida, Miami, Miami-Dade County, Broward County
The ARCH Angels of South Florida is an association of Catholic homeschooling families throughout South Florida that are committed to their faith as a way of life. They provide support and fellowship to member families.
Ave Maria Catholic Homeschoolers
Ave Maria, Florida
Ave Maria Catholic Homeschoolers is a group for homeschoolers living in Ave Maria, Florida who would like to gather with likeminded families, to grow and learn in their Catholic faith.
Ave Maria Homeschoolers
Ave Maria, Florida
A forum for discussions about homeschooling and related topics in the Ave Maria, FL area. This group is for residents of Ave Maria and the surrounding area who either homeschool, are planning to homeschool in the near future, or who are homeschool veterans willing to act as resources for our local homeschooling community. Please restrict posts to topics pertaining to homeschooling.
Catholic Homeschoolers of Florida
This online group connects Catholic homeschoolers across Florida. They discuss Catholic homeschooling, local support groups, Catholic conferences, and more.
Catholic Homeschoolers in the Diocese of St. Augustine, FL
St. Augustine, FL
This group serves Catholic homeschoolers and unschoolers in the Diocese of St Augustine in Florida. They share information and ideas, local events, and support each other.
JMJ Hernando
Hernando, FL
JMJ Hernando is a Catholic homeschooling community established to bring families together weekly throughout the school year. Their mission is to support homeschooling moms by providing educational, social and faith enriching opportunities for JMJ children in a loving environment that promotes Catholic values. Group activities include classes, clubs, field trips, social activities, and prayer and faith formation activities for children, parents and families all sharing a common purpose and vision.
JMJ Largo
Largo, FL
This is a a Catholic homeschool group of families gathered under the Mantle of Mary and the protection of St. Joseph, with Jesus at the center to provide a social, academic, and faith filled environment for member’s children and families. They offer a co-op and other activities.
JMJ Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay area, FL
JMJ Tampa Bay is a Catholic homeschooling community established in 2005 to bring families together weekly throughout the school year. They offer classes, clubs, field trips, social activities, and prayer and faith formation activities for children, parents and families.
JPII Homeschool
Jacksonville, FL
This group is centered at St. Joseph’s parish in Jacksonville. They serve the Catholic homeschool community with sponsored activities, regular opportunities for spiritual, social, and educational growth and mutual support. They meet regularly for field trips, feast days, and many other fun events.
Melbourne ArchAngels
Melbourne, FL
The Melbourne ArchAngels Catholic homeschooling community offers an academic co-op, drama club, science club, art club, book club, field trips, family socials, moms and dads events, prayer devotions, and more.
Sacred Heart Home Educators
Tallahassee, FL
The Sacred Heart Home Educators is an association of Catholic families in the Tallahassee area whose central commitment is the formation of their children in every dimension of their life, within the fullness of the Roman Catholic Tradition.
SHEAF Homeschooling Group
High Springs, FL
SHEAF is a homeschool support group serving the families of St. Madeleine Catholic Church in High Springs. They offer an art and music fair, science fair, liturgical and feast day celebrations, mothers and fathers groups, and more.
Queen of Angels Academy & Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Homeschool Support Group
Bradenton, FL
Queen of Angels Academy (QAA) and Our Lady Queen of Angels (OLQA) Catholic Homeschool Support Group are associations of lay faithful to promote homeschooling among Catholic families and to support those families who provide their children’s primary education at home. QAA is a private, non-profit “umbrella” school incorporated in the State of Florida.
Catholic Homeschool Co-ops
CHRISM – Catholic Homeschoolers Renewing Individuals’ Sacred Mission
Miami, FL
CHRISM supports each family on their individual homeschool journey. This educational co-op is located in Miami, Florida, and is run by parent volunteers. Courses include science, art, history, and more.
Classically Catholic Memory Co-op
High Springs, Melbourne, FL
Classically Catholic Memory is a memory work program that is both Catholic and classical in nature. It is designed for children ages 5 through 12, and each year of the program provides 18 weeks of memory work in each subject. CCM is run as a co-op model.
JMJ Hernando
Hernando, FL
JMJ Hernando is a Catholic homeschooling community established to bring families together weekly throughout the school year. Their mission is to support homeschooling moms by providing educational, social and faith enriching opportunities for JMJ children in a loving environment that promotes Catholic values. Group activities include classes, clubs, field trips, social activities, and prayer and faith formation activities for children, parents and families all sharing a common purpose and vision.
JMJ Largo
Largo, FL
This is a a Catholic homeschool group of families gathered under the Mantle of Mary and the protection of St. Joseph, with Jesus at the center to provide a social, academic, and faith filled environment for member’s children and families. They offer a co-op and other activities.
JMJ Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay area, FL
JMJ Tampa Bay is a Catholic homeschooling community established in 2005 to bring families together weekly throughout the school year. They offer classes, clubs, field trips, social activities, and prayer and faith formation activities for children, parents and families.
Melbourne ArchAngels
Melbourne, FL
The Melbourne ArchAngels Catholic homeschooling community offers an academic co-op, drama club, science club, art club, book club, field trips, family socials, moms and dads events, prayer devotions, and more.
Do you know of any Catholic homeschool co-ops near you? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.
Hybrid Programs & Homeschool Academies
Catholic Schoolhouse
Ave Maria, Jacksonville, Lighthouse Point, Ocala, Orlando, St. Augustine, St. Lucie, Tampa Bay, West Orlando, FL
Catholic Schoolhouse is a supplemental program designed to help homeschool families enrich their educational experience through a flexible approach to learning inspired by classical elements presented in a structure environment. They serve students in grades K-8 and meet once a week during the school year.
Holy Family Academy
Tampa, St. Petersburg, FL
Holy Family Academy is a private, independent school in the Catholic tradition for students in grades K-12. They work cooperatively with parents to ensure that students have the best Catholic education possible. Holy Family Academy was founded in 1995 as private school in the State of Florida. Enrollment is available to students in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area of Florida and families fully enrolled in the Seton program in Florida. They offer guidance counseling, report cards, transcripts, diplomas, graduation, and more.
Regina Caeli Tampa
Tampa, FL
This is a hybrid program for grades preK to 12 with classroom instruction two days a week. Parents homeschool for the other days of the week. The program is based on a classical education model and infuses the Catholic faith into all learning. There are also extracurricular activities and field trips for students.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Private Parochial School
Lehigh Acres, FL, Lee County
The Sacred Heart of Jesus Private School was established in 1994 by a group of Catholic homeschooling families desiring fellowship and support for the unique needs of Catholic homeschoolers. They are a non-traditional private school for students in grades 1 through 12, and enrollment is open to Catholic homeschoolers who reside in Lee County. If you reside outside of Lee County, you may participate in activities by joining their support group.
Sancta Familia Academy
Melbourne, FL
Sancta Familia Academy is a Florida recognized private school. This large organization offers a homeschool support group, co-op, and day school, They serve grades K through 12 and offer classes, recordkeeping, curriculum guidance, dual enrollment, college counseling, standardized testing, transcripts, high school diplomas, and more. Sancta Familia Facebook page.
Queen of Angels Academy & Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Homeschool Support Group
Bradenton, FL
Queen of Angels Academy (QAA) and Our Lady Queen of Angels (OLQA) Catholic Homeschool Support Group are associations of lay faithful to promote homeschooling among Catholic families and to support those families who provide their children’s primary education at home. QAA is a private, non-profit “umbrella” school incorporated in the State of Florida.
Do you know of any Catholic hybrid homeschool programs or homeschool academies near you? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.
Catholic Homeschool Conferences
The 2024 Catholic Homeschool Conference
Virtual Conference
June 7-8, 2024
Local Classes & Programs for Homeschoolers
Do you know of any great local classes or programs for Catholic homeschoolers? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.
Sports for Homeschoolers
Public School Access for Homeschoolers in Florida
Home educated students are eligible to participate in the public school’s interscholastic extracurricular activities.
Do you know of any great sports programs for Catholic homeschoolers? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.
Shrines & Pilgrimages in Florida
Mary, Queen of the Universe Basilica and National Shrine
Orlando, FL
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe is a house of pilgrimage and prayer to inspire in the faithful an ever-deeper devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church. It is open daily. The grounds of the Shrine include a Rosary Garden, an outdoor chapel, and bell tower.
National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mission Nombre de Dios
St. Augustine, FL
Nestled in the heart of historic St. Augustine, Florida, this sacred site, designated a national shrine by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2019, has been a beacon of prayer, devotion, and miracles for over 450 years. The first Mass on North American soil was celebrated at this site on September 8, 1565. It is open daily for visits and admission is free.
Do you know of any Catholic pilgrimage sites or shrines that would be perfect for a homeschool field trip? Let us know by filling out our Resource Submission Form, and we’ll add it here.
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