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Homeschooling through the School District -
Annual Evaluation
You must file an annual evalution, which is due on the anniversary of the date on your Notice of Intent.
Some school districts may send out a letter requesting (or demanding) that you submit your evaluation by a date they provide, but
you are under no obligation to do so. Nor do you need to request an extension of time.
The parent shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is
documented the student's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with her
or his ability. The parent shall select the method of evaluation and shall file a copy of the
evaluation annually with the district school superintendent's office in the county in which the
student resides. The annual educational evaluation shall consist of one of the following:
Statute 1002.41(1)(c)
1) A teacher selected by the parent shall evaluate the student's educational progress upon review of
the portfolio and discussion with the student. Such teacher shall hold a valid regular
Florida certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level;
There are many ex-teachers (holding a current teaching certificate) who are now home
educating their children. Your support group can give you the names of some in your area, or see
the Evaluators list in theEvaluators and Tutors section of this site. You do
not need to use a teacher who is currently employed by your county's school district. (And, in fact, you'll probably have
a happier experience if you select a teacher who is also a homeschooling parent.)
2)The student shall take any nationally normed student achievement test administered
by a certified teacher; Many support groups offer group testing. Alternately, your
evaluator may be able to administer the test to your child.
3)The student shall take a state student assessment test used by the school district
and administered by a certified teacher, at a location and under testing conditions
approved by the school district; This is the FCAT and it is not recommended that
home education students participate in this testing, particularly if you haven't spent several months teaching to the test,
as public schools have done. If you choose to participate, your test
scores will be sent directly to the Superintendent and he/she will then forward them to you. So
you'll be the last to see the results.
4)The student shall be evaluated by an individual holding a valid, active license
pursuant to the provisions of s. 490.003(7) or (8); This is an expensive choice but may
be worth pursuing if you have a special needs child or one who learns differently.
5) The student shall be evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon
by the district school superintendent of the district in which the student resides and the
student's parent.
The chart below gives an overview of the options.
| Type |
Description |
Pros/Cons |
Cost |
Notes |
| Teacher Evaluation |
Parent or guardian selects a Florida state certified teacher to review the
portfolio, speak with the child (and parent) and, less frequently, administer a test to the
child. Any Florida certified teacher may evaluate your child, regardless which subjects
he/she is certified to teach. |
Pros: Low stress for both parent and child. Parent receives information about
child's strengths and weaknesses as well as feedback on teaching plan.
Cons: Possible difficulty in locating a suitable evaluator. |
Varies, typically $40 for 1st child and $35 thereafter. |
It is a good idea to talk with several evaluators before selecting one.
This way you can ensure that your evaluator and you are of like minds with regard to teaching
style, record keeping and so on. Best approach is to find an evaluator who is (or was) a
home educator. |
| Nationally Normed Test |
May be any nationally normed test (which means that your child's
results are compared against a national sample of other students), not necessarily one used by
the school district you reside in. Samples of valid tests include the ITBS, CTBS,
SAT, CAT, MAT and ERB. Must be administered by a certified teacher. |
Pros: Gives parents a benchmark of child's test-taking skills.
Cons: Can be stressful for child. Places results for an entire year of study on a
few hours of testing. Children not familiar with test format or group setting
may not perform well. |
Varies. Roughly $50-$60 per child in a group setting; $100+ in a
private setting. |
Do not submit the actual test results to the School District.
Instead, have the test administrator or your evaluator submit an evaluation. If you choose to
have your child tested at a pubic school facility, the results will be sent directly to the
Superintendent. Some support groups offer group testing. |
| State Student Assessment Test |
The FCAT is administered to all Florida public school children. Your
child may take this test at a location designated by the School District. Test scores are sent
to the Superintendent, who forwards a copy to you. |
Cons: Results are sent directly to School District.
Your child will be taking the test in an unfamiliar environment.
Your child will probably not have been "taught to the test" nor will he or she have
received months of drill in taking this test. |
Nominal or free |
Not recommended. |
| Psychological Evaluation |
Student evaluation by a psychologist holding a valid active license
(as per statute 490.003). |
Pros: Used in special circumstances (i.e., learning disability, giftedness, etc.)
Cons: Expensive |
$150 and up |
N/A |
| Special Agreement |
Any other method agreed to by the parent and Superintendent |
Pros: Tailored to student.
Cons: May be difficult to convince Superintendent to accept alternative. |
Depends on arrangements made. |
Examples include: correspondence school records, special testing, etc. |
When to File
You must file an evaluation annually. It is due on the anniversary of the date of your Notice
of Intent. So if you filed your Notice of Intent on October 10, your evaluation is due by the
following October 10 (and on each anniversary thereafter). Some districts may send you a letter
or form indicating that you must submit your evaluation by a prescribed date, but this is not
supported by statute. Contact your local support group or the FPEA (1-877-ASK-FPEA)
What to File
Regardless which evaluation option you choose, it is recommended that you submit an
evaluation letter to the School District rather than actual test scores or evaluation details.
Your evaluator's letter should be brief and to the point. It should include the same
identifying information provided in your notice of intent, along with a
statement that your child is performing at a level commensurate with ability.
The letter must be signed by either a certified teacher or a licensed
psychologist. You do not need to submit a copy of the evaluator's certificate
or the psychologist's license. Sample forms are
provided for your convenience.
Read on to learn more about Terminating Your Program. |
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