Introduction:

What does "Parent Directed Education" Mean?

Families of Faith Christian Academy adheres to the conviction that God has ordained that parents are directly responsible for the education of their children and have specific concerns for that of their grandchildren.
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." Deuteronomy 6:5-7; also see Deuteronomy 4:9-10

Parent Directed Education is a state of involvement by the parent which can mean the parent is the primary teacher that oversees every aspect of the school day. It can also mean a parent that works with a private school, co-op, or local college to provide some or all of the courses that a student needs to be successful in his or her academic career. The student might be "registered" with the county as a homeschooler, enrolled in a traditional campus program through a private school, or even taking virtual classes at home. Then there are the blended options that include attending some classes at home, some at the private school or even Dual Enrollment at the local college. The difference is not where the student attended class, but that the parents are actively involved in providing the  learning environment that best meets the needs of their student.

The goal of Families of Faith Christian Academy International is to serve families that believe in and practice Parent Directed Education. Each student and family is different, with varying educational needs. Our programs are designed to partner with families in meeting those needs. For additional information on the programs that are offered, refer to the Programs Section of this website.

What Does Private School Mean?

Although most private schools operate in much the same manner as public schools do, i.e., age segregated classrooms, where all students meet together daily, that type of setting is not part of what is required. In the state of Florida, private schools operate independently of public schools and the federal or state Departments of Education. The Florida Department of Education guidelines state it very clearly: “Private schools are not licensed, approved, accredited, or regulated by the state. Private schools are solely responsible for all aspects of their educational programs. This includes the following: certification, qualification and training of teachers, content and comprehensiveness of the curriculum, student assessment, academic credits, grades, graduation, or promotion requirements and student record content.” As the name would suggest, Families of Faith Christian Academy International is in fact a private school, even though it was started by what most people call “homeschoolers.” However, it should be noted that, as a private school, FOFCAI maintains high standards for the students and families who choose to enroll. Additional details about the specific program, accreditation and educational philosophy of Families of Faith are contained in the various links throughout this web site.

Requirements to be a Florida private school:

1) Maintain a register of student enrollment and attendance. FOFCAI provides the enrollment and attendance forms needed by the parent to document 180 days of academic progress per year. The enrollment must be renewed each year and the attendance records turned into the school office for every 45 days of academics. Any family that does not re-enroll each year or turn in attendance records timely is considered truant and will be withdrawn from the school.

2) File an annual database survey with the Florida Department of Education. This is for census purposes only. It contains no names or addresses of students, as this is private information and cannot be released without the parent’s or legal guardian’s written permission. The survey allows the state of Florida to track the number of students in each grade that are enrolled in public, private, and homeschool programs. Be assured that your student’s records are protected, and no government agency has the legal authority to view anything except the attendance record and immunization card. At FOFCAI, we keep the attendance and health files separated from the student’s academic and test information.

3) Maintain the student’s cumulative folder indefinitely unless it is formally requested by another school. The cum folder contains all academic records, i.e., grades, as well as a copy of his or her birth certificate, school entrance physical, and immunization record. It is important for parents to note that if they later move their student to a different school, they must inform the new school to request their student’s records. If you tell them you have been homeschooling, they will have no way of knowing they need to ask for the records. If the student has been enrolled in any other public or private school, the cum folder is simply requested by FOFCAI and maintained. If the student has no previous school records, the parents will need to provide a copy of the Birth Certificate, School Entrance Physical, and HRS Immunization Card with the application.

Additional Requirements Set by the Private School

Above are some of the requirements that all schools must meet. Private schools have additional requirements, most commonly involving testing and required academics. Campus-based schools may also require specific dress codes, sports preparation, or chapel.