Quick Start - Florida School Choice Options

Personalized Education or Homeschooling is legal in every state. However, there are different rules depending on the state you are in. Families of Faith Christian Academy International has its main campus in Lakeland Florida, so we focus on the rules for Florida, which are detailed briefly here and in more detail down the page and via the links on the sidebar.

Even if you are not from Florida, hopefully you will find much of the information on this website about curriculum and the options for enrolling in FOFCAI helpful, so feel free to use the rest of the website in your research for the best options for your students. If you are not from Florida, you definitely want to check the rules from your state. The best source for that is Home School Legal Defense Association. HSLDA

Educational Choice Options (Other than Public School)

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  Home Education Program.

  There are six requirements or steps.
  County registered homeschoolers can use the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilites (FES-UA) if they qualify.

  

  Private School (Two School Types)

  This would include private schools that offer a Full-time campus program, Part-time or Blended Classes, Distance Learning and or Virtual options like FOFCAI.

  

  Personalized Educational Program.

  This is the new program option that goes into effect on July 1, 2023 and inclues an Education Savings Account (ESA) scholarship.

  

  Private Tutoring

  Must be with a Florida Certified Teacher.

  Refer to the side bar for links providing details on each option above as well as Scholarship Options.

  Details on how the options above meet the "Regular School Attendance" Requirement for Florida are provided below.

  School Attendance Requirement

  Florida Statute (F.S.) f.s 1003.21 School Attendance.
  (1)(a)1. All children who have attained the age of 6 years or who will have attained the age of 6 years by February 1 of any school year or who are older than 6 years of age but who have not attained the age of 16 years, except as otherwise provided, are required to attend school regularly during the entire school term.

  Florida has five options for meeting the "Regular School Attendance" Requirement that are detailed in Florida Statute (F.S.) f.s 1003.01(13) below. NOTE: Option (b) and (c) below were combined in the "Private School" listing above because for purposes of the Florida scholarships they are grouped together in all other statutes. (Comments inside of Parentheses are for clarification, and not part of the language in the statute.)
  
  f.s. 1003.01(13) "Regular school attendance” means the actual attendance of a student during the school day as defined by law and the rules of the State Board of Education. Regular attendance within the intent of s. 1003.21 may be achieved by attendance in:"
  
  (a) A public school supported by public funds; (This includes Charter Schools and full-time enrollment in the Florida Virtual School (FLVS), which are defined as public schools in Florida statutes.)
  (b) A parochial, religious, or denominational school; (Examples would incude, but is not limited to a Cathotic School.)
  (c) A private school supported in whole or in part by tuition charges or by endowments or gifts; (This would be a private school that is not a part of a specific church, and can be a traditional five-day a week campus program, and/ or allows home-based students and/ or offers a virtual program.)
  (d) A home education program that meets the requirements of chapter 1002; or (This would be a student that is registered with the local school district under the "Homeschool Education Programs". )
  (e) A private tutoring program that meets the requirements of chapter 1002 or (This requires contracting with a Florida Certified Teacher to provide the required instruction and documentation. There are currently no scholarships connected with this legal option.)
  

  Additional Details on each of Educational Choice options have links to the right as well as Scholarship Options.