Florida Homeschool Evaluations: What Parents Need to Know
- Michelle Hand
- Jul 24
- 4 min read
So, you live in Florida, homeschool your child, and need an annual evaluation. This is the blog for you! My name is Michelle Hand. I am a certified Florida educator, tutor, homeschool evaluator, wife, mom, and friend. My goal is not only to offer evaluation services, but also to help bridge the gap between families and whatever barriers may be preventing their children from fully illustrating their academic progress.
I like to joke that Florida is almost like the United State of Florida because we tend to do things a little differently, and education is no exception. Here in the Sunshine State, parents have a great deal of freedom to decide what is necessary for their child’s education and how that learning will take place. With that freedom, families are still responsible for documenting their child’s educational progress. That is where the annual homeschool evaluation comes in.
Who Needs an Annual Evaluation?
Students registered in a Florida home education program need to complete an annual educational evaluation. The evaluation should show that the student has made educational progress at a level appropriate for their individual ability. A copy of the completed evaluation is then submitted to the school district where the student lives.
The evaluation is generally due each year around the anniversary of the date the family submitted its Letter of Intent. I always recommend confirming the exact due date with your county’s home education office.
Students who receive funding through the Personalized Education Program, commonly called PEP, follow different annual accountability requirements. These students generally do not need a traditional homeschool evaluation. Instead, families should review the current testing requirements through Step Up For Students and the Florida Department of Education.
What Am I Looking For?
When I review your child’s portfolio, I am looking for evidence of growth and educational progress. This is not a formal test, and I am not expecting your homeschool to look like a traditional classroom. Every family learns differently, and your portfolio should reflect the curriculum, routines, projects, experiences, and educational philosophy that work for your family.
I typically ask families to share planning sheets, lesson plans, curriculum lists, reading logs, field trip logs, and samples of language arts, writing, and math work. When possible, work samples should come from the beginning, middle, and end of the year so I can clearly see growth. I also love seeing science, social studies, art, cooking, gardening, farming, life skills, foreign language, projects, experiments, field trips, and anything else your scholars are proud to share.
Your samples do not need to be perfect. In fact, seeing earlier work beside more recent work often makes the student’s growth even more noticeable. I will not assign your child a grade level or compare them to other students their age. I simply want to see that your kiddo has grown based on their individual ability and where they were at the beginning of the year.
What Happens During the Video Call?
In addition to reviewing the portfolio, we will complete a video call. During this meeting, I will speak with at least one parent and the student or students being evaluated. I may ask simple questions about their favorite activity, a field trip they enjoyed, something they found challenging, a book they loved, or a project they are proud of completing.
These are not trick questions, and students do not need to prepare formal answers. The conversation simply gives them another opportunity to share what they learned and demonstrate their progress.
Parents may email their portfolio materials, submit them through my website, or show them during the video call. I prefer to receive the documents before the meeting whenever possible so I have time to review everything carefully and make sure I have enough information to document progress.
How Do Virtual Evaluations Work?
After submitting your child’s portfolio by email or through my website, we will meet virtually over Zoom. The call usually lasts about 15 to 20 minutes, but it may take closer to 30 to 45 minutes if you choose to show most of the portfolio during the call instead of submitting it beforehand.
The student or students being evaluated and at least one parent or guardian must be present. This is often the part that makes families the most nervous, but it should truly feel like a celebration of learning. You and your family have already done the hard work throughout the year. Now you get to brag about the books you read, the places you visited, the skills your child developed, and all the wonderful learning that happened along the way. It is pretty awesome when you look at it that way!
What Happens After the Evaluation?
After I complete the evaluation, I will fill out and sign the required evaluation form. It is the parent’s responsibility to send the completed form to the homeschool liaison in their school district by the required deadline. Be sure to save a copy for your records as well. If you do not already know who your district’s homeschool liaison is, I would be happy to help you find the correct contact information.
Book a Florida Homeschool Evaluation
Florida is one of the best states for homeschooling, in my humble opinion. Parents have the freedom to create an education that works for their children, and students have the opportunity to learn through curriculum, projects, travel, field trips, life experiences, and hands-on exploration.
If you do not currently have a relationship with an evaluator, I would love the opportunity to get to know you and your sweet family. Please use the link below to schedule your virtual evaluation.
I look forward to celebrating your scholar’s progress with you!
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