High School Homeschool Records
High School Portfolio
Florida's requirements for a home education portfolio do not vary by grade level. There are no special legal requirements for the portfolio that are specific to high school.
Three types of records must be kept: 1. A Log of Educational Activities kept contemporaneously with instruction (around the time of the learning) 2. Titles of Reading Materials 3. Samples of Materials Used by or Created by the Student Log of Educational Activities
There are many ways to keep a Log of Educational Activities. For some it is a calendar or planner with notes about what's been learned. For some it is a computer program report of lessons done. For others, it is a set of table of contents pages marked with dates or check marks to show the parts of the book (textbook, workbook, or ordinary book) worked on. For some, it is a check list of topics worked on or subjects covered. In some way, the Log of Educational Activities shows what the student has been working on. Some parents have their teens keep a planner themselves and the parent will check periodically to make sure appropriate entries are being made. Titles of Reading Materials
These can be kept within the Log of Educational Activities or in a separate list. They can be titles of textbooks, workbooks, ordinary books, websites, apps, magazines, or whatever reading materials the student is using. Samples
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Finding the Right Fit
Let's suppose you are homeschooling a teen. Perhaps the teen is burned out from public or private school. Or has reached a point where the typical academic high school program isn't a good fit. Does that mean that the teen is doomed to struggle through high school or drop out?
The good news is that there are lots of ways to educate. There are lots of schools with innovative programs that are not like the typical high school. These may focus on vocational training or student-driven education. Likewise, your homeschooling doesn't have to look like that of a typical high school. Many people start with deschooling--a temporary transition period in which they try not to copy a typical school. They do not use textbooks or workbooks but learn from informal sources such as library books, community programs, projects of the student's own design, field trips, videos, etc. This can be a time in which the student takes time to destress and regains a love of learning as the student can explore topics of interest to the student. For many teens, it may involve serious thought and research about careers and their future goals. Q: Must high school students use FLVS when homeschooling?
A: No.
FLVS:Flex and similar virtual public school programs offered by various Florida school districts, Connections Academy, K12, etc. may be used by homeschool students and are free-of-charge to those not receiving a state scholarship. Many students take from 1 to 6 classes through such programs. These classes work well for some but do not work well for others. No one is required to use them, but they are an option. FLVS.net Q: What materials can we use if intending to enroll in a public school next year?
A: Florida's Uniform Transfer of Credit Rule requires FL public high schools to accept credits entered on an official transcript (even one typed up by a parent) as long as the student passes the first grading period after enrolling in the public school.
See https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/transcripts.html for details on putting together an official transcript. Q: Must my student take algebra (or some other specific class)?
A: Homeschool parents set the graduation requirements for their students just as private schools decide the graduation requirements for their students.
Some parents will use public school graduation requirements as their homeschool graduation requirements. Others will use the admissions requirements for a specific college or trade school or seminary or to get into a specific career as the graduation requirements for their program. For more information, see https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/graduation.html Q: Must my student take EOC or other public school exams to graduate?
A: No.
Home education students (those with a Letter of Intent on file) must pass an evaluation verifying that the student is being educated once each year and within 30 days of ending home education. The parent could choose to have the student take a public school test, but there are other options, including the low stress portfolio review evaluations that we offer. For more details, see https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/general-information.html PEP students must take a test by the end of each school year. The test must be a test approved by the FL Dept of Education. Public school testing is one of those options. For the list, see https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/annual-assessment-requirement.stml Q: Is accreditation necessary?
A: Not in most cases.
When might they matter? Accreditation matters in foreign language courses if you want them accepted by a college as meeting their college graduation foreign language requirement without having to submit scores on formal tests such as the CLEP or AP tests. Accreditation can also make it easier for those in very competitive sports to maintain eligibility, though even then there are other options. For more details, see: https://www.flhomeschoolevaluations.com/blog/is-accreditation-necessaryis-accreditation-necessary.html |