Homeschool Curriculum in Florida
Florida homeschool law is short: file once, teach at home, keep records, evaluate annually. Everything else — what you teach on a random Wednesday in February — is your call. That freedom is powerful and terrifying.
This page is the Florida-specific curriculum layer: how state rules interact with what you teach in kindergarten through fifth grade, how to build a week that holds up in a portfolio review, and where to find lesson plans so you are not inventing school from scratch.
Florida law vs. curriculum choice
| Florida requires | Florida does NOT require |
|---|---|
| Letter of Intent to county superintendent | A specific publisher or online school |
| Sequentially progressive instruction | 180 days or 6 hours per day |
| Annual evaluation (portfolio or test) | State-approved lesson plans |
| Portfolio of records | Teaching certificate |
Official source: FLDOE homeschool page · Plain English: Florida requirements guide
What “sequentially progressive” means in practice: each year builds on the last. You cover language arts, math, science, and social studies with increasing depth. A scope-and-sequence document — like those from Homeschool Complete — proves you planned progression even if you adjust pacing.
The Florida-friendly weekly schedule
Most successful Florida families use a six-day pattern (not always Mon–Sat — pick days that work):
| Day type | What happens | Portfolio value |
|---|---|---|
| Core day ×4 | LA, math, science or SS | Dated worksheets, writing samples |
| Review day | Games, drills, catch-up | Shows remediation |
| Project day | Field trip, experiment, art | Photos, lab notes, narratives |
Florida field trip ideas that count as school
- St. Augustine — Spanish colonial history (3rd–5th social studies)
- Everglades or local springs — ecosystems (science)
- Capitol visit (Tallahassee) — civics (4th–5th)
- County fair / agricultural exhibits — economics, science
- Library research day — writing, reading log entries
Log outings in your portfolio: date, location, one sentence on what your child learned.
Subjects by Florida grade band
Kindergarten–2nd grade
| Subject | Skills to document |
|---|---|
| Language arts | Phonics, sight words, read-alouds, handwriting |
| Math | Counting, operations, shapes, measurement |
| Science | Nature observation, seasons, simple experiments |
| Social studies | Family, community helpers, maps |
Typical day length: 1.5–2.5 hours focused instruction.
3rd–5th grade
| Subject | Skills to document |
|---|---|
| Language arts | Chapter books, grammar, multi-paragraph writing |
| Math | Multiplication/division, fractions, pre-algebra intro |
| Science | Hypothesis, lab notes, conclusions |
| Social studies | Florida history, U.S. history, civics |
Typical day length: 3–4 hours focused instruction.
Evaluation season: what evaluators look for
Florida-certified teachers conducting portfolio reviews typically want:
- Proof of instruction — lesson plans, curriculum scope, or parent log
- Work samples — beginning/middle/end of year if possible
- Reading list — books completed or in progress
- Progress narrative — you can write one page summarizing growth
A structured curriculum generates most of this automatically. Read evaluations explained.
Step Up and K–5 purchases
If you receive Florida scholarship funds, curriculum may be reimbursable or purchasable through Class Wallet — confirm every item first. Guide: Step Up funds for Homeschool Complete
Elementary curriculum: Homeschool Complete (Ocala, faith-based or secular). Middle school planning: Step Up Florida.
Choosing curriculum for Florida
| Your situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| First year, want simplicity | All-in-one with daily plans |
| Working full-time | Open-and-go, minimal prep |
| Leaving public school | Placement via free samples, then full year |
| Multiple grades | Unit-study style with per-grade math/reading |
Full comparison: curriculum hub · how to choose
Scope documents:
Regional resources
- Ocala / Marion County guides — local how-tos
- Scholarships Step Up Ocala
- Parent support Florida
- Community Florida
Start here
- File Letter of Intent if you have not
- Pick your grade page
- Download first-year checklist
- Join free parent community