How Florida Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy

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Blog---Florida

Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. As K-12 education policies are different in each state, it is a parental responsibility to check on their state’s homeschool requirements and fulfill them as applicable. To assist parents with this process, Enlightium provides basic information about each state’s requirements. Parents are also encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Florida Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C.; however, with a freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help! 

Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Florida homeschooling requirements.

 

Florida’s Homeschooling Requirements at a Glance

Homeschooling Options

Option 1: Homeschooling under the homeschool statute as a Home Education student or a Personalized Education Program (PEP) student

State Educational Funds

Yes

Does the Parent Need to Notify the State?

Yes

Academic Calendar Requirement

No

Reporting Age Requirement

6

Instructor Qualifications

No

Required Subjects

No

Standardized Assessment

Immunization Requirement

No

Keep a Portfolio

Yes

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Florida Families

Yes

 

Homeschooling Options

There are several homeschooling options in Florida. Families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Option 1: Homeschooling under the homeschool statute. 

Students will be registered through one of the following: 

  • A Scholarship Funding Organization as a Personalized Education Program (PEP) student. In most cases, Enlightium families choose the Personalized Education Program (PEP).
  • Their local school district as a Home Education Program student.

The below guidelines are based on these options.

 

State Educational Funds

Enlightium families can apply for state education funds using one of the following options.

Personalized Education Program (PEP)

Personalized Education Program students may be eligible for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship if: 

  • They are at least five years old by September 1st of the school year they are wishing to enroll
  • They are a K-12 student not enrolled in a full-time public or private school

Click here to learn more and apply.

Home Education Program

Home Education students with a disability may be eligible for the Family Empowerment scholarship if: 

  • They are within the age range of 3 years old up to the age of 22 years old, or until they complete 12th grade, whichever occurs first
  • They possess a specific diagnosis

Click here to learn more and apply.

 

Notify the State

Personalized Education Program

PEP students must register with a Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) and notify the district. 

Home Education Program

Home Education students must file a notice of intent to homeschool with the county superintendent within 30 days of beginning their homeschool program. The notice only needs to be filed once upon beginning your homeschool program and must include the following student information: 

  • Full legal name
  • Address
  • Birthdate 

 

Age Requirement

Ages five or younger:

Students are not required to attend school but can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to have a head start and be ready for Kindergarten.

Aged six on or before February 1:

Students must continue their education at a school of their parent’s choice until they either graduate or turn 16. This includes homeschooling with Enlightium Academy.

 

Instructor Qualifications

The Florida Department of Education does not require students to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications. 

As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields. 

Students in the Homeschool Program (grades PreK-8) use book-based Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program (grades 3-12) use the digital Christian curriculum, "Ignitia". Finally, students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 3-12) use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and electives courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.

 

Required Subjects

The Florida Department of Education does not require any specific courses.

After you enroll/re-enroll and before your student starts courses at Enlightium Academy, your student’s counselor will send you an email with a recommended course schedule consisting of core courses and, if applicable, courses that fulfill Enlightium’s graduation requirements. Your student can also select from Enlightium’s elective courses.

 

Standardized Assessment

Personalized Education Program

Students who are a part of the Personalized Education Program are required to take a norm-referenced assessment. Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing per a given grade level:

*The Iowa Complete Annual Assessment, PSAT, SAT, and ACT are all approved by Florida’s Department of Education for students in the Personalized Education Program. 

Home Education Program

Home Education students are not required to take a standardized assessment. However, Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing per a given grade level:

 

Keep a portfolio

You may need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:

  • Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with weekly progress reports. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
  • Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.
  • Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide them during the registration process - primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
  • Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students after quarters 1, 2, and 3 and report cards/transcripts at the end of the school year or summer.
  • Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
  • Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, and the Presidential Award.
  • Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and spelling bees.

 

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Florida Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Florida to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s homeschooling requirements. 

Your family will be added to this group upon enrolling at Enlightium and downloading the Enlightium Parents app (which is provided upon enrollment).

 

Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

  1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website or watch this video about online homeschooling.
  2. If you have any questions:
    1. Chat with a team member
    2. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
    3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
  3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the blue button near the top of the page.

 

Enlightium Academy is a private Christian online school that serves homeschooling families by offering a Bible-based, flexible, accredited, teacher-supported, and affordable education from the comfort of your home. For any other questions about Enlightium, please call (866) 488-4818, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.

 

We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.

 

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Sources reviewed in April 2024:

 

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About the author

Michael Brooks, M.A.

Michael Brooks, M.A.

Michael received his Bachelors in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University and his Master of Arts in Communication from Grand Canyon University. He has worked at Enlightium Academy since 2015 as the Director of Communications handling internal procedures, policies, and communications. A part of his responsibility is to work on Enlightium’s website development, knowledge base, and mobile application. He is certified by ACSI.

Prior to attending college, Michael enlisted in the United States military in the field of cryptology, where he served on four continents. Michael has a love of learning and continually reads about any subject that interests him. He enjoys listening to audiobooks while running, having completed numerous half-marathons and marathons. Michael loves hiking and camping with his wife, daughters, and dog and plays the guitar, ukulele, and upright bass.

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