Florida Homeschool Umbrella Schools
In the state of Florida, homeschool laws specify that families who want to educate their children at home must do so with the permission of the district school superintendent’s office. They also must be willing to share their educational progress and assessments with the office of the superintendent. To avoid these regulations, many families choose to register with an “umbrella school,” also called a cover school.
What are Umbrella Schools?
An umbrella school is a non-traditional private school that supervises the enrollment, attendance, and other aspects of a family’s home education. Umbrella schools also validate the student’s diploma. An important distinction to make is that those who are registered with umbrella schools are technically not “homeschoolers.” By law, they are private school students, but their education usually takes place within the home.
Florida Umbrella Schools
Each umbrella school authorized by the state of Florida has its own requirements for registered students. If you choose to educate via an umbrella school, it is incredibly important that you research each one thoroughly to make sure that it meets the needs of your student(s) and your family. Below is a short list of some of the most popular umbrella schools for homeschoolers in Florida.
- Applewood Private Education
- Atrium School
- Central Christian Academy (Goldenrod)
- Circle Christian School (Orlando)
- Crossroads Christian School
- Education Revolution (Osceola County)
- Florida Virtual School (FLVS)
- Hillcrest Academy (Pensacola)
- International Community School (Winter Park)
- The Annesley Institute
- The Oaks Private School (Jasper)
- The Rock School (Jacksonville)
- The Vitarete Academy (Delray Beach)
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Florida Umbrella School Option
There are advantages and disadvantages of using an umbrella school for homeschooling. The following chart lays out these out so you can better weigh your options.
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Questions to Ask When Choosing an Umbrella School
Each of the umbrella schools in Florida have a unique approach and a specific set of services they offer to families. It is also important to note that many of the schools accept students from anywhere in the state, despite where they are physically located.
It is a good idea to thoroughly research the details of each program before deciding on an umbrella school, if you choose to use one. Here are some questions you may want to ask umbrella schools you are considering:
- How much flexibility do I have to choose my own student’s curriculum?
- Do you provide a diploma? Transcripts?
- How does a student graduate from the school?
- What local networking/activity opportunities do you offer with other school students in my area?
- How often do I need to submit my attendance information?
- How do you handle annual standardized testing?
- Is there a specific day of the year I need to start schooling?
- What colleges do you know of that accept transcripts from your school? Are there any you know of that don’t?
Homeschool Umbrella Schools and Time4Learning
If you have the option to choose your curriculum, many families find that Time4Learning is an ideal program for umbrella schools. Some of the features that make Time4Learning so successful include:
- A blend of interactive lessons, worksheets, activities, and assessments for grades PreK-12
- Courses in math, language arts, science, social studies, foreign language, and more
- Works with a large range of learning styles
- Multimedia lessons that help learners retain information
- Self-paced system that lets parents and students decide if they want to move sequentially through material or pick and choose what to focus on
- Low monthly subscription price
Additional Resources Related to Homeschooling in Florida
Have other questions about homeschooling in Florida? You may find the following pages helpful.
- Homeschooling in Florida: An Overview
- Florida Homeschooling Laws
- Homeschool Groups and Co-ops
- Homeschool Associations
- Florida Homeschool Field Trips
- Unit Study Supplement: Facts About Florida
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