Florida
Ill Winds Blowing
Recently, the Home Education Foundation in Florida reported that public school officials are lobbying legislators to change the home education law to make it easier to prosecute students suspected of truancy. According to HEF President Brenda Dickinson, school officials complain that public school students with excessive unexcused absences are successfully escaping truancy charges by beginning home education programs.
After researching this issue, Home School Legal Defense Association concluded that there is simply nothing in the law to justify the concern that a truant student is somehow absolved from liability by changing from one educational option to another. A public school student with more than 15 unexcused absences in a 90-day period is subject to truancy charges despite transferring to a home education program.
Additionally, any student whose home education program does not comply with the requirements of Florida Statutes Annotated § 232.0201 is in violation of the compulsory attendance law and therefore subject to truancy charges. One method of determining compliance with the home education law is for the local superintendent to exercise his right to conduct a portfolio review upon 15 days written notice. Parents are required to maintain a log of educational activities and samples of any schoolwork generated by the student.
HSLDA has concluded that there are sufficient tools available to public school officials to prosecute children who are not complying with the compulsory attendance law, whether the student is enrolled in public school or claims to be attending a home education program. Accordingly, any effort by the Florida legislature to impose additional restrictions on home education programs would be unwarranted and should be opposed by home educators. HSLDA member families should work with their support groups to contact their legislators, urging them to oppose any change to current law. – Dewitt T. Black
