The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously passed legislation that would rein in district inquiries to parents who register home education programs.
The bill by Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, comes in response to concerns among parents that districts add hurdles for homeschool registration. That has likely contributed to a decline in homeschooling in some districts, even though state statistics show its popularity is growing statewide.
Florida law requires homeschoolers to register with their local school districts. They must send a signed notice of intent to the school district superintendent with the students’ names, birthdates and addresses. The bill would bar districts from requiring other information from parents. It would also clarify that a home education program is not a school district program.
The statute does not require parents to provide proof of residency and a birth certificate. However, the Miami-Dade School Board adopted a policy requiring parents to provide those documents. And parents have complained of similar practices in other counties, including Broward, Hillsborough and St. Lucie.
The House of Representatives unanimously approved similar legislation Thursday. Like the Senate version, HB 731 would also increase homeschoolers’ access to dual enrollment and career education courses.
“Home educators are appreciative for the senators’ support for SB 732,” said Brenda Dickinson, a lobbyist with the Home Education Foundation.
Baxley’s bill now heads to the Senate floor. In previous years the Legislature considered similar bills. But they stalled in the Senate,
After an amendment by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, the bill also includes legislation that would expand a mastery-based learning program and create a new education savings account program to support struggling readers who attend public schools.
Similar legislation passed the House Thursday.
