FAQs
Q: |
I've never heard of a non-traditional private school before. Is it the same thing as an umbrella/600 school? |
A: |
Although there are no exact numbers, it is often guesstimated that about half the homeschoolers in Florida use the private school option. These schools are called cover schools, umbrella schools, 600 schools (if they are incorporated), church schools, etc. |
Q: |
You want what? My child's birth certificate and medical records? |
A: |
It seems odd and intrusive and completely unrelated to your learning situation, but this is the law that applies to ALL private schools in Florida. |
Q: |
Who do I have to tell? Do I have to notify the county? The local public school? |
A: |
You do not have to notify anyone about your decision to enroll your child in a private school...UNLESS...your child is already enrolled somewhere else. If your child is currently enrolled in a public school and you want to change to a private school, you MUST formally withdraw him from the public school. It is extremely important that you do this. If you simply stop showing up at the public school, you start the ball rolling on truancy issues. When the public school wants to know where you are transferring your child, the answer is, "He is being enrolled in a private school." If they want the name of the school, give it to them. |
Q: |
Do I have to keep a log and portfolio? Is testing or an evaluation required? |
A: |
Keeping a portfolio is not required but is highly encouraged!! ?Testing and Evaluation are not required and are a personal decision to be made within each individual family. |
Q: |
What information does PTA report to the State DOE about my child? |
A: |
Like every other private school in Florida, PTA is required to submit an annual report called the "Annual Database Survey". This is done online with a follow-up notarized copy mailed to the State DOE. With the Database Survey every private school is asked to confirm basic information about the school (address, owner’s name, whether the school is a boarding school or not, etc.) and information about the students. The information about the students is a headcount -- a count of students broken out by grade range -- that’s all. No personal information about you or your child is provided to the State DOE -- no names, no Social Security Numbers, no attendance counts -- nothing but the number of students enrolled, broken out by grade range. |