unschooling in FL / evaluators

[spinfrog]

Hello everyone,

I've just moved to Florida from Illinois. I see that the school
districts here are rather demanding, and a lot of people actually hire
an 'evaluator' to go over their portfolio, etc before they submit it..
my question is, since my daughter has never been 'in the system',
perhaps I can just NOT report to the school superintendant or whoever,
and they will never know... I'd still do the paperwork, but it would be
nice to be below their radar, you know?

--Inna
Bradenton, FL

[Sandra Dodd]

Check here for Florida lists and contacts:

http://sandradodd.com/local

We try to keep local discussions off this international list.

Sandra

[spinfrog]

er.. sorry, I guess in a way this is 'local', since I was hoping to
connect to other unschooling people in or near Bradenton. On the other
hand, it was also more 'general' - like, if others were in my
position, would they write the school officials the 'requisite' letter
of intent to homeschool - or would they keep quiet and hope to avoid
the school board people's frequent requests to prove that the child is
being 'educated'? (I wasn't looking for someone to tell me the rules
for my state, I have already researched them)

--Inna
Bradenton, FL

[Betsy Hill]

**

On the other
hand, it was also more 'general' - like, if others were in my
position, would they write the school officials the 'requisite' letter
of intent to homeschool - or would they keep quiet and hope to avoid
the school board people's frequent requests to prove that the child is
being 'educated'? (I wasn't looking for someone to tell me the rules

for my state, I have already researched them)**

People in other states and countries are subject to different education laws, and may not have thought much about how they would proceed if they were in your shoes. But homeschoolers in your state probably have thought this thru pretty thoroughly.

Betsy

[Robyn Coburn]

<<<< People in other states and countries are subject to different education
laws, and may not have thought much about how they would proceed if they
were in your shoes. But homeschoolers in your state probably have thought
this thru pretty thoroughly. >>>

True. Locals know best.

However as a general principle, I doubt that any of us are likely to
publicly take the position of advising anyone to break the laws or ignore
the education statutes in their home state or country.

My general answer is not to do more than the law requires, but certainly to
do that much.

Robyn L. Coburn

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[Sandra Dodd]

On Apr 12, 2006, at 9:22 PM, spinfrog wrote:

, it was also more 'general'  - like, if others were in my

position, would they write the school officials the 'requisite' letter

of intent to homeschool - or would they keep quiet and hope to avoid

the school board people's frequent requests to prove that the child is

being 'educated'?

It still depends on the state.  What are the dangers in that particular state of non-compliance?

In many states the answer is "none" (or there is no 'compliance' requirement).

In New Mexico one risks a $25 fine or so IF this and that (don't think it's ever happened).

The locals will know what the local situation is.

Sandra

[Bugsmom]

Not to go way off track here but really, check with locals and the LAW
- homeschooling through the district is only ONE of the options
available in Florida. Unbrella schools like Alternative Education
Institute and others require you send them a small amount of money
(like maybe $25 per year) and monthly attendance (Hey kids you here?
lol) and that's it - they tell the state you're enrolled and that's it.

--Deb

[billyan...@yahoo.com]

Hello Inna....

Here in Florida, we have the option of registering with a 600
school...which I do with my three children.

The ONLY thing they are required to request from us is attendence....we
send them an e-mail once a year with 180 dates on it. That's it.

here is the link:
www.AlternativeEducationInstitute.org

The woman who runs it, also runs a very informative yahoo group which
deals with the homeschooling laws in Florida. The link is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FL-HomeEducation-Law/?yguid=185550057

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions...
By the way...we're in Ocala...about 90 miles north of you.

~ Joanne ~
Mom to Jacqueline (7), Shawna (10) & Cimion (13)
Adopted into our hearts October 30, 2003
http://anunschoolinglife.blogspot.com/
http://foreverparents.com