Let's Start with some Background Information about Home School Programs in Florida
Home Education programs in Florida are established under the Superintendent of Public Schools for the county in which you reside. At the start of your program, your parent/legal guardian provides the Superintendent with a Letter of Intent, stating that they intend to establish a home education program for you.
The school district then responds with an acknowledgment that a home education program has been established for you, the student. Even though you are being taught at home by your parent/legal guardian, you still fall under the jurisdiction of your county's district Superintendent and must comply with Florida state statute.
When you complete your high school program as a homeschooled student, your parent has the authority to graduate you. They must notify the Superintendent of Public Schools for your county that they are terminating your home education program. The school district then responds, acknowledging that your home education program has been terminated. The school district doesn't graduate you, because only your parent has that authority; they just acknowledge the termination of your program.
When providing documentation to Student Records, you may provide EITHER of the two letters from the county: the one acknowledging establishment of your home education program (at the beginning), or the one acknowledging termination of your home education program (at the end). We are looking for one of the letters FROM THE COUNTY, not the letters sent by your parent. You must submit one of these letters to demonstrate high school completion as a homeschooled student, along with your other documentation. Scroll down for more information.
- Personalized Education Program (PEP) Students: In order to participate in PEP, you must first be withdrawn from your home education program with the county. Therefore, the documentation you'll provide will be different from what homeschooled students will provide. Scroll down for more information.
- Private Umbrella School Students (Example - Olivet Private School): If you are enrolled in a private umbrella school, it is important for you to know that technically and legally, you are a private school student--not a homeschooled student (even if you are doing your schoolwork at home under your parent's direction). When you complete your program, your private school has the authority to graduate you--not your parent. The school also has the responsibility to provide you with a final, official transcript that shows your coursework and date of graduation. This is the only documentation you will need to provide to show proof of high school completion. Also, this is the only paragraph on this web page that applies to you, since true homeschooled students fall under a different statute and are required to provide different documentation. You can stop reading here.
Indian River State College follows Florida Statute 1002.41 when working with Home Education students.
Florida Home Schooled Students
Students homeschooled in Florida must provide two documents to prove they graduated from a home education program.
- Affidavit of Florida Home School Completion (available from Student Records)
- School District Verification/Termination Letter (from the COUNTY, not from the parent)
The Florida Home School Affidavit is shown on the right. The form may be obtained from Student Records (records@irsc.edu). Please read the instructions carefully when completing the form, and be sure to have it notarized.
You must provide a School District Verification or Termination letter when you submit the completed Affidavit. You can contact your School District to obtain the Verification/Termination letter.
A high school transcript is optional. However, if you completed 2 consecutive years of a foreign language in high school and would like to have that applied to your degree program at Indian River State College, you will need to provide a transcript. Also, in order to participate in athletics, the NJCAA requires that all homeschooled athletes provide a high school transcript.
Out-of-State Home Schooled Students
Students who were homeschooled in a state other than Florida must also provide two documents.
- Affidavit of Out-of-State Home School Completion (available from Student Records)
- High School Transcript
The Out-of-State Affidavit is shown on the left. The form may be obtained from Student Records (records@irsc.edu). Please read the instructions carefully when completing the form, and be sure to have it notarized.
The completed Affidavit and transcript must be submitted together.
Personalized Education Program (PEP) Students
Students who graduated from the PEP program in Florida must provide THREE documents to prove high school completion.
- Affidavit of Florida PEP High School Completion
- Proof of PEP Scholarship Grant
- High School Transcript
The PEP High School Affidavit is shown on the right. The form may be obtained from Student Records (records@irsc.edu). Please read the instructions carefully when completing the form, and be sure to have it notarized.