California vs Florida: Homeschool Laws Compared
Side-by-side comparison of homeschool regulations. See what changes if you're moving between these states.
At a Glance
| Requirement | California | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation level | Moderate regulation | Moderate regulation |
| Notification | Required — California Department of Education (CDE), Superintendent of Public Instruction Between October 1 and October 15 (filing window) | Required — county school district superintendent Within 30 days of beginning the home education program |
| Testing | Not required | Required |
| Required subjects | 10 subjects (by grade) | None specified |
| Instructional time | No requirement | No requirement |
| Instructor qualification | No requirement | No requirement |
| Recordkeeping | attendance | portfolio |
| Annual renewal | Required by October 1-15 | Not required |
Moving Between These States
Moving from California to Florida
Grace period: 30 days from establishing program (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(a))
What changes:
- ~Notification: California (Required — California Department of Education (CDE), Superintendent of Public Instruction Between October 1 and October 15 (filing window)) → Florida (Required — county school district superintendent Within 30 days of beginning the home education program)
- +Florida requires testing (Required). California does not
- -Good news: Florida has no required subjects requirement
- ~Recordkeeping: California (attendance) → Florida (portfolio)
Transition checklist
Before you leave California:
- ▢No formal withdrawal required in California
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
When you arrive in Florida:
- ▢File Notice of Intent with county superintendent within 30 days of establishing home education program.
Within 30 days of starting:
- ▢File within 30 days of starting (Fla. Stat. §1002.41(1)(a))
- ▢Superintendent must accept immediately and may not require additional info. Moving between FL counties requires new NOI with new county superintendent.
Moving from Florida to California
Grace period: No explicit grace period — PSA system open Aug 1–Jun 30 (Ed. Code §33190; §48222)
What changes:
- ~Notification: Florida (Required — county school district superintendent Within 30 days of beginning the home education program) → California (Required — California Department of Education (CDE), Superintendent of Public Instruction Between October 1 and October 15 (filing window))
- -Good news: California has no testing requirement
- +California requires required subjects (10 subjects (by grade)). Florida does not
- ~Recordkeeping: Florida (portfolio) → California (attendance)
Transition checklist
Before you leave Florida:
- ▢Notify child's current school principal or registrar: File written notice of termination with county superintendent within 30 days of termination, along with annual evaluation if due.
- ▢Gather records: curriculum materials, work samples, test scores
- ▢Complete any pending assessments before you leave
When you arrive in California:
- ▢File Private School Affidavit (PSA) via CDE online system as soon as possible. System open Aug 1–Jun 30.
Before you start teaching:
- ▢File BEFORE you start teaching (Ed. Code §33190; §48222)
- ▢Statutory window is Oct 1–15 but CDE accepts filings year-round for new schools. File immediately upon withdrawal from prior school.
Military families
Neither California nor Florida has military-specific homeschool provisions. MIC3 (Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children) does not apply to homeschoolers — it covers public schools only. Your School Liaison Officer can help with the transition.
Planning a move?
Enter your move date to get a timeline with specific deadlines.
Common questions
What are the differences between homeschooling in California and Florida?
California and Florida have different homeschool regulations covering notification requirements, testing, required subjects, instructor qualifications, and recordkeeping. See the comparison table above for the exact differences.
What do I need to do to move my homeschool from California to Florida?
When moving from California to Florida, you must comply with Florida's homeschool laws from scratch. See the transition checklist above for step-by-step guidance.
Data sourced from state statutes and administrative codes. Comparison based on default homeschool pathway for each state. This is compliance guidance, not legal advice. Terms · How we verify