HomeLife Academy is Growing in FL
Greetings!
First, thank you all for praying for your fellow home educators in TN. I trust you have read up on the previous news regarding a potential threat to parent freedoms in TN.
The activity in TN has NO direct or immediate bearing on HLA's legal position in FL, since we operate as a separate entity under FL state business license. We could serve FL only at this point if that is what God wanted us to do. But for now, it appears our ministry and service will continue in both states, and our record keeping and diplomas only will continue in other states across the country as well.
Second, HLA is growing in FL. Many of you referred family and friends to us this year and we certainly appreciate it. It is our pleasure and delight to serve FL. We've talked at length about improving our information to FL residents, increasing our website and specific newsletters just for you. In the near future you'll be able to go to HLA FL pages.
Third, we'll be at two curriculum fairs this year, Orlando and Jacksonville. Details are below. We hope you will stop by our booth and say hi!
Fourth, we are proud to announce we are participants in both FLVS - Florida Virtual School - and the Bright Futures Scholarships. We were given specific FL accounts on the web for both of these and can login and approve your courses or transcripts.
Finally, we are finalizing a brochure with FL specific information as well. If you would like to help distribute these for us please email me back with the number you'd like and your mailing address. Thank you. We're also sending to support groups in FL this summer.
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FPEA Florida Parent Educator's Association
Come to the 20th annual conference and fair.
Date: May 22-24, 2008
Times: Thursday 5-9pm, Friday 9-7pm and Saturday 9-6pm
Location: Rosen Single Creek
Contact Info: http://www.fpea.com/Convention/main.htm
$40 per family for FPEA Members
$80 per family for non-FPEA Members
Deadline for registration - May 1st, 2006
HLA Staff Attending: David and April Parkerson, Lani Carey and Ana and Gina Drake, parent teachers in FL
Workshops (2): David Parkerson, Foundations of Home Education**
Home Educational Resources and Information, Inc. (HERI) Curriculum Fair
Date: Friday and Saturday, July 11 & 12, 2008
Times: Fri. 9a.m. - 6p.m. both days
Location: Jacksonville, FL; Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center
Contact Info: HERI 904-783-9354
Website: http://www.herijax.com
HLA Staff Attending: David and April (and baby!)
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 FLORIDA LAWS:
According to research done by the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, there are three options for
Homeschooling in FLORIDA. If you are a FL resident and you choose to
register with HLA you will be covered by the provisions of Option 2. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS.
The Florida office is based near Tallahassee, giving HLA a physical presence in FL. This is good news for Florida residents who prefer not to register with the state. Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has endorsed this as Option 2. Click here to read FL state laws for umbrella schools.
If
you choose to homeschool through HLA under Option 2 the requirements
must be met for registration and record keeping. Testing and
Evaluations are optional. Visit FAQ for details. HLA is happy to help homeschoolers in FL! If you have questions please email us from the Contact Us page. Thank you.
SMALL EXTRA CHARGE:
There
is a small additional charge of $20 dollars per family in FL, to cover
the additional expenses of maintain a FL office. This makes the totals:
# $70 for the 1st student
# $20 for each additional
# $120 maximum per family
# Includes instant online grade reporting
This
is still a very low annual enrollment fee. And we are excited that this
fee will NEVER go up. The additional amount is calculated for you
during registration.
FLORIDA EVENTS:
PHECCS - Pensacola Home Education Conference and Curriculum Sale http://www.pheccs.com
FPEA - http://www.fpea.com
HERI - http://www.herijax.com/
CLICK HERE FOR MORE EVENTS
FLORIDA HOMESCHOOL ORGANIZATIONS:
CLICK HERE FOR MORE
 FAQ:
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Does being a member of a HomeLife Academy take the place of Florida's
record keeping and testing requirements for homeschoolers?
YES.
It is not necessary for you to register with the Local education agency
if you meet the requirements to be an HLA teacher. The FL state laws for umbrella schools
state "More than one homeschool can operate as a private school. A
child who attends a private, parachial, religious, or denominational
school is exempt for compulsory attendance." - Fla. Stat. Ann.
1002.01(2) Since your child will be attending a private school he/she
is exempt from FL state compulsory attendance laws. You
and your student will be responsible for meeting all the same
requirements that other students of HomeLife Academy are required to
meet.
Will my student be required to take standardized tests?
Once
you withdraw from the state of FL home education program (see below)
and are accepted by HomeLife Academy you will be exempt from state
requirements for testing. Standardized tests are "Only required for
parents complying with the homeschool law in Option one." - HSLDA legal Analysis.
What does the term "600 school" mean?
Many
private schools serving homeschoolers call themselves "600" or
"umbrella" schools. The fact is that they are non-public schools just
the same as every other non-public school in Florida. The "600" refers
to the statute numbers that some school choose to incorporate under.
Incorporatation is not required to to be a non-public school. FPEA has
a good description of the various charters: http://www.fpea.com/Guide/index/css/fpea_12.html
Will this cost more than the normal fees?
In
order to maintain a physical presence in Tallahasse, FL (PO Box, staff,
postage, etc.), there will be an additional fee of just $20 per family
per year. This fee will be automatically added in the last step of
online registration. Fees will be as follows: Annual Registration Fees:
$70 for 1st student, $20 for each additional, $120 max. Includes
Instant Online Grade Reporting. (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Cash,
Check, or Money Order all excepted) ($50 extra for seniors is also
required.)
If I am registered with FL how do I withdraw and register only with HLA?
When
you enroll with HLA, you do NOT need to register with the Home
Education program though your county. (Registering with the county as a
home education student AND registering with a private school is not
statutory. If your county requests it, please follow up with them
concerning the law.)
However, if you are currently registered
with the state home education program (via your local school board),
you must send them a notice of termination. NOTE: This is required of
any child registered with the state home education program regardless
if you choose to enroll the child in a public school, a private school,
or transfer your home education program to another county. Therefore,
this is the same process of transferring from the state home education
program to any private school.
When you send your letter of
withdraw, the only thing required by law is the child's name, address
and the parents signature on the letter stating you are "ending your
state home education program". You can tell them where you plan to
enroll, or if you are moving out of state, but it is not required by
law.
Include the following HomeLife Academy address in your correspondence.
HomeLife Academy
Florida Address:
P.O. Box 111389
Palm Bay, FL 32911-1389
888-560-0774
What is the difference in a "home education program" and a "private school" ?
HLA is simply a private school. If you want to conduct a home education program #1 applies. However, we are defined by #2.
1002.01 Definitions.--
(1)
A "home education program" means the sequentially progressive
instruction of a student directed by his or her parent in order to
satisfy the attendance requirements of ss. 1002.41, 1003.01(4), and
1003.21(1).
(2) A "private school" is a nonpublic school
defined as an individual, association, copartnership, or corporation,
or department, division, or section of such organizations, that
designates itself as an educational center that includes kindergarten
or a higher grade or as an elementary, secondary, business, technical,
or trade school below college level or any organization that provides
instructional services that meet the intent of s. 1003.01(13) or that
gives preemployment or supplementary training in technology or in
fields of trade or industry or that offers academic, literary, or
career training below college level, or any combination of the above,
including an institution that performs the functions of the above
schools through correspondence or extension, except those licensed
under the provisions of chapter 1005. A private school may be a
parochial, religious, denominational, for-profit, or nonprofit school.
This definition does not include home education programs conducted in
accordance with s. 1002.41.
>>>More: http://www.flsenate.gov/statutes/index. ... /Sec01.HTM
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As always feel free to call or email us anytime! | |
HomeLife Academy
David Parkerson
Administrator
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HomeLife Academy
Tyler Parkerson
Web Development
HLA's Resident Agent, Palm Bay
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