How Florida Families Can Enroll at Enlightium Academy

Enlightium Academy is an approved private Christian school that is accredited by Cognia and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Enlightium has served homeschool, online, and co-op school students in K-12 since 2003. In general, state institutions recognize Enlightium Academy as an out-of-state private school that allows students to transfer in or transfer out to public and private schools. Enlightium Academy provides our families with standard information about their state’s requirements, and parents are encouraged to review their state’s requirements at hslda.org/legal and/or the Florida Department of Education, as educational policies are subject to change over time.

Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and Washington D.C.; however, with the freedom to educational opportunities comes a responsibility to understand and fulfill legal requirements. This can be worrisome, yet you’re not alone in this endeavor. Enlightium Academy is here to help! 

Please note that the resources below serve as a starting point for your family; it is important that you research Florida’s requirements.

As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables us to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide.

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Florida’s Requirements at a Glance

Homeschooling Options = Option 1: Homeschooling under the homeschool statute as a Home Education student or a Personalized Education Program (PEP) student

State Educational Funds = Yes

Does the Parent Need to Notify the State? = Yes; instructions are provided below

Academic Calendar Requirement = No

Reporting Age Requirement = 6-16

Instructor Qualifications = No

Required Subjects = No

Standardized Assessment = Yes

Immunization Requirement = No

Keep a Portfolio = Yes

Enlightium Parents App with Group for Florida Families = Yes

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Homeschooling Options

There are several homeschooling options in Florida. Families with students enrolled at Enlightium Academy can choose Option 1: Homeschooling under the homeschool statute. 

Students will be registered through one of the following: 

• A Scholarship Funding Organization as a Personalized Education Program (PEP) student. In most cases, Enlightium families choose the Personalized Education Program (PEP).
• Their local school district as a Home Education Program student.

The guidelines below are based on these options. 

As you review your state’s homeschooling requirements, please keep in mind that Enlightium Academy holds dual accreditation from Cognia and ACSI. This enables us to serve students in all 50 states, providing an accredited education that leads to a high school diploma recognized nationwide.

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State Educational Funds

Enlightium families can apply for state education funds using one of the following options. Please note that these programs will not pay Enlightium Academy directly on behalf of the student, but families have been reimbursed for Enlightium Academy tuition and fees from both of the scholarship options listed below. Enlightium Academy cannot make any guarantees about reimbursement approval or timing.

Personalized Education Program (PEP)

Students may be eligible for funding from the Personalized Education Program (PEP) if: 

• They are at least five years old by September 1st of the school year they are wishing to enroll
• They are a K-12 student not enrolled in a full-time public or private school

Click here to learn more and apply.

Unique Abilities Scholarship (for Home Education Program students)

Home Education students with a disability may be eligible for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities if: 

• They are within the age range of three years old up to the age of 22 years old, or until they complete 12th grade, whichever occurs first
• They possess a specific diagnosis

Click here to learn more and apply.

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Notify the State

Personalized Education Program

PEP students must register with a Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO) and notify the district. 

Home Education Program

Home Education students must file a notice of intent to homeschool with the county superintendent within 30 days of starting. The notice only needs to be filed once upon beginning your homeschool program and must include the following student information: 

• Full legal name
• Address
• Birthdate 

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Age Requirement

Ages five or younger:

Students are not required to attend school, but they can enroll in primary school at Enlightium Academy to get a head start and be ready for kindergarten.

Aged six on or before February 1:

Students must continue their education at a school of their parents’ choice until they either graduate or turn 16. This includes enrolling at Enlightium Academy.

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Instructor Qualifications

The Florida Department of Education does not require students to have teachers with specific credentials or qualifications. 

As a part of Enlightium Academy’s dual accreditation, Enlightium teachers are state and/or ACSI-certified. A number of our faculty members have Master's and Doctorate degrees in their fields. 

Students in the Homeschool Program (grades PreK-8) use book-based Christian curricula from AOP or BJU Press, while students in the Online Program (grades 3-12) use a digital Christian curriculum. Finally, students in the Sapphire Live program (grades 1-12) use a collection of the best curriculum options on the market. Each curriculum includes Bible, English, math, science, social studies, and elective courses. Click here to learn about the curriculum used at Enlightium Academy and to find the curriculum option that works best for your family.

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Required Subjects

The Florida Department of Education does not require any specific courses.

After you enroll/re-enroll and before your student starts courses at Enlightium Academy, your student’s counselor will send you an email with a recommended course schedule consisting of core courses and, if applicable, courses that fulfill Enlightium’s graduation requirements. Your student can also select from Enlightium’s elective courses.

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Standardized Assessment

Personalized Education Program

Students who are a part of the Personalized Education Program are required to take a norm-referenced assessment. Enlightium provides multiple assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing at a given grade level:

• Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment*; you can also opt out of an assessment
• Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT*, SAT*, and/or ACT*

*The Iowa Complete Annual Assessment, PSAT, SAT, and ACT are all approved by Florida’s Department of Education for students in the Personalized Education Program. 

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Home Education Program

Home Education students must be assessed annually. Enlightium provides multiple standardized assessment options to help you see how your student is progressing per a given grade level:

• Grades PreK-8: IXL diagnostic assessments or Iowa Complete Annual Assessment; you can also opt out of an assessment
• Grades 9-12: Guidance for college-preparatory assessments such as the PSAT, SAT, and/or ACT

*Standardized testing is not the only option; parents can also use a psychological evaluation or a teacher’s assessment based on a portfolio of the student’s work.

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Keep a portfolio

You will need to provide your state with additional information, so please keep a digital record every year you are enrolled at Enlightium Academy, which should include the following:

• Attendance - Enlightium provides your family with weekly progress reports. You can screenshot the details in these emails to show attendance.
• Curriculum information and samples - Enlightium provides its families with both curriculum overviews by grade level and samples by course.

*You must keep this portfolio for two years after it is completed. The district school superintendent or his or her agent can, but is not required to, review your portfolio only after 15 days’ written notice.

Additionally, you may want to include the following in your portfolio:

• Academic plans - Enlightium Academy counselors provide them during the registration process - primary school (PreK-2), elementary school (3-5), middle school (6-8), and high school (9-12).
• Grades - Enlightium provides report cards for all students at the end of each quarter. Transcripts are available upon request.
• Test scores - This can include occasional screenshots of test scores and/or standardized assessment scores.
• Academic Awards - Enlightium provides qualifying students with certificates for Honor Roll, Scholar’s List, Dean’s List, and the Presidential Award.
• Social/Competition Achievements - Enlightium holds social events and competitions throughout the school year, such as art competitions and the pen pal program.

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Enlightium Parents App with Group for Florida Families

Enlightium Academy has an app and a desktop platform for families of currently enrolled students. Within this app is a group just for families living in Florida to inform and support each other in fulfilling your state’s requirements. Your family will be provided a link to download the app after enrolling.

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Ready to Enroll at Enlightium Academy?

1. Explore Enlightium Academy’s website
2. If you have any questions:
   
   1. Chat with a team member
   2. Email consultants@enlightiumacademy.com
   3. Call (866) 488-4818 option 2
3. Ready to enroll? Click here to start the enrollment process, and select the “Enroll Now” button.

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Since 2003, Enlightium Academy has supported K–12 students in online, book-based, hybrid, and partner schools. Our dedicated faculty and staff, in collaboration with parents, deliver high-quality instruction and individualized learning. We focus on developing each student’s academic, spiritual, physical, social, and emotional well-being.

To find out if Enlightium is the right school for your family, schedule an appointment, call (509) 319-2288, or visit EnlightiumAcademy.com.

We review state requirements and regulations annually; however, each state may update its guidelines more frequently. If you have additional questions, please contact your state board of education.

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Sources reviewed in September 2024:

• https://hslda.org/legal
• https://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/immunization/children-and-adolescents/_documents/school-guide.pdf
• https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/personalized-education-program/
• https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/k-12-scholarship-programs/ftc/pep-faqs.stml#:~:text=While%20both%20categories%20of%20students,plan%20to%20their%20SFO%20annually.
• http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=1000-1099/1002/Sections/1002.01.html
• http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?mode=View%20Statutes&SubMenu=1&App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=1002.41&URL=1000-1099/1002/Sections/1002.41.html