Two states, side by side

Colorado vs Florida: Homeschool Laws Compared

Nine rules compared from each state's verified compliance data, then what changes for a family moving in either direction.

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The short answer

Colorado and Florida sit in the same tier: both require notice and a periodic assessment. They still differ on 7 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, the portfolio, compulsory school ages, ESA funding, and public school sports access.

Rules compared: 9
Differences: 7
Same in both: 2

The rules, side by side

Rows where the two states differ are marked. Tap a state name for its full guide, deadlines, and sources.

Rule	Colorado	Florida
Notice of intent	Required, filed with the local school district	Required, filed with the local school district
Hours or days per year Differs	688 hours over 172 days a year	No minimum
Required subjects Differs	9 named: reading, writing, speaking, math, history, civics, literature, science, constitution	None named
Testing or evaluation Differs	Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), at specified grade levels	Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually
Portfolio of work Differs	Not required	Required
Progress reports	None	Once a year
Compulsory school ages Differs	6-17	6-16
ESA or school choice funding Differs	No program	Florida Tax Credit Scholarship: Personalized Education Program (FTC-PEP)
Public school sports access Differs	Yes, with conditions	Yes

Figures are the same verified compliance data shown on each state's page. Requirements change; confirm with your state before you rely on one.

Moving from Colorado to Florida

Once you are a Florida resident you homeschool under Florida's rules. These are the ones that change.

Florida sets no hour or day minimum. Keep the log anyway; it is what you show if anyone asks, and what you build a transcript from.
Florida names no required subjects. Colorado's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
The assessment rule changes from parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), at specified grade levels in Colorado to parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually in Florida.
Keep a portfolio of dated work samples: Florida requires one and Colorado did not.
Compulsory school ages are 6-16 in Florida against 6-17 in Colorado, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
Florida runs Florida Tax Credit Scholarship: Personalized Education Program (FTC-PEP). Check whether your family qualifies; Colorado had no comparable program.
Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Florida the answer is yes; in Colorado it was yes, with conditions.

How to start homeschooling in Florida Moving to Florida checklist Withdrawing in Colorado Florida letter of intent Colorado withdrawal letter (free PDF)

Moving from Florida to Colorado

Once you are a Colorado resident you homeschool under Colorado's rules. These are the ones that change.

Start logging from your first day: Colorado counts 688 hours over 172 days a year, and Florida set no minimum.
Colorado names 9 required subjects (reading, writing, speaking, math, history, civics, literature, science, constitution). Tag activities to them so a gap shows before the year ends.
The assessment rule changes from parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually in Florida to parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), at specified grade levels in Colorado.
Colorado does not require a portfolio. Bring Florida's with you anyway; it is your proof of progress if a question ever comes up.
Compulsory school ages are 6-17 in Colorado against 6-16 in Florida, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
Colorado has no ESA program. Florida's Florida Tax Credit Scholarship: Personalized Education Program (FTC-PEP) is for Florida residents, so budget without it.
Can homeschoolers play public school sports? In Colorado the answer is yes, with conditions; in Florida it was yes.

How to start homeschooling in Colorado Moving to Colorado checklist Withdrawing in Florida Colorado letter of intent Florida withdrawal letter (free PDF) Colorado hour log (free PDF)

What stays the same

Colorado and Florida match on notice of intent and progress reports. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Colorado nor Florida takes homeschool records from another state, and there is no transfer process between them. You keep your own: the hours or attendance log, work samples, and any grades or transcripts. Those are what the new state, and later a college, may ask to see. Homeschool Fox keeps them in one account that moves with your family.

Homeschool record keeping guide How to withdraw from public school

Sourced from each state's own published requirements. See the sources and verification dates on the Colorado page and the Florida page.

Homeschool Fox is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Confirm details with your state or a qualified advisor.