Two states, side by side

Florida vs Pennsylvania: 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

Florida and Pennsylvania sit in the same tier: both require notice and a periodic assessment. They still differ on 5 of the 9 rules compared: hours or days per year, required subjects, testing or evaluation, compulsory school ages, and ESA funding.

Rules compared: 9
Differences: 5
Same in both: 4

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	Florida	Pennsylvania
Notice of intent	Required, filed with the local school district	Required, filed with the local school district
Hours or days per year Differs	No minimum	900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) over 180 days a year
Required subjects Differs	None named	11 named: english, math, science, geography, history, civics, safety, health, physical education, music, art
Testing or evaluation Differs	Parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually	Professional evaluation, annually
Portfolio of work	Required	Required
Progress reports	Once a year	Once a year
Compulsory school ages Differs	6-16	6-18
ESA or school choice funding Differs	Florida Tax Credit Scholarship: Personalized Education Program (FTC-PEP)	No program
Public school sports access	Yes	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 Florida to Pennsylvania

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

Start logging from your first day: Pennsylvania counts 900 hours (990 for grades 7-12) over 180 days a year, and Florida set no minimum.
Pennsylvania names 11 required subjects (english, math, science, geography, history, civics, safety, health, physical education, music, art). 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 professional evaluation, annually in Pennsylvania.
Compulsory school ages are 6-18 in Pennsylvania against 6-16 in Florida, so check whether your youngest or oldest is now inside or outside the rule.
Pennsylvania has no ESA program. Florida's Florida Tax Credit Scholarship: Personalized Education Program (FTC-PEP) is for Florida residents, so budget without it.

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

Moving from Pennsylvania 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. Pennsylvania's list is still a sensible course plan; it stops being a legal one.
The assessment rule changes from professional evaluation, annually in Pennsylvania to parent's choice (testing, portfolio, or evaluation), annually in Florida.
Compulsory school ages are 6-16 in Florida against 6-18 in Pennsylvania, 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; Pennsylvania had no comparable program.

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

What stays the same

Florida and Pennsylvania match on notice of intent, the portfolio, progress reports, and public school sports access. Your habits on those carry over unchanged.

Do your records transfer?

Neither Florida nor Pennsylvania 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 Florida page and the Pennsylvania page.

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