Author Topic: Homeschooling in Florida--looking for others (Read 784 times)

FLmomof9 · « **on:** December 01, 2010, 10:21:39 AM »

I am new here, and I was kind of surprised not to see a separate section here to discuss homeschooling, since so many Trad Caths seem to do this. But anyway, I was wondering if there is anyone else on this board who is from the south Lake-west Orange county area of Florida, and who is looking for a support group to join. I am seriously considering starting one. I have a 4yo daughter, 11 and 12yo sons, and three older girls who all have disabilities. I don't know ANY other local TLM attending homeschool families. Would love to find some!

Elizabeth · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2010, 11:52:19 AM »

Well thank God homeschooling is now legal in all 50 states! Florida used to be a difficult state to HS if I recall.

And welcome to Cathinfo!

I wish you the very best of luck in finding the support you deserve.

Do you use a religious exemption? Have your children been in schools before?

FLmomof9 · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2010, 04:10:54 PM »

Hi, Elizabeth, and thank you for responding to me! :) Florida has more rules to get around to homeschool. But it is not impossible. At first, I signed up with an umbrella school, which actually was fine. But then we started using Seton's curriculum, so we officially signed up with them. Now I only report to Seton, not to the state or anyone else. I have NEVER reported to the state--why should I? They are not in authority over my kids, as far as i'm concerned, if I opted out of their system! So the umbrella school option made sense to me.

Before FL, we homeschooled in NJ (NO regs whatsoever--very easy to homeschool), and in PA (we lived there when the regs changed years ago, but our district never cared who we were or what we did--fine with me). Homeschooling has been legal in all 50 states for many, many years. It's just some states are less homeschool friendly than others.

We have homeschooled all our kids at one time or another. They have also gone to school some years. Whatever worked for our family at the time. But now I hope to keep my remaining kids home straight through high school. Dealing with someone else's agenda for my family, on someone else's schedule and terms, is simply not what I am able to put up with anymore. Call me a rebel. LOL! Marilyn

ora pro me · « **Reply #3 on:** December 01, 2010, 04:33:26 PM »

Flmomof9,

I don't have any personal experience with the Seton program although we did get some things from them years ago, but just in case you might be interested in checking out an alternative to the Seton program, you may want to look at Our Lady of Victory Homeschooling program at http://www.olvs.org/

For deals on books, be sure to check out their "bargain basement" after you click on their bookstore.

ora pro me

Elizabeth · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2010, 05:05:07 PM »

Seton is great in a state like FLA because they are accredited and have been around for a long time. The NHSLDF(sp?) (the lawyer group with an annual fee) is worth every penny in value, no matter which curriculum IMO.

I really love OLV materials, also. :reading:

A school board person told me there are numerous charges laid with the K-12 online classes(in which computers are delivered to the home, and texts) They are strictly monitored, so they would work for the highly structured families who work well within the system.

There is a poster here named Cera who is a Professor with a very interesting point of view. I'd LOVE to read more of her thoughts.

FLmomof9 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2010, 06:20:37 PM »

I really like OLV. Almost went with them instead of Seton. Can't remember why I didn't. Might use them again in the future. I wouldn't use a program like K-12, because that is just inviting the public school system into your home. The program is free (through Florida Virtual School), but the strings attached are just not what I want for our family.

HSLDA is a great resource! Don't really need them right now, because our homeschool is doing well, and this state is not impossible to deal with (so far). But if we have money to join in the future, I would probably rejoin. Marilyn

Matthew · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2010, 09:23:32 AM »

My mom used Our Lady of Victory when she homeschooled my 2 sisters and 1 brother. (I was a Junior in HS when she started homeschooling, and foolishly opted out of it)

It seemed to be good, from what I could tell. My mom is very picky when it comes to the Faith and she was pleased with it.

My wife isn't on here these days, but she would normally chime in on a thread like this. We're going to start homeschooling very soon. Our oldest will be 5 in March.

Matthew