Homeschool Guide for Lakeland + Polk County
Are you looking for homeschool enrichment classes or a parent co-op here in Lakeland? Interested in homeschooling but not sure where to begin?
Lakeland has an amazing homeschool community, multiple social and support groups, homeschool programs, and daytime classes and activities to help with your learning journey.
Whether you are a homeschool family or a family who is doing virtual school at home, whether you call it unschooling, deschooling, home education, or something else, we hope our Homeschool Guide helps you find educational resources for your family in Lakeland and Polk County.
Don’t miss our full Education Guide – it includes information on Polk County public schools, tutoring and test prep, colleges, scholarship programs, and more.
How to Begin Homeschooling in Florida
If you are new to homeschooling in Lakeland or Polk County, get connected with experienced homeschool parents {groups listed below} or an established umbrella school who can help you navigate the process. You can also use the free Parent How-To Course from WonderHere.
You do not have to be a certified teacher to homeschool, you simply have to comply with the requirements outlined below. You can start homeschooling at any time in grades K-12 – even in middle school or high school. The PCPS Website has a helpful list of FAQs.
The Florida Parent Educators Association is also a helpful resource for Florida homeschool families. According to the FPEA, these are the six steps to begin homeschooling in Florida:
◆ Submit a notice of intent to your school district. In Polk County, visit the PCPS Homeschool website for a Notice of Intent form. On that page you’ll also find a helpful Parent Information Packet. You can also submit your own Notice of Intent letter (FPEA download) to your public school district. You can also enroll with an Umbrella School that will take care of this paperwork for you.
◆ Choose your educational approach or curriculum. If you prefer a set curriculum, the good news is there are MANY educational materials to choose from. {This is also the bad news for anyone who is indecisive like me}. Parents in one of the co-ops or Facebook Groups listed below can help provide guidance to figure out what works for your family. You can also check the FPEA website for a list of quality educational teaching materials and online homeschool curriculum.
◆ Maintain your portfolio – See the FPEA website for details.
◆ Submit an annual evaluation – A student learning in a home education setting must be evaluated once a year to demonstrate educational progress at a level equivalent to his or her abilities. As a parent, you select an evaluator (a Florida-certified teacher) to review the portfolio and/or administer an evaluation, and then submit the appropriate paperwork to the school district. Learn more about Homeschool Portfolios.
â—† Preserve your records
◆ Submit your notice of termination if you decide to stop home schooling. This form can also be found on the PCPS Website.
Note that the requirements above are for a home education program led by a parent or guardian. They do not apply for students who have already enrolled in Polk Virtual School or Florida Virtual School.
Homeschool Resources in Lakeland + Polk County
- Homeschool Co-Ops + Social Groups
- Homeschool Enrichment - Arts + Crafts
- Homeschool Enrichment - Dance
- Homeschool Enrichment - General
- Homeschool Enrichment - Gymnastics
- Homeschool Enrichment - Sports + PE
- Homeschool Enrichment - Theater
- Homeschool Enrichment – Music
- Homeschool Enrichment – Nature + Animals
- Supplemental Programs + Umbrella Schools
HELPFUL TIP: Use the filter button (3 horizontal lines) to narrow down the list by city and/or category. All city filters are a general geographic area, check each listing address for a specific location. Use the map at the bottom to find Homeschool Resources Near You.
Don’t see your business listed here? Use the button below to add a Featured or Basic listing.
What’s Cooking? teaches children the importance of clean eating and cooking from scratch in a peanut free kitchen that caters to everyone’s allergies. Camps and classes are offered to further develop cooking skills and teach children about local foods, restaurants and our natural environment.
Our desire is to explore God’s beautiful creation in and around our wonderful city in order to nurture the souls of children and mothers alike, and to encourage our spirits to truly be Wild + Free. This is a group of homeschooling families that go on nature hikes.
Weekly running club for homeschool families. Join the Facebook group for more information.
WonderHere is a learn & play studio that offers hands-on homeschool classes, creative extracurriculars, homeschool support, summer and holiday camps, birthday parties, mommy & me toddler classes, & an open studio for free & structured play. The WonderHere Schoolhouse is a small private school for age 4 – 5th grade, founded on the principles of play-based, project-driven, and personalized education. Utilizing our Family-Style™ Schoolhouse model, children are taught core skills and concepts, while also getting the opportunity to explore their own interests with the guidance of teacher mentorship.