Charter Schools and Home Education

Welcome to the Charter Schools and Home Education Department of Pinellas County Schools. This site has been designed to provide valuable resources to parents seeking information about Charter Schools in Pinellas County or information about establishing a Home Education Program in Pinellas County.

Charter Schools in Florida are fully recognized as public schools and are funded by the Florida Department of Education in the same manner as all other public schools in the state. They operate under a performance contract, or a "charter", between the charter school governing board and the district sponsor. In accordance with Florida statute, the charter school 's governing board is responsible for setting policy, approving the annual budget, and ensuring the school is financially sound and operating within the required fiscal guidelines.

Home Education is a parent directed program. By opening a home education program, the parent agrees to become responsible for the student's education. Section 1002.01, Florida Statutes (F.S), defines home education as the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent or guardian in order to satisfy Florida's compulsory attendance requirements.

Families