Frequently Asked Questions

Is homeschooling legal? Yes, homeschooling is legal in all 50 US states and territories. 

What is the homeschool law in Florida? In Florida there are now three options for homeschooling: 

• Homeschooling under the homeschool statute – which involves filing a “notice of intent to homeschool” in the county of residence, maintaining a portfolio for two years, and annual testing or evaluation of student. Homeschooling with a private tutor fits under this option – your child’s instructor must hold a valid Florida certificate to teach the subjects or grades in which instruction is given, and you will need to provide your district school with an annual evaluation.
• Homeschooling under a private school “umbrella program” – enroll your child in a private school that is registered with the Florida Department of Education and that will oversee your homeschool program. Such non-traditional schools are often unofficially known as “umbrella” or “cover” schools because your homeschool program is supervised by them rather than overseen by local school officials. (The Bridge Sarasota is a non-traditional private school.)
• A third and new option is to establish a Personal Education Program (PEP) with one of the Scholarship Funding Organizations (SFO) that manages vouchers for home educators. That information can be found on the Florida Department of Education’s website.

Can I homeschool my children? Yes, you can! There are many resources to get you started – start by reading through our site and then check out our “Resources” page. After that, if you still have questions, contact us, we’re happy to help.

What is The Bridge Sarasota Private School? The Bridge Private School is a Florida non-traditional private school, also unofficially known as an “umbrella school” or an “independent school,” that offers homeschool families the advantage of private school enrollment while still educating their students at home. Students receive grade completion certificates, transcripts, and diplomas. All students enrolled at The Bridge Private School are home educated. Go to our Private School page for more details.

What are The Bridge Academy Classes? The Bridge Academy Classes are co-op enrichment classes for homeschool students. These classes are supplemental to what families are doing at home and are run as a co-op by our administration and families registered with The Bridge.

Can my student take Academy Classes without enrolling in the private school? Yes!

Can my student enroll in the private school without taking any Academy Classes? Yes!

Can my child play sports if he/she is enrolled at The Bridge Sarasota private school? Yes. Since we do not offer sports, students in high school may participate in sports at any member public school (including charter schools) under the auspices of the Florida High School Athletic Association. More information for that can be found at the FHSAA.

Does The Bridge offer counseling? Yes, we do. All private school families receive a free half hour of counseling with their enrollment fee, then it is $25 for every 30 minutes thereafter. We also offer counseling to anyone who is seeking it at the same price of $25 for every 30 minutes.

What experience does the staff at The Bridge have? Our directors have over 50 years of  combined homeschool experience! We also have experience with different state requirements, scholarships, college admissions, NCAA guidelines for athletes, and much more.