Homeschool benefits: Collier County Library
Collier County Public Library gives homeschool parents in Collier County a free Educator card, good for one year and expiring each August 31. Under the library's borrowing rules, you can check out as many books as you need for three weeks at a time, with up to eight renewals.
Who qualifies
Home school parent in Collier
The Educator card is for teachers, home school parents, and activity directors in Collier County.
Shows ID with a local address
Bring a valid photo ID with your current Collier County street address, or add proof of residency or property ownership if your ID shows another address.
Applies in person
Cards are issued, replaced, and renewed in person at any of the library's ten locations.
What the card gives you
The limits come from Collier County Public Library's card types table and its library policies.
- Books, audiobooks, and music CDs out
- No limit
- Videos out
- 10
- Holds at a time
- 10, up to 5 interlibrary loans
- Book loan period
- 3 weeks, 8 renewals
- Overdue book fine
- $0.25 a day, $10 maximum
- Card replacement
- $1
The library page does not list the homeschool proof it accepts for an Educator card, so ask the Headquarters Library what to bring before your visit.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Gather proof
Bring a photo ID with your Collier County address, and call 239-252-7350 to ask what homeschool proof the library accepts.
- At a branch
Ask for an Educator card
Apply in person at any of the ten Collier County Public Library locations.
- Each checkout
Return or renew in 3 weeks
Renew books online through My Account or by calling the automated renewal line at 239-920-7474.
- By Aug. 31 each year
Renew the card
Educator cards last one year and expire on August 31, so renew in person for the new school year.
What it includes
Included
- Books and audiobooks
- Music CDs and videos
- Holds and interlibrary loan requests
Not included
- Fines and lost-item charges
- R-rated or unrated videos for cardholders under 18
Who to contact about the card
The Headquarters Library answers questions about Educator cards, accounts, and borrowing rules.
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Florida
You must file the initial written notice with the county superintendent within 30 days of starting. You must file a termination notice and the annual evaluation within 30 days of ending the program.
Florida sets these rules:
- Subjects: Parent-directed instruction; Florida law does not prescribe a specific curriculum for a home education program.
- Testing: Provide an annual educational evaluation using one statutory method; a portfolio review is one option, and an alternate method requires agreement with the district superintendent.
- Records: Keep a portfolio with an activities log made as instruction occurs, reading-material titles, and work samples. Preserve it for two years and make it available for inspection on 15 days’ written notice.
- Teachers: Florida does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Florida also has two education savings accounts that home-educated students can use.
- The Personalized Education Program funds a Florida K-12 student's approved education costs through a scholarship organization, with income and priority rules. It is separate from registering a home education program with your district.
- The Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities funds approved education and disability costs for a student with a qualifying disability, including one in a registered home education program. The award depends on the disability and its services.
Read the Florida homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Florida
Questions parents ask
- Can a homeschool parent get a Collier County Public Library Educator card?
- Yes. Collier County Public Library lists home school parents in Collier County as eligible for the free Educator card.
- What happens if a book on the Collier Educator card is never returned?
- An item not returned within 28 days of its due date is considered lost. You pay its cost plus a $5 processing fee, and the library does not accept a replacement copy.
- When do fines block borrowing?
- At $10. Library service is denied once fines reach $10, and book fines are 25 cents a day.
- We live outside Collier County. Can we get a card?
- Yes, for a fee: $10 a month, $50 for six months, or $100 a year. Members of the Southwest Florida Library Network can get a free reciprocal card.
- Can my child have a separate card?
- Yes. Youth cards are free for children from birth through 17 and last three years, and teens 16 and older can get their own card.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
Books and library resources give your child something to explore. We turn their interests into coursework, so library discoveries can lead to deeper study at home.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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