Homeschool benefits and savings in Hillsborough County
Hillsborough College (HC) waives the application fee, tuition, and lab fees for home education students in grades 6-12 who take college courses through dual enrollment, worth $104.39 per credit hour at HC's in-state rate. Your child needs proof of enrollment in a Hillsborough County home education program and college-level placement scores, and HC provides the books, which you return at the end of each term. Other options include transit fare savings.
Hillsborough College home-education dual enrollment
Who qualifies
Registered for Hillsborough home education
Provide proof of registration with the Hillsborough County Home Education Office each year, and a letter of good standing in your first term.
Is in grades 6-12
The student must be enrolled in grades 6-12 and must not yet have finished the home education program.
Has college-ready test scores
PERT, SAT, or ACT scores from the last two years must reach college level, such as PERT reading 106 or ACT reading 19. The first PERT is free; retakes cost $10 a section.
Keeps a 2.0 college GPA
Your student must keep a cumulative 2.0 GPA in HC courses to stay in the program.
What it is worth
HC charges Florida residents $104.39 per credit hour in tuition and fees.
- One class (3 hours)
- $313.17
- Term limit (10 hours)
- $1,043.90
- Fall and spring at 10 hours each
- $2,087.80
- Early admission term (15 hours)
- $1,565.85
HC's home education agreement says the college provides and pays for books, but its general dual-enrollment page says home-schooled students are responsible for instructional materials, so ask the Dual Enrollment office to confirm before you buy anything.
From applying to keeping it
- October 2026
Attend an information session
HC holds online sessions for spring 2027 on October 15, 17, and 27.
- First term
Sign the agreements
Complete the Dual Enrollment Student/Parent Agreement, submit the signature page of the Home Education Articulation Agreement, and send the letter of good standing.
- By Nov. 6, 2026
Submit term paperwork
Upload a home school transcript and the Home Education Approval Form to the online Dual Enrollment portal by 11:59 p.m. Late paperwork is not accepted.
- From Nov. 9, 2026
Register in Workday
New dual-enrollment students register for spring classes starting November 9, using the instructions in their approval email, before the December 7 deadline.
- End of each term
Return the books
Physical course materials go back to a Barnes and Noble campus store at the end of the term.
What it pays for
Covered
- Application fee
- Tuition
- Registration and laboratory fees
- Required course materials and lab kits
Not covered
- Transportation to campus
- Physical education and college preparatory courses
- Courses under 3 credit hours, with some exceptions
- Paying for extra classes outside the agreement
Books and materials stay HC property, and HC's textbook page says all required course materials remain free for dual-enrollment students.
Who to contact
Dual Enrollment staff review home education paperwork, approve students, and answer program questions.
dualenrollment@hccfl.edu 813-253-7976 Dual enrollment steps
HART youth fare
Who qualifies
Is 6 to 18 years old
Youth ages 6-18 get the discount fare. Children 5 and under ride free with a paying adult if they are no taller than the yellow height line on the bus.
Shows proof of age
HART accepts an original birth certificate, a passport, a state ID, or Hillsborough County school documentation with a typed birthdate. A homeschooled child without a school ID uses one of the first three.
Gets a Discount Flamingo Card
Buy the card at the Marion Transit Center or the University Area Transit Center. Cash riders can instead show a valid school ID, which homeschooled children usually do not have.
What the youth fare saves
HART's Flamingo Fares table lists regular and discount prices for local and limited express service.
- One trip
- $1.00 vs. $2.00
- Daily fare cap
- $2.00 vs. $4.00
- Monthly fare cap
- $32.50 vs. $65.00
- 31-day unlimited pass
- $32.50 vs. $65.00
- 10-pack of 1-day passes
- $18.50 vs. $37.00
Fare capping works only when you pay from a loaded balance on the same card or app every time; once your child hits the cap, rides are free for the rest of the day or month.
How to get the youth fare
- Before you go
Find proof of age
Bring your child's original birth certificate, passport, or state ID.
- At a transit center
Get the card
Buy the Discount Flamingo Card for $3.00 at the Marion Transit Center, 1211 N. Marion Street, or the University Area Transit Center, 13110 N. 27th Street.
- Before riding
Load money
Add at least $5.00 through the Flamingo app, FlamingoFares.com, or a HART customer service center. Each trip is paid from that balance.
- Every two years
Renew the permit
HART's youth permit is valid for two years or until your child's 18th birthday, so renew it in person with proof of age.
What it includes
Included
- Local and limited express buses
- HARTFlex service
- Discount express fares
Not included
- Riders past their 18th birthday
- Lost or stolen card balances
Who to contact about youth fares
The HARTinfo Line answers fare, card, and trip questions, Monday to Friday 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
813-254-4278 Discount permit requirements
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 homeschooled child take classes at Hillsborough College for free?
- Yes. The home education agreement says eligible home education students are exempt from registration, tuition, and lab fees for each approved course, once they are enrolled in a Hillsborough County home education program and meet the test score requirements.
- Does my child need a 3.0 GPA for Hillsborough College dual enrollment?
- It depends on which rule applies. HC's general dual-enrollment page lists a 3.0 unweighted GPA, while the home education agreement lists placement scores, not a GPA, so ask the Dual Enrollment office.
- Can a homeschooled child get HART's youth fare?
- Yes. The discount is based on age, not school. Show an original birth certificate, passport, or state ID to get a Discount Flamingo Card for your child.
- Can my child pay cash on HART without a card?
- Only with a school ID. A youth can pay the $1.00 cash fare by showing a valid school ID; without one, your child needs the Discount Flamingo Card to get the discount.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
College classes can cover part of high school. We teach the subjects your child needs alongside them, starting at the right level in each subject.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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