Homeschool benefits and savings in Osceola County
Osceola Prosper pays the tuition and required fees that grants and scholarships leave unpaid for one associate degree, certificate, or training program at Valencia College or Osceola Technical College (oTECH), worth about $6,184 for a 60-credit Valencia associate degree. Every Osceola County homeschool graduate in the Class of 2026 qualifies with no GPA, test score, or income requirement, as long as they enroll by spring 2027. Other options include library educator cards and resources.
Osceola Prosper county-funded tuition program
Who qualifies
Graduates in Osceola County
Public, charter, private, virtual, and home-schooled graduates in the current graduating class are all eligible. Virtual school graduates must also prove Osceola County residency.
Earns a standard diploma
Students need a Standard High School Diploma. GED earners who were part of the original graduating class and live in Osceola County also qualify.
Files the FAFSA
Send the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to Valencia (code 006750) or oTECH (code 031279) and finish any verification, or Prosper will not pay.
Enrolls within a year
Class of 2026 graduates can start in the summer 8-week term of 2026, fall 2026, or spring 2027 at the latest.
What it is worth
Valencia College lists in-state tuition at $103.06 per credit hour; Prosper also covers required fees after other aid.
- One class (3 credits)
- $309.18
- Full-time term (12 credits)
- $1,236.72
- Yearly minimum to keep it (12 credits)
- $1,236.72
- Associate degree (60 credits)
- $6,183.60
Prosper covers only courses required for your student's chosen program, and it does not pay for textbooks or course materials.
From applying to keeping it
- Senior year
Apply and file the FAFSA
Apply to Valencia College or oTECH, complete the residency for tuition purposes process, and file the FAFSA with the school's code.
- After graduation
Send the final transcript
Send your student's official, final high school transcript to Valencia or oTECH. There is no separate Prosper application.
- By spring 2027
Register for a course
Register for at least one course, an Accelerated Skills Training program, or an oTECH program.
- Each year
Keep momentum
File the FAFSA every year and complete at least 12 credit hours per academic year. A term GPA under 2.0 for four semesters in a row ends eligibility.
- By summer 2031
Finish the program
Summer 2031 is the last term of Prosper funding for the Class of 2026.
What it pays for
Covered
- Tuition
- Required fees
- Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degrees
- Valencia technical certificates and Accelerated Skills Training
- oTECH technical programs
Not covered
- Textbooks and course materials
- Bachelor's degree coursework
- Courses not required for the chosen program
Who pays first
- Federal and state grants, including Pell
- Bright Futures and other scholarships
- Osceola Prosper
It is last-dollar aid: grants and scholarships are applied first, and Prosper pays the remaining tuition and required fees.
The Osceola Board of County Commissioners funds the program and has invested nearly $40 million in it.
Who to contact
The Osceola Prosper team answers eligibility and enrollment questions, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
osceolaprosper@valenciacollege.edu 407-582-1507 Osceola Prosper FAQ
Osceola Library System educator card
Who qualifies
Leads a homeschool
Homeschool leaders are listed as qualifying educators, alongside K-12 teachers, preschool and day care providers, and college instructors.
Registered with the district
Bring proof of registration as a home education program with the school district, on school district letterhead, when you sign up and each time you renew.
Teaches in Osceola County
The card extends only to educators whose work is based in Osceola County.
What the card gives you
The Osceola Library System lists the Educator Card limits next to the standard card, and its loan table sets the checkout periods.
- Checkouts on the Educator Card
- 100
- Holds on the Educator Card
- 50
- Automatic renewals per item
- Up to 3
- Loan period for books
- 21 days
- Loan period for DVDs
- 7 days
- Card length
- 2 years
Items not returned within 30 days of the due date count as lost: you are charged the full replacement value and the account is blocked until they come back.
How to get the card
- Before you go
Get your district letter
Have your proof of home education registration on school district letterhead. The Osceola home education office is at homeeducation@osceolaschools.net or 407-483-3660.
- At any branch
Sign up for the card
Any Osceola County library branch can issue the Educator Card, which works at every branch in the system.
- Each checkout
Borrow and return
Books are due in 21 days and renew automatically up to three times unless another patron has a hold.
- Every 2 years
Renew with proof
Renew at a branch and bring your current home education registration letter again.
What it includes
Included
- Up to 100 checkouts
- Up to 50 holds
- Automatic renewals
- Use at every Osceola County branch
Not included
- Educators whose work is outside Osceola County
- Renewals on items with holds
The Educator Card is extra: you keep your personal library card alongside it.
Who to contact about the card
Library staff answer questions about Educator Cards and library accounts.
407-742-8888 Educator Cards page
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 graduate use Osceola Prosper?
- Yes. The program says it is open to home-schooled students in Osceola County who are part of the graduating class, with the same rules as public, charter, and private school graduates.
- Can my student attend part time with Osceola Prosper?
- Yes. Students can enroll part time or full time, but they must complete at least 12 credit hours per academic year to keep momentum.
- Can a homeschool parent get an Osceola Library Educator Card?
- Yes. Homeschool leaders are listed as qualifying educators. Bring proof that your home education program is registered with the school district, on district letterhead.
- Do I lose my personal Osceola library card?
- No. An educator may hold an Educator Card in addition to a personal library card.
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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