Florida home schoolers do not need to take standardized tests or submit scores to the district. But, some parents elect for their students to take those assessments as part of their yearly evaluation.

In a test of approximately 80 Bay County home schoolers, about half scored two or more grades above their grade level on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. Home school parents say this shows the system works.

But, school officials stick by their guns. They claim they see a negative trend in the small number of home school students who choose to take the FCAT and send their scores to the district.

Leanne Kirksey, a local home school parent, says, "From what I've seen, a lot of people don't test here because they're not required to. But, from what I've seen, the kids are usually a couple of grades ahead of public school peers."

Joan Harris, director of student services at Bay District schools, says, "FCAT is specifically testing Sunshine State standards, which is what's used to develop the curriculum in Florida schools. So, students who are not in the public schools and who are following a different curriculum, the trend, from what I've seen when the test comes in, the scores go down on a regular basis."

Part of the benefit of home schooling is the freedom to choose the curriculum, which may deviate from the public school system.