There are many websites including our own where you can find a list of evaluators to call and gather information.  You may also ask in our Facebook group for recommendations from parents and look into our files where many evaluators have posted their FYI details.  Asking your evaluator questions prior to starting your year gives you a good idea on who to work with and what they will be looking for.  Typically evaluators look for samples of the start, middle and end of your child's school work.  Samples can mean a few papers from each time period per subject.  In Florida, the county you live in may tell you that they are required to keep at least the four core subjects of Math, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies but that is not a requirement of Florida Law.  You can designate the curriculum and material courses your child progresses in and how that is carried out.  This means your child has the flexibility to learn through course materials you design or choose. 

 

The state does require homeschoolers to keep a tangible copy of lessons they have completed to demonstrate a student's progress for a given year.  So you will need some sort of paper trail for whatever path you choose for your child.  

 

One example of a non traditional class would be a student taken Ballet as a career path.  Obviously, this is a positive curriculum with the potential to be a lifelong career for some students.  Some may smirk and say this is not education but rather an extra curricular activity but we beg to differ.  Children heavily involved in a ballet career may thrive to the point where it becomes the prior role in their lives.  This means that traditional educational classes have to find a different form to fit into this particular child's day.  That means you as the parent allow your child the flexibility to choose what subject matters will be best suited as part of their learning journey and future career potential.  This also means that you design exactly what that will look like for your particular student. 

 

So how then can you incorporate documented record keeping that demonstrated progress for ballet?  Serving as just an example here you can incorporate research, lessons, worksheets or reports on the history of ballet, famous artists, techniques, style, music, theater, fashion, design, architecture of theaters, current events, etc.  As you can see you will be covering many subject matters, time periods, history, art appreciation, modern events, etc through the process and specific to the field your child is participating in so it will be enriching and deepening their understanding of their selected field.  This type of learning can be applied to almost any area your child thrives in.  Tayloring your child's education to their interests and needs is one the best part of homeschooling.  Allowing your child to explore the world around them and you guiding them  on discovering where their path will take  them is what its all about.     

​

​

Do I need to keep a homeschool Portfolio?

While laws vary from state to state on the need and content of a homeschool portfolio, it is required in the State of Florida.  

​

The Homeschool Legal Defense Association makes the following recommendations on their website as:

​

In addition to state-required records, you should keep the following important records for your homeschool:

​

• Attendance records

• Information on the textbooks and workbooks your student used

• Samples of your student’s schoolwork

• Correspondence with school officials (including withdrawal forms, if applicable)

• Portfolios and test results

• Any other documents showing that your child is receiving an appropriate education in compliance with the law

​

You should maintain these records for at least two years.

​

You should also keep your student’s high school records and proof of compliance with the home education laws during the high school years (including any type of home education notice that you file with state or local officials) on file forever.

​

​

What should I keep as part of my homeschoolers portfolio?

The HSLDA has listed the formal requirements according to Florida state requirements so we will talk about what that may actually look like instead to answer this question.

​

Umbrella Schools

​

If you participate in an umbrella school they will require you to give them a list of the actual days you schooled your child to keep as part of their records.  You should consider an umbrella school as a private public school.  You will still be homeschooling your child and choosing curriculum and activities for your child but you will be required to report to the school, give immunization records annually and are subject to the school board requesting to see your child's portfolio upon request and at any time.  Since umbrella schools are still considered to be part of the public school system your child will not be listed as a homeschooled student but rather a public school student.  A common misconception among homemschool families.  While it does give you the freedom to homeschool your child they are not considered homeschoolers by the state but rather to be enrolled in public/private school and therefore fall under that same regulations including compulsory attendance.  Your portfolio for the case of an umbrella school should then follow the more traditional standards of a public school system and closer to state regulations so that you have a good presentation for random state inspections.

​

Traditional Homeschoolers

​

If you have chosen to do traditional homeschooling you will be working off your own curriculum choices which can include online classes, workbooks, in person classes, dual enrollment, worksheets, wild-schooling, unschooling, travel schooling, etc.  This is where the fun really begins.  Using the example provided above about alternative classes you can keep track of your child's written lessons and choose selections from their works at any time you choose.  When you choose will depend on the comfort of your own family.  You can choose weekly, monthly or annually.   There is no wrong answer really.  It is best, as we said, to know what your evaluator will be looking for prior to starting the year so you know what to keep throughout the year.

 

Attendance Records and Calendars

​

There are several ways to keep attendance records.  If you want to keep a formal record of your child's work you can keep a calendar that documents what you did, learned or activities for that day.  While this sounds wonderful and does comply with state standards it can be very taxing for most parents.  Its not  like we can't do this but its really unnecessary.  A simpler way of keeping track of your child's work is to date their actual papers.  The state is going to require you to keep a portfolio of samples of their work and writing the date solidifies their time period and documents for record keeping. At any point you can write those into a calender as well.  On your annual calendar schedule out any trips, outings, family events, anything you participate in and that also helps fill out your calendar year.  Our family added things like family or friend outings as social events, doctor appointments, movies, sports, art days, park trips, pool days, Youtube videos, Netflix documentaries, free time, etc to our calendar lists.

 

My favorite way of doing this was to plan it at the end of the year for the following year.  I looked at the coming year's events for our community to see what we  may want to participate in such as holidays trips, park days, museums, or community events.  I then plan out a budget for the year and schedule those events into a digital Word calendar.  I also keep my special events worked into my actual budget in Excel so they are planned and budgeted ahead of time.  Budgets change weekly so we adjust them as needed.  Next, I add special planned days for things we would expect to see during the year such as birthdays, anniversary, and parties.  I make a list of movies, documentaries and books that I want my child to be exposed to during the year and jot those down across the months as I plan a progression schedule for the year.  It's not a big loss if we change or drop anything because the calendar is reflecting the progress overall not the specific journey.  Once I have completed this calendar I work with it throughout the year adding, changing, modifying and deleting what we did or didn't do.  Its a very useful tool that I work with the most once a year only and tweek along the way.  Since we have already recommended you date your child's work it is not necessary to add it to the calendar as well but you can choose to do so if you wish.  Honestly, these are personal choices.  

 

Now, there are many ways to keep track of your activities but that is the actual goal of attendance tracking is to demonstrate that your child had tangible work and documented activities.  What it ends up looking like is up to you.  You can keep this record in many ways including a notebook, digital, on your phone, gmail.  It's really up to you how to keep track of what your student is doing.

​

Information on the textbooks and workbooks your student used

You can create a list of books and resources your child will be working with and that is the formal way of keeping your child's record.  We have found the calendar method to be the easiest.  Scheduling a few of the works that we are going to read across the year right into the calendar but again parent's have the flexibility to choose what this looks like for their family.

​

Samples of your student’s schoolwork

Samples must include hand written work of some sort that demonstrates that your child has progress.  These can be worsheets, books, digital files, etc.  They should be samples over a period of time so starting the year, mid and end so that it can reflect progression in work and style.  It should contain samples of anything your child may have done including art, science, math, extra curricular, etc. so that it demonstrates the fullness of your child's experience.  This again will be different  for each child and family. 

 

What are the state standards that I should be teaching my child per grade?

There is no set standard on what your child should be learning at any grade level for homeschoolers.  However, that being said you may want to gather information on what the traditional standards are and model your program in a way that is suitable for your family.  This would be especially important for families whom are considering returning to public school at some point or are targeting higher education schools.  In these cases, you would want to become informed about what their requirements for those schools would be and keep in pace with the standards that would mirror or progress your child to be competitive with those standards.  

​

I know the idea of not following state standards sounds way off but again some students go either beyond state standard models or are on alternative paths.  Such would be the case for an entrepreneur kids.  They would definitely be following their own pattern of standards that are not based of age or grade level standards.

​

Correspondence with school officials (including withdrawal forms, if applicable)

Now this is absolutely essential.  Keeping copies of all you correspondance with the county is completely essential.  We sent our letter of intent via email to our county representative.  We contacted our local office and I got the  name of the actual person who is in charge of processing the documents and their email.  In our letter we requested for the representative to acknowledge the receipt of our letter of intent  and she did with an email resonse.  I created a safe folder on cloud email and moved the letter into this folder.  Every year I drop the same correspondence mails into that folder which is safely kept in cloud through Google.  We found this to be the most effective way to keep a record that remains safe and easy to track through the years.  

 

Parents can also send a hard copy through the regular mail.  We recommend you send it return receipt so that you receive a signature that the homeschool office received your letter.  Be sure to  make a copy of letter for your records with the attached return receipt from the post office when you receive it.  You  will want to keep these records in a safe, fire and water proof area. You do not get a second chance at writing your letter or intent and may need it for various reasons in the future.  You may or may not get a confirmation letter from your homeschool office.  It is best to request one in your letter or follow up after a few weeks to obtain some form of correspondence from the homeschool office.  You will want to keep this letter of confirmation in a very safe place.  You may want to keep your homeschool correspondence records in a zip log bag or other water proof container.  This is especially important for places who experience frequent storms like Florida.  Personally this is why our family chose the email version.  

​

Portfolios and test results

We have already discussed portfolios but what should parents do about tests results?  When we first began homeschooling our kids I was dogmatic about doing tests to show that my child were learning the materials we had been studying.  In fact, I purchased a very hand curriculum that we followed for the first five years as part of our homeschooling.  Each workbook had sections that included mid-lesson self checks, chapter tests, and final tests at the end of the book.  I was so grateful to have those in there at the time.  It made  me feel that I could actively keep track of grades based of the marks my children were earning.  At the time that made grading feel legitimate to me.  This may be the most optimal way for your to run your program as well.  If your child is participating in an online format they might be getting a grade for work they accomplish or exams they do on there.  Again these can help you formulate grades and track progress for your child as well.  

 

Through the years though we discovered something that took us down a different path of grading and keeping test results.  As my child explored other subjects and interest it became more difficult to measure progress or success based off right and wrong answers since most of the content was subjective based off interpretation.  One example would be our binging on a documentary series, that led to research and discussion on any given subject.  A perfect example would be our binging into the Roman rise and decline and its comparison to cultural, spiritual, and theological influences.  This started as a weekend event watching a series that broadened into watching several movies and historical documentaries, research, discussions and one formal paper.  The topic became so interesting for my children we expanded the learning into other areas over the next few months.  Many times through the years we revisit the area with additional information and deeper discussions that have included comparisons to modern systems, roles, and politics.   Now how do you grade that?  There are no tests to give you a measure of the learning and understanding your child is receiving from such a lesson.  In fact, you can generate a test to cover dates, names, and events to generate a grade but would that truly give  you a picture of your child's understanding of a given subject.  We do not believe that tests truly reflect a child's deeper comprehension on a subject.   Tests are geared towards remembering specific facts and some children may not retain such a specific detail but have a very deep understanding on a subject.  In this case, you would not be giving your child the best reflection of their understanding.   Keep this in mind when you generate tests to carry the full scope of what your grading is reflecting for a class.

 

Another area to keep in mind is whether a subject can be considered honors or advanced.   These types of courses demonstrate that the child has had a more than rigorous curriculum or learning in a subject to have mastered the extra credit.  So who determines if this is the case?  Well if you are purchasing a program or are enrolled in an online platform that determines it to be that way you are safe.  That is written out for you but what about courses that you design for your student?  Who and how do you determine if it rigorous and are you giving it a fair judgement?  Well you can model after the programs that are out there and cover the same materials they would.  You can determine what about that course would give it a deeper understanding that a traditional class.  No one truly determines that for you.  Not even state standards.  Have you looked at a state standard before?  They are written in a way that leaves room for interpretation.  Take for example this Florida State Standard for Mathematics.  Can you determine what they want from the standard as an expectation and instructing you to teach.

 

MAFS.K12.MP.5.1 Use appropriate tools strategically. Mathematically proficient students consider the available tools when solving a mathematical problem. These tools might include pencil and paper, concrete models, a ruler, a protractor, a calculator, a spreadsheet, a computer algebra system, a statistical package, or dynamic geometry software. Proficient students are sufficiently familiar with tools appropriate for their grade or course to make sound decisions about when each of these tools might be helpful, recognizing both the insight to be gained and their limitations. For example, mathematically proficient high school students analyze graphs of functions and solutions generated using a graphing calculator. They detect possible errors by strategically using estimation and other mathematical knowledge. When making mathematical models, they know that technology can enable them to visualize the results of varying assumptions, explore consequences, and compare predictions with data. Mathematically proficient students at various grade levels are able to identify relevant external mathematical resources, such as digital content located on a website, and use them to pose or solve problems. They are able to use technological tools to explore and deepen their understanding of concepts. 

​

​

Florida State Standards

​

 

Notice that they did not tell you exactly what math to teach in this section.   In fact, many sections are not specific at all.  They are meant to be guides as to what is the expectation for learning.  Mastery is going to depend on the teachers actual lessons. So you are going to have to do some research on what your child could learn and should learn by certain ages and grades as a guide.  Children learn at their own pace and the best way to homeschool is to let the child thrive in the areas they do well in and guide in the areas they need help in and utilize the grading system in a way that appropriately tracks their general progress instead of individual fact sheet referencing.   It will be a simpler way to track your child's success, a fair evaluation of their level of understanding and keep you in compliance with state regulations.

 

When you choose what to teach within a certain subject at a certain grade level you may want to consider what details you would consider important for your child to learn, terminology, definitions, concepts, strategies, historical significance, etc.  It is virtually impossible to learn everything there is to know about any one topic so formulating what you deem to be most important is going to be your first priority.  There are many guides that give you a basic understanding of a course and what should or could be taught at particular grade levels.  You can do it that way or make it an evolving course. It really is all up to you.  One example would be to introduce the idea of matter and atoms early in the elementary grades and build upon it through the years by evolving the understanding and deeper concepts of science.  You could instead wait until your child is in a higher grade level or older to first introduce the concept.  There is no wrong answer here.  Everything you do will be based off your child's  own learning curve and the level of understanding they develop.  Your curriculum choices will change and evolve over time.       

 

Any other documents showing that your child is receiving an appropriate education in compliance with the law

Similar to the correspondence with the homeschool office you will want to keep any other records of your child's attendance in other activities.  These activities can include participation in online schools, academic programs, tutoring, sports, dance, art, music, or any other program your child receiving enrichment from.

​

How do I choose from the samples to keep as part of my child's homeschool portfolio?

​

Some states may requirea checklist of what is in your portfolio but in Florida that is not a requirement.

 

When you begin gathering material for the high school years you may want to keep in mind what materials a college may want to look at.  Lessons can be tailored to suit the needs of what will be reviewed as part of your child's portfolio for the college.  

​

Choosing from all your selected works is going to take some careful thought on your families part.  We all love to look at our child's collected works and get a sense of vibe off them.  Now, this could be good or bad.​  Sometimes, looking at the challenges they have faced through certain subjects can make us cringe.  In fact, it is outright stressful for some families.  Often times making them feel like they are failing at the homeschool life.  Don't stress these challenges too much.  The objective is to guide your child through a learning experience that enriches  their lives and progresses them into the most productive adults they can be. That will vary and be dependent on each individual unique child.  Focus on having fun with your child, building memories, developing strong familial relationships, adapting to social norms while reaching for unique perspectives, understanding the world around them, encourage creativity, independence, and strong moral character.  Moral character is often confused by some to mean religious but in fact all people share common standards that transcend across the globe including; love, honesty, trust, hope, integrity, service and citizenship.  Learning facts will always be second to developing a healthy well rounded human being.  

 

So how do you choose what to keep in your portfolio.  Having perfect samples does not tend to show progress so don't be afraid to show the sloppy work.  Keep what makes you proud and what demonstrates the most progress for your child. If they had a hard time learning something don't be afraid to let the progress of that show.  It is a real reflection of what your child experienced and demonstrates the most how far they have come.  Our family takes pictures of works that we no longer want to keep but want as samples.  This includes art works.   You know the piece of art that took three weeks to make and now you just can't find a home for but feel guilty throwing away?  Well, that'sok.  Keep it around for as long as you like and then take a picture when its time to finally let it go.  Our family takes two pictures  to keep.  We take one of the object after it is completed and one with my child holding it.  Well, sometimes more of during construction.  It's really going to be up to you what you want to do.  We use the images to go into our family photo albums which we keep in cloud form.  It creates great memories along the way.

 

What you most definitely will need to keep is the physical samples of worksheets, digital or paper, that your child worked on for a period of two years.  You will not have to keep it longer than that but some parents create time capsules from their portfolios and select an item or two to continue to keep.  Many of us have that one item from when we were kids that we all look back to and say "oh I remember that".  It's not necessary but its something to think about.  On the other hand you may be the minimalist that decides that these are just junk keepers and toss out in two years.  Don't feel guilty about either.  It's your life and these are your decisions to make free from judgement on how anyone one else does it.   

​

How to keep the homeschool portfolio?

Three ring binders, accordion files, plastic containers, electronic/cloud storage, and boxes are some of the ways parents keep their records.  The level of organization on how to store them is extremely personal for each family.  Some parents are highly organized and keep things so formal that they include labels.  Others keep things stored in boxes until its time to put a portfolio together.  Honestly, it really is all about comfort, space and ease for your family.  What makes it the most productive and stress free for your family.  Again, there are no wrong answers here and no need to feel any guilt to doing it your own way.  Our family has sampled many ways through the years and ultimately we choose to keep most our work digitally on the cloud.  

​

Who can conduct a homeschool evaluation?

The student shall be evaluated by an individual holding a valid, active license pursuant to the provisions of s. 490.003(7) or (8); This refers to a psychological evaluation and is an expensive choice but may be worth pursuing if you have a special needs child or one who learns differently.

​

When is the evaluation due?

Florida homeschoolers are required to conduct an annual evaluation by the date of their letter of intent.  This will remain their effective date as long as the child is considered homeschool.  If your letter of intent was dated June 6th then that will remain your effective date for the annual evaluation.  If at any time you wish to change your date of evaluation simply write to your county requesting a new date.  That is an option. Your county may send you a reminder letter annually if you have missed this date with a list of ways you can satisfy the evaluation.  Taking early steps in your journey like choosing a compatible evaluator, organizing your records, dating works and storage can help you keep on pace for your evaluation so you do not stress them year after year.

​

What should the evaluators letter include?

You evaluators letter should include the same information given in your letter of intent and make the statement that your child is performing at the level of their ability.  There are many ways to write the same information but anything more than this is unnecessary and not required.  The letter does not contain information about grades, grade levels, test scores, curriculum choice, sports, clubs, other activities or any other factors.  The letter must be signed by a certified teacher or licensed psychologist.  

​

What will an evaluator be looking for in a homeschool portfolio?

Each evaluator will treat your evaluation slightly different.  Many of them have a standard of what they will be looking for as they review your child's work.  Some may choose to speak with your child while others do not.  Some may want to see the physical work; while others may allow you to send them pictures through email.  Get to know an evaluator and choose one that suits your personal needs.  Don't be intimidated by the evaluator.  They are working for you to help you evaluate your child's progress.  One thing to keep in mind is that the evaluator should not be evaluating your work, grading, curriculum choices, and selected materials.  Their job is to determine if your child has demonstrated progress based off the samples you provide them.  

​

Using an evaluator may also help children whom have learning or testing challenges.  Our evaluator does not require meeting the child personally so that stressor has always been removed for our children.  We provide digital copies of their sample works and they evaluate their progress from their.  This works well for our family since our son is on the spectrum and typically becomes uncomfortable in new situations and around strangers.  

​

When choosing your evaluator:

​

Florida law allows for a licensed teacher or psychologist be the one to conduct an evaluation if this is the option you choose to send to satisfy the annual evaluation requirement.

 

Ask your evaluator about their process and options they offer in evaluating your child.  (interview, samples, tests, etc)

​

Ask your evaluator how much they charge per child and if they offer family discounts.

 

Ask them about their experience with homeschoolers and how long they have been teaching and evaluating.

 

Ask for their credentials upfront and if you choose to work with them be sure to ask for a copy for your records of their teaching certificate or professional license. 

 

Ask them where the evaluation will take place and how long the process will take.

 

Ask them what and how they will provide to you the letter that demonstrates they have evaluated your child.

 

Ask them how long it will take to get the letter.  (some evaluators will bring it with them, others may mail it or provide it to you by email)

​

You may also ask them in your introductory call for references that you can call.  It may be uncomfortable but at the very least it will  least you see their disposition and willingness to share such information.  Someone who does this for a living should be more than comfortable doing so and have a ready list of names that they can provide.

​

Another option would be to ask around other homeschool parents for recommendations on what they like about an evaluator so you can determine if that is someone you would like to contact.  Don't simply just grab a name.  Ask questions and see what makes you comfortable so you are putting your effort to call someone you feel will match your families style for an evaluator.  Choosing the right person will make all the difference in the world.  We started our homeschooling sifting through evaluators for a few years with many awkward moments until we found the perfect match.  We have used our current evaluators for over six years and absolutely love them.  We have kept a professional relationship and even moved into a friendship status over the years.  As community leaders themselves we have come to value them beyond the annual evaluation.   

​

Homeschool Portfolio Myths

​

"I have to keep all my child's work"

You should only keep samples of your child's work.  Some families keep a sample of the first part of the year, mid and end of the year since this can best show the child's progress.  A sample can include one or two pages.  We recommend keeping these and any special project you value.  You can easily take pictures of the projects you want to discard and keep them as part of your families treasured memories instead of keeping every work.  You can do the same with the actual school lessons.  This helps to minimize storage and still keep the works you are most proud of.  According to Florida state law parents only need to keep samples stored for two years

​

"I need to keep all the best samples of my child's work"

This isn't always the best choice for samples of your child's work.  Instinctively we will always want to show the best our child can do but what we want to demonstrate in an evaluation is the child's progress for the year.  When reviewing your child's work consider which sample would demonstrate the most progress for them in that year.

​

"Every sample I keep will be heavily scrutinized by the evaluator"

It is always a good idea to seek out an evaluator that you feel comfortable working with and learn about what their process will be.  This will allow you to work your year in a way with the confidence of what will be expected of your child's sample works.  Most evaluators will not be grading your performance as a teacher but looking to see the child's progress for the year.

​

"There is only one right way to keep a portfolio?"

There is definitely not just one way to keep a portfolio.  Many parents are quite creative when it comes to creating a portfolio.  Some may keep a scrap book, a three-ring binder and tabs to categorize subjects, a storage box, loose pages, folders, crates, or digital files.  Your portfolio may include samples of written work, pictures, projects, etc. 

​