One option for homeschooling in Florida is a homeschool portfolio review, so I get asked all the time, “What is a portfolio?” This is a great question!
This is directly from Florida Statute 1002.41
“Throughout the year, you must keep a portfolio of records and materials. The portfolio must contain: 1) a log of educational activities made contemporaneously with the instruction, with a list of the titles of any reading materials used, and 2) samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative materials, etc., used or developed by the student. You must keep this portfolio for two years after it is completed. The district school superintendent or his or her agent can, but is not required to, review your portfolio only after 15 days’ written notice.”
But what exactly does this look like in real life?? As far as I am concerned, it can look however it best serves your family. I have performed at least 1,000 homeschool portfolio reviews and it can look vastly different from family to family. Here are some examples:
- scrapbook with samples of work
- cardboard box filled with work from the year
- digital apps that shows pictures and summaries of work completed
- stack of workbooks
- list of books read and activities completed
- library receipts showing books read
- binder with samples
- private facebook group that I am added to, with pictures and activities added throughout the year
- pictures showing field trips, cooking, real life skills
- curriculum teacher guides dated to go along with student’s work
- Videos of student’s progress
- Occupational, physical, speech and ABA therapy reports
- art work and extracurricular artifacts
Honestly the list could go on and on. We all homeschool differently so we will also keep homeschool portfolios differently. I know it can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. Simple systems are many times so much better, because we will actually use them. An evaluator has to see that progress has been made, so if you don’t want to lug all of your books to a meeting place, picking a few samples from the beginning, middle and end is always a good bet. Because this process is so simple, virtual evaluations are a great option. You would just need to send 15-20 samples by email and then we would have a short phone conversation. It is that easy!
