What to Include in a Homeschool Portfolio (With a Pennsylvania Evaluator Checklist)
What goes in a homeschool portfolio: attendance logs, reading lists, work samples, and test results, plus a Pennsylvania evaluator checklist and a simple weekly routine that keeps the portfolio from turning into a June scramble.
Last reviewed October 11, 2026
The word "portfolio" sounds bigger than it is. In practice, a homeschool portfolio is a running record of your year: what you did, what your child read, and a handful of examples of their work. The hard part isn't knowing what to keep. It's keeping it as you go, so evaluation time isn't a scramble.
The four core components
Requirements vary by state, but almost every portfolio is built from the same four pieces:
| Component | What it looks like | How often to add to it |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance or hours log | Days or hours of instruction, by date | Daily or weekly |
| Reading and resource list | Books, curricula, and courses, by title | As you start each one |
| Work samples | Dated writing, worksheets, projects, photos of hands-on work, per subject | A few per subject each month |
| Tests and evaluations | Standardized test results and evaluator reports, if required | When you receive them |
Some states spell this out. Florida, for example, requires a log made at the time of instruction plus work samples, kept for two years. Others require nothing year to year. Our state guides cover the rules for all 50 states.
Pennsylvania evaluator checklist
Pennsylvania is one of the most portfolio-driven states, so it's a useful model even if you live elsewhere. Under 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1, a PA portfolio includes:
- A log made at the time of instruction that lists reading materials by title
- Samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials your child used or developed
- Standardized test results in reading/language arts and math in grades 3, 5, and 8, from a test administered by someone other than the parent or guardian
Before you meet your evaluator, check that you have:
- Your attendance log showing 180 days, or 900 hours (elementary) / 990 hours (secondary)
- A reading list with titles, kept through the year
- Work samples for each required subject (best practice, not a legal requirement: date them and include some from the beginning, middle, and end of the year)
- Reading/language arts and math test results for grade 3, 5, or 8, if this is a testing year
- A copy of the affidavit you filed by August 1
The evaluator reviews the portfolio, interviews your child, and gives you a written evaluation. You, as the supervisor of the home education program, then submit the evaluator's certification to your superintendent by June 30. Good evaluators book up early, so reach out in the fall or winter. For more on the full PA cycle, see our Pennsylvania guide.
A routine that keeps it easy
- Daily or weekly: log attendance or hours.
- When you start a book or course: add it to the reading list.
- Monthly: save two or three dated samples per subject.
- Each term: look over what you have and fill any gaps.
That's ten minutes a week instead of a weekend in June.
Keeping it digital
A digital portfolio is easier to keep up and harder to lose. LearnHaven lets you log attendance and hours, keep your reading list, upload dated work samples by subject and review period, and share the finished portfolio with your evaluator by secure link. The free portfolio checklist and attendance sheet are good places to start, and the record-keeping guide covers what to keep beyond the portfolio.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a homeschool portfolio include?
Most portfolios contain four things: a log of attendance or instructional hours, a list of the books and resources you used, dated samples of your child's work in each subject spread across the year, and any test scores or evaluator reports your state requires. Your state's statute is the final word on what's mandatory.
What does Pennsylvania require in a homeschool portfolio?
Under 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1, a Pennsylvania portfolio has a log made at the time of instruction that lists reading materials by title, samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials the student used or developed, and, in grades 3, 5, and 8, standardized test results in reading/language arts and math (the test can't be administered by the parent or guardian). A qualified evaluator reviews it and interviews the student, and the parent, as supervisor of the home education program, submits the evaluator's certification to the superintendent by June 30.
How many work samples should I keep?
No statute sets a number. A practical habit is a few dated samples per subject each month, chosen to show progress from the start of the year to the end. That gives an evaluator enough to judge the year without a binder avalanche.
Can a homeschool portfolio be digital?
Generally yes. Evaluators and reviewers care about content, not format, though some prefer to see things a certain way, so ask yours early. A digital portfolio is easier to keep up week by week and can be shared with an evaluator by secure link.
Sources
This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. LearnHaven is not a law firm, and reading this site does not create any attorney-client or other professional relationship. Requirements change — always confirm details with your state's official sources before making decisions.