Portfolio Review Example

WHAT A PORTFOLIO INSPECTION BY THE COUNTY SHOULD LOOK LIKE

By Krista Lica

Krista@helpsonline.org Back to Forms Page

Here are some guidelines on how portfolio reviews performed by county school
boards under Statute 232.0201(b) should take place. Please note that some of this is my personal opinion and not legal advice. I always suggest that you read the statutes for yourself. I believe I have everything accurate, but if anyone sees a wrong interpretation, please let me know. I can update this page as needed.

Many homeschoolers become confused by a school board INSPECTION of their portfolio and an EVALUATION of the portfolio by a Florida certified teacher

FIRST THE STATUTE

(You can read the complete statue here: Florida Statutes

(Title XVI Section 232.0201 Home education programs.)

b) The parent or guardian shall maintain a portfolio of records and
materials. The portfolio shall consist of the following:
1. A log of educational activities which is made contemporaneously with the
instruction and which designates by title any reading materials used.
2. Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials
used or developed by the student.
The portfolio shall be preserved by the parent or guardian for 2 years and
shall be made available for inspection by the superintendent, or the
superintendent's agent, upon 15 days' written notice. Nothing in this
section shall require the superintendent to inspect the portfolio.

(This part also concerns the portfolio)

(c) The parent or guardian shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the pupil's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with her or his ability. The parent or guardian shall select the method of evaluation and shall file a copy of the evaluation annually with the superintendent's office in the county in which the pupil resides. The annual educational evaluation shall consist of one of the following:
1. A teacher selected by the parent or guardian shall evaluate the pupil's educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the pupil. Such teacher shall hold a valid regular Florida certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level.

(snipped the other 4 options on evaluations)

THINGS TO CONSIDER

1. THE COUNTY’S RIGHT TO INSPECT: Note the part that says, "Nothing in this section shall require the superintendent to inspect the portfolio." This means that they don't HAVE to inspect your portfolio yearly or ever. But they do have the right to "inspect" it with a 15 day written notice.

2. WHAT THE COUNTY IS INSPECTING: They do not have any authority to inspect you, your home education program or your children. We don't have anything to hide and all of our children are wonderful, but the law is not written to give authority to the school board to evaluate you or your children. The part of the law that
addresses this is your EVALUATION (You have 5 options) not the portfolio
inspections. It is important that homeschoolers (and county reps) understand this difference. Also note that you don't have to bring the portfolio to them yourself. The statute states that the portfolio "shall be made available for inspection". It doesn't say you have to be the one who presents it. You could have someone else bring it to them. (Our support group offers to send someone with those who would like some support, or bring the portfolio to the county. I would NOT suggest that you mail it, drop it off, or fax it even though that is legal. The county has no authority to have a "copy" of your portfolio and you wouldn't want your child's personal material floating around. The county is NOT authorized to do a home inspection or inspect your portfolio at your home. Refer them to the statutes if anything like that is ever requested from you.

3. SO WHAT WAS THE INTENTION OF THE STATUE GOVERNING PORTFOLIO INSPECTIONS? Good question. I think the intention was for the state to have some way to monitor us between evaluations to see if we are following the statutes. I have also been told that Craig Dickinson’s intention was to have a safeguard “in case any legal action was to be taken.” I am not sure what this legal action is in reference to., The portfolios are not, by definition of statute, a way for the county to evaluate our teaching styles or to see if our children are on "grade level" or "doing enough math." By the way, I suggest you do not put your child's “grade level” on the portfolio cover. The current year is enough.

4. MEETING THE STATUTE FOR THE PORTFOLIO INSPECTION:

Either you are in compliance or you are not. In other words, either your portfolio has the following or it doesn't. If you are called for an inspection (NOT EVERYONE IS CALLED) and your portfolio doesn’t meet the 2 parts of the portfolio requirement, (as defined above and by statute) you could be forced to enroll your child in public or private school.

You need to have these 2 (actually 3) things:
1. A log of educational activities which is made contemporaneously
with the instruction and which designates by title any reading materials
used. (Note: This is really 2 things in one, a log of educational
activities AND a reading materials list)
2. Samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative
materials used or developed by the student.

5. THAT LITTLE WORD “OR”: Notice that number 2 above has the word "OR" in it. You don't have to show writings AND worksheets AND workbooks AND creative materials. You could show all creative materials OR all writings. Also note that "samples" means more than 1. Don't feel like you have to have a ton of stuff. For
example: Your portfolio could be a list of reading materials (this can be materials you read to your child or books you've used to help you teach) and your child's sketch book and pictures of events/field trips. Does this show the whole scope of your home education program? No, of course not. Does it meet the law? Yes, it does

6. ASKING MORE THAT ALLOWED BY LAW: If a county superintendent asks more of you at a portfolio inspection then the law allows, politely refer them to the statute. Tell them you would be glad to share all the wonderful things your family is
doing but not at the official portfolio inspection. Invite them to a park day, an event, or your child’s recital. Let them know that you would be glad to show-off your family, but this official inspection of the portfolio is not the place to do that. It is not what the statutes intended. We need to preserve our rights under the statutes and not let them become diluted.

7. CHECK-OFF FORM: You may want to use a copy of a check off form that is being used in some counties for the truant hs'ers portfolio reviews. A sample one is available here:

Sample Home Education Portfolio Review Form for use by County School Districts.

(Special thanks to Debbie Dykes of SHARE Homeschool Support Group for her help on revising this form.)

(If your county is really overstepping the statutes, you could ask them to use this check off list for your portfolio inspection. In fact, I believe this form should be modified a bit (take out the committee parts) and used for all portfolio inspections in all counties. With this check off list and a proper inspection, these reviews should take about 10 minutes...if that! (NOTE: Please feel free to print and share this with your school board.)