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Going on Record

Sometimes we are asked if achievement scores go on a student’s permanent record. Although the answer is “No, we report the scores only to you,” there are some records you should consider keeping on your own.

The first thing a homeschool family should do is check their state’s requirements. Some states do not require any records or statements at all while others are very specific. Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) has a wonderful website that allows you to click on any state and bring up a file on that state’s homeschool laws.

But even if your state doesn’t mandate any particular paperwork, it’s a good idea to keep some anyway. If you ever move to another state that does have a list of requirements, you’ll be ready. Good records are also useful for future school enrollment, for driving discounts (you’ll need them before you know it!), honors societies, and college scholarships.

There are two ways you can create/keep school records: do-it-yourself or use a third-party service.

Do-It-Yourself

You’ll need to do some of this regardless of whether you use any third-party services. Many states require annual proof that a student is moving forward academically. Typically they’ll accept either a portfolio/teacher evaluation or achievement test scores.

A portfolio can be as simple as a notebook of your child’s chapter tests and samples of some normal daily work. (It also makes a great brag album for special projects!) Plus, it’s always a good idea to periodically review your child’s work so that you can keep a good perspective on his learning trends.

Annual achievement testing not only satisfies state requirements but also allows you to get an outside view of your student’s progress. He may get great end-of-chapter quiz scores, but how does his overall retention compare to other students at the same grade level?

During high school, be sure to check out several colleges your child may be interested in attending—each may have unique admissions requirements for a homeschool student. An admission representative for Bob Jones University recommends that in addition to test scores from high school, parents should plan to supply transcripts, showing a complete list of units the student earned during high school—with a minimum of 16 and at least 10 of those being standard academic subjects. If the state doesn’t provide a graduation certificate of some kind, the parent-educator can fill in the graduation date on the final transcript.

Third Party Service

For those wanting to avoid the hassle of do-it-yourself records, or those needing to satisfy skeptics (whether government, friends, or relatives), a third party service is a great option. There’s a wide array of third-party services out there, so be sure to check them out thoroughly before signing up.

A good service will do more than rubberstamp a transcript on pretty letterhead. Look for some curriculum requirements and regular reporting. Remember, a third-party service is not clairvoyant—they can’t read your student’s chapter test unless you send it to them. But they can and should provide a high level of objectivity and qualified guidance.

Elaine Payne, supervisor of The Academy of Home Education (AHE), explained that their member families submit annual test scores (covered by membership fee) and AHE reviews and files them. If a student’s scores drop below a certain level, a homeschool consultant will contact the family to discuss strategies to improve that subject. Families also have access to a qualified, experienced guidance counselor. Other perks include a full-scale graduation ceremony with a recognized diploma, quarterly report cards for grades 1—8 (semi-annual for high school), an optional online career guidance assessment (grade 11), and more.

You’ll find there’s no substitute for good record keeping when it comes time to enroll a student in high school or college or to apply for honors societies and scholarships.