While your state may not require homeschooling record-keeping or reports, many homeschooling families find tracking their child’s academic progress, attendance, extracurricular experiences, and achievements important.

Documentation becomes essential for high school students, especially if they are college-bound, applying to technical schools, or applying for jobs. It is also beneficial to have such records if you are involved in a court case or custody situation.

Here’s a general guide:

Transcripts:

• Create a high school transcript: It should include course titles, credits earned, grades, and GPA. Most transcripts follow a standard format, but you can customize it to suit your curriculum.
• Course Descriptions: Include a short description of each course, including materials used, textbooks, and a summary of the topics covered.
• Credits and Grading: Assign credits based on the time spent on each subject (1 credit for a full-year course, 0.5 for a semester). Set up a clear and consistent grading scale.

Attendance Records:

• Track days and hours spent on schoolwork. Many states require a certain number of school days per year, so this is important for compliance.

Portfolios and Work Samples:

• Keep samples of key assignments, projects, and tests. This can be physical or digital. Include essays, lab reports, artwork, or anything that demonstrates learning.
• Digital portfolios can be particularly helpful if you’re short on space.

Standardized Test Scores:

• Keep any scores from tests like the PSAT, SAT, ACT, or state-required standardized tests in your records. This can be important for college applications.

Extracurriculars and Volunteer Work:

• Document all extracurricular activities, volunteer work, or community service. Include the time commitment, skills learned, and any awards or recognitions.

Lesson Plans or Weekly Goals:

• Maintain weekly or monthly lesson plans to show what topics were covered and objectives met. Even brief notes can help when looking back or reporting to oversight agencies.

Grade Books:

• Use either digital software or a simple spreadsheet to track grades. Include all assignments, tests, quizzes, and projects with dates and scores.

Diploma:

• At graduation, prepare a diploma. You can purchase a template or create one from scratch.

Tools for Record-Keeping:

• Homeschool Tracking Software: Programs like Homeschool Planet, Homeschool Tracker, or HSLDA’s Transcript Service.
• Spreadsheets: Use Google Sheets or Excel to track grades, credits, and attendance.
• Digital Apps: Apps like Evernote or OneNote can help you store portfolios, notes, and records.

Your chosen method should fit your state’s requirements and your record-keeping style. You can download printable templates and guides for four-year planners, student planners, grade books, and report cards. Plus, you can learn how to create a high school transcript on Homeschool.com.