Each state has their own homeschool requirements. Some require a portfolio while others require testing. If you are lucky, your family has a choice.
There are advantages and disadvantages to both. However, sometimes one may work better for your child than the other. A lot comes down to your family’s personal preference. Here are some things to consider.
Portfolio Evaluation
What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is a collection of your child’s work. You usually include a number of work samples from certain subjects to show how your child is performing and how they are meeting the state’s educational requirements. Often you may need to include an attendance sheet, field trips, and a record of the resources.
Parents can assemble the portfolio or have their child help. I think there are benefits to involving kids in the portfolio process. Kids can reflect on their work and see what they have accomplished.
Benefits of a Portfolio:
- It p
rovides a record of your child’s year. A portfolio allows you to see your child’s gains over the year. It is documentation of all the information covered and learned with your child. - Memories. Inside will be pictures of projects, field trips, and reading lists. It isn’t just a pile of worksheets. You have a book of memories from your year.
- No pressure on the kids. Portfolios are a collection of the work the child has done during the year. The child has no pressure put on them.
Disadvantages of Portfolios:
- Need to be organized.
- Need to be good at record keeping.
- Can be overwhelming if you wait to the end of the year to put it together.
- Need to find a certified teacher to evaluate your portfolio.
Standardized Testing
What is standardized testing?
Standardized testing is a formal test. A large sample population of students across the country were given the test. The companies develop “norms” or averages based on how these children performed on it.
Your child’s test scores show how they performed compared to other students that have completed the same number of months in a particular grade. Some tests may compare students according to age in years and months. Generally, the achievement tests use grade levels.
There are a few options for standardized tests. Popular ones homeschool families use are the California Achievement Test (CAT), Iowa, and Standford 10 Achievement Test. Some say the CAT is easiest. The Iowa Tests and Standford 10 are similar to one another, but the Iowa Test is timed while the Standford 10 isn’t.
Benefits of Standardized Testing
- No detailed record keeping. Kids sit down and take the test.
- Become familiar with testing. If your child ever returns to school or attends college, they will be familiar with how to take a standardized test.
- See your child’s strengths and weaknesses. The results provide you with useful information on what areas your child excels in and areas they need improvement.
Disadvantages of Testing
- You may need to find an evaluator.
- Some kids become too stressed out over tests.
- They can be costly.
So which is right for your family?
It depends. It depends on how your kids will react to testing, if you are a good record keeper, the cost, time, age of kids, and what you can handle.
Over the years, I have put together portfolios for students and myself. I was planning on doing a portfolio for my kids’ end-of-year evaluation. Then I didn’t.
I became so overwhelmed. I was worried about collecting every paper and recording ever resource or book read. Then I was obsessing over how to document library skills for four quarters and other subjects that didn’t have a paper trail. I panicked. For me, it was turning out to be way too much.
One day, I met another homeschool family. The mom told me they did testing. She explained her kids took the test and they sent the results to the state. After all my frustration, I went with this option.
Testing is a little easier for us because I am a test administrator. (If you have a bachelor’s degree, you can become one too.) My kids take the test at home with me. I don’t drive them anywhere or pay someone to do it.
Testing with his chicken. 
Testing with her cat.
My crazy kids LOVE testing time. They think it is fun and can’t wait to see their results. I’m glad they have this attitude. They will encounter testing later in life, and I don’t want them to fear it.
Do I keep a portfolio? Yes.
I keep work samples and projects my kids have done throughout the year and place them in a box for safe keeping. I keep our attendance records, reading lists, and plan book. It is for me, though. I don’t have to worry about meeting someone else’s expectations.
I like teaching and not worrying if a subject is documented. My kids like testing and I want them to be comfortable with it so we will stick to testing… for now. Things could always change.
Most of my homeschool friends do portfolios. Our 4-H group has someone that does portfolio evaluations for them. They all swear it is easy, and they love doing a portfolio.
It really does come down to personal choice. You need to decide which option is best for you and your kids. There are definitely benefits to using both portfolios and testing to meet a state’s homeschool requirements.
Which method do you use? Comment below.
