Home Schooling

If you do not elect to follow correspondence courses under the supervision of an approved nonpublic school or religious organization, you must maintain a portfolio of student materials for periodic review by City Schools staff. The portfolio should include

• A lesson plan or schedule
• Samples of relevant instructional and reading materials
• Adequate dated and graded samples of student work for each subject throughout the period of instruction, including work resulting from the included lesson plan or schedule
• Samples of tests or assessments
• Photographs, certificates, awards, or journals (all optional) to document work

The portfolio should be assembled in a tabbed notebook or pocket folder, with work arranged chronologically within subject areas. A composition or spiral notebook should be included for each subject.

The portfolio will be reviewed in a face-to-face session with City Schools staff, for approximately 45 minutes. Your child is welcome to attend the review meeting, but it is not necessary.

Portfolios will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Acceptable. There is clear physical evidence of the subjects taught and of regular and thorough instruction.
• Acceptable but needs better evidence of instruction. The portfolio does not clearly demonstrate that regular, thorough instruction is being provided. In this case, parents will be asked to make adjustments for future submissions.
• Unacceptable. There is no evidence of instruction. Portfolios receiving this rating must be revised and reviewed again within 30 days.