Guide · Record-keeping

The homeschool records checklist.

Good records aren't about fear — they're about freedom. Keep these as you go and a state review, a transfer back to school, or a college application becomes paperwork you already have. Print this page and pin it where you plan.

…or save it as a PDF from the print dialog.

The daily rhythm

A minute or two, most school days

Attendance — mark the day (half-days count where your state allows).The record most often requested, and the easiest to lose by reconstructing later.

What you covered — one line per subject is plenty.Lesson titles beat essays. "Math: long division, day 2" is a real record.

Date the work — a date on every worksheet, essay, and project photo.Undated work samples are the #1 portfolio regret.

Each term

Every grading period or quarter

Grades or progress notes per subject — letter grades, percentages, or mastery notes; just be consistent.

Work samples — set aside a few per subject: one early, one middle, one late shows growth.

Reading list — titles finished this term (future-you, writing course descriptions, says thanks).

Photos of the unphotocopiable — projects, experiments, performances, field trips.

Each year

At enrollment time and year-end

Notice / enrollment paperwork — where your state requires filing, keep the stamped or submitted copy forever.

Assessment results — standardized tests or evaluations where required (and even where not, they're useful baselines).

Hours or days totals — if your state counts them, total them while the calendar is fresh.

A year-end portfolio archive — attendance summary, grades, curated samples, reading list, photos. One folder per child per year.

Compliance correspondence — anything a district or state office sends you, keep permanently.

High school adds

9th grade onward — as you go, not senior fall

Course names & credits — name each course and log its credit the term it finishes.

Course descriptions — a paragraph per course with texts used, written while it's fresh.

The transcript, updated each term — see our transcript guide for exactly what it needs.

Dual enrollment & outside grades — keep official copies; they corroborate your transcript.

Extracurriculars & service log — dates and hours, for applications and scholarships.

Requirements vary by state — what must be filed, what must be kept, and for how long. Our state pages cover the specifics (including current ESA/funding guidance) for supported states.

Want the updates as states change their rules?

We re-verify record-keeping and funding requirements against official sources and update these guides. Leave an email and we'll let you know when something changes.

Or let the records keep themselves.

Attendance in one tap, AI that files photographed work into the portfolio, grades that roll into transcripts — 10Talents does this checklist for you.

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