Keeping Records In Your Homeschool
If there’s one part of homeschooling that can feel overwhelming, it’s record keeping. Some homeschool moms love creating detailed planners, while others prefer a simple system that doesn’t take up too much time. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, keeping records is important, not just for legal reasons, but also to track your child's progress and preserve those sweet memories of learning together. Even if your state doesn’t require you to keep records, it’s always wise to keep some records for future reference.
Let’s break down what you actually need to keep, how to stay organized, and some tools to make it easier.
What Records Should You Keep?
The level of record-keeping required depends on your state’s homeschool laws, so always check those first. That said, here are some general records that most homeschoolers find useful:
Attendance Records – Some states require you to track days of instruction, and even if they don’t, it can be helpful to have a simple log.
Lesson Plans or Weekly Overviews – You don’t need a detailed daily schedule (unless you love that!), but keeping a loose record of what was covered each week can be useful. Even if you’re reverse planning, having some lesson plans is helpful.
Samples of Work – Keep a few samples from each subject per term, such as writing assignments, math worksheets, or art projects.
Book Lists – Record the books your child reads, both assigned and independent reading.
Grades or Progress Notes – If you issue grades, keep a simple grade sheet. If not, jot down observations about strengths, struggles, and improvements.
Extracurriculars & Field Trips – Keep track of activities like sports, music, art classes, or trips to museums and parks.
Standardized Test Scores or Assessments – If your state requires testing, file away the results. Even if it doesn’t, occasional assessments can be helpful for your own records.
Notice of Intent to Homeschool- If your state or district requires a notice of intent, print a copy and have that on hand.
Vaccine Records, Birth Certificate, and Recent Physical- If you choose to send your child to an enrichment program they may require vaccine records (or an exemption form), a copy of your child’s birth certificate, and recent medical physical. These may be important if your child chooses to do sports as well.
How to Stay Organized
Once you know what records to keep, the next challenge is organizing them in a way that doesn’t become overwhelming. Here are a few methods that work well:
1. The Binder System
A simple 3-ring binder with dividers for different subjects works beautifully. You can print out attendance logs, lesson overviews, and tuck in work samples. It’s easy to flip through and keeps everything in one place.
2. Digital Record Keeping
If you’d rather go paperless, apps like Notion, Google Drive, or Trello can store lesson plans, book lists, and scanned work samples. There are also homeschool-specific apps like Homeschool Panda and Homeschool Tracker.
3. A Portfolio Approach
Some homeschoolers prefer to keep records as a portfolio, adding work samples, photos, and progress notes over the year. This is a great option if you like a more scrapbook-style approach.
4. A Lesson Plan Notebook
I use my SchoolNest lesson planner as my all in one keeper. With the exception of work samples, I keep all our lesson plans, notes about our week, book lists, curriculum choices, and attendance records. At the end of the year the planner is labeled and shelved while my notice of intent and work samples are filed into an accordion notebook with the year labeled.
Keeping It Simple
The key to homeschool record keeping is to find a system that works for you. If you love structure, go all in with detailed planners and digital trackers. If you prefer minimal effort, stick to a binder or a simple notebook where you jot down highlights each week. The goal is to keep records without letting them take over your life!
And don’t forget, these records aren’t just about requirements. Years from now, you’ll love flipping through old lesson plans, seeing the books your kids devoured, and remembering that messy science experiment that somehow took over the entire kitchen.
Happy homeschooling!
