A portfolio that doesn't require a binder.
Pennsylvania families know it as the PHEAA-evaluator review. Florida calls it the contemporaneous log. New York calls it the IHIP-attached quarterly attachment. Whatever your state calls the homeschool portfolio, Lightstead's portfolio software builds it as you go: drop a photo of a worksheet, scan a writing sample, paste a reading-log entry — Lightstead tags by date, child, and subject, and at year's end exports a dated PDF the evaluator can sign in one pass.
- 5Sample types — writing, work, reading log, projects, assessments
- Per-sampleTagging — pick child and subject; date stamps automatically
- PDFOne-click export — chronological, evaluator-signature-ready
Photos, PDFs, audio, scans — all welcome.
Upload a photo of a math worksheet, scan a writing assignment, add audio of a child reading aloud, or attach a screenshot of a coding project. Lightstead accepts every common file type and surfaces a clean preview in the portfolio view.
- Image, PDF, audio, video, text
- Web + mobile upload
- Mobile camera capture
- Per-sample preview
Tag by child, subject, and sample type — once per upload.
When you upload a sample, pick the child and subject from dropdowns; Lightstead timestamps server-side (contemporaneous) and stores it in the per-child portfolio. Tagging is the difference between a portfolio that's findable and a folder that's a pile — the upload form makes it a 5-second step instead of an afterthought.
- Per-sample subject selection
- Per-child assignment
- Server-side timestamp (contemporaneous)
- Sample-type metadata field
Books read, by date, with a parent or kid note.
The reading log is a portfolio first-class citizen — not an attachment, not a sample type, its own thing. Log a book the day it's started, mark progress through it, close out with a parent or kid note. PA's portfolio review explicitly asks for reading materials used; FL's evaluation expects a reading list. Lightstead's reading log builds both.
- Title, author, child, dates
- Progress chunks (chapters or %s)
- Parent or kid notes per book
- Annual reading list export
One PDF. Chronological. Evaluator-signature ready.
When the evaluator review, the FL teacher review, the NY assessment is due, the portfolio export is one click. Date-ordered samples per child, subject-tagged, with the reading log appended and a signature page for the evaluator. The artifact is the same whether your state requires submission or just retention.
- Chronological per child
- Subject-tagged sections
- Reading log appended
- Evaluator signature page
It works alone — but it's better with the rest.
Common questions.
What is a homeschool portfolio?
A collection of evidence that a homeschooled child received instruction across the year — typically work samples (writing, math, art), a reading list, a contemporaneous log of educational activities, and standardized test results if the state requires testing. The exact composition varies by state: Pennsylvania's evaluator review, Florida's annual evaluation, and New York's quarterly attachments all have slightly different formats but overlapping content.
Which states require a homeschool portfolio?
Pennsylvania (annual evaluator review by June 30), Florida (annual evaluation by May, retained 2 years), New York (attached to quarterly reports), Vermont (annual assessment), Maine (annual assessment). Many other states encourage portfolios for college applications even when not legally required. Lightstead's portfolio export adapts to each state's expected format.
What goes in a PA homeschool portfolio?
Pennsylvania's PHEAA-evaluator portfolio review explicitly asks for: a log of materials used, samples of writings and work, reading materials, and standardized test results from grades 3/5/8. The samples should show "appropriate education" across the required subject list. Lightstead's PA portfolio export structures all of this in the order PA evaluators expect.
How many work samples per subject does a homeschool portfolio need?
There's no statutory number. Most evaluators want to see breadth (full subject coverage — at least one sample per required subject) and growth (samples from early, middle, and late in the year to show progression). 3-5 samples per subject across the year, plus the reading log, is a typical evaluator-pleasing volume. Lightstead doesn't gate on count — drop in as many as you have.
Can a homeschool portfolio be digital?
Yes, in every state that requires portfolios. Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, and Vermont all accept digital portfolios for evaluator review. The contemporaneous nature is what matters legally — server timestamps on individual entries pre-dating any review. A digital portfolio is often easier to defend than a paper one because the timestamps are immutable.
What if my state doesn't require a portfolio?
Still keep one for college applications, especially for high school years. A portfolio of completed coursework, writing samples, project work, and reading lists supports the homeschool transcript and answers admissions-officer questions about how the student actually worked. Lightstead's portfolio builds whether your state requires it or not.
Can I share my homeschool portfolio with an evaluator?
Yes. Lightstead generates a one-PDF evaluator packet that you can email or print and hand over. The PDF includes the portfolio (chronological, subject-tagged), the reading log, test scores (if applicable), and a signature page for the evaluator's letter back to the superintendent.
How long do I keep my homeschool portfolio?
Florida: 2 years from completion. Pennsylvania: practically until the evaluator review is complete (the year of submission). New York: 7 years for all records including portfolio attachments. Lightstead retains indefinitely — the state's retention rule becomes a stored-record feature rather than your filing problem.
Portfolio that builds itself — by date, child, and subject.
30-day free trial. The portfolio export the evaluator wants, without the year-end scramble.
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