Records that build themselves while you teach.
Most state homeschool laws ask for a contemporaneous log — meaning records kept as you go, not reconstructed at year's end. Lightstead's homeschool record-keeping software files every lesson plan, every work sample, every test score, every reading-log entry into the right place automatically. When the evaluator, district, or state DOE asks, you export one dated PDF in a few clicks. "Contemporaneous" stops being a chore and starts being a feature.
- 51States covered — every state's record requirement, in one tool
- 5Record types — lessons, samples, tests, attendance, reading logs
- 1-clickPDF export — inspection-ready, date-ordered, subject-tagged
Plan the day, record the day, never write it twice.
Each lesson plan is the record of the lesson. Schedule a math lesson Monday morning; mark it complete Monday afternoon; the timestamp, subject, child, and materials lock into the year's record. No separate "log" step. Lesson plans roll up by subject for state requirements (PA's 10 subjects, NY's IHIP allotments, OH's six required areas).
- Per-child, per-subject scheduling
- Materials list per lesson
- Auto-timestamp on completion
- Subject roll-up for state filings
Upload, tag, and the portfolio writes itself.
Upload a photo of a math worksheet, an essay PDF, a science-lab notebook scan. Pick the child and the subject from a dropdown; the date stamps automatically. The annual portfolio export pulls every tagged sample chronologically — what most PA evaluators, FL teacher reviewers, and NC inspections want to see.
- Image, PDF, audio, video — all supported
- Per-sample child + subject selection
- Auto-timestamp on upload
- Chronological portfolio export
Standardized tests stored — not stuffed in a folder.
PA tests in 3/5/8, NC every year, GA every three years, NY by grade band — every state's testing rhythm is different. Lightstead tracks each child's test-grade window, surfaces the deadline on the dashboard with escalating severity tiers (60+ days, 30+ days, 14 days and under), and stores score certificates with multi-year progression graphs. Below-threshold scores in NY (33rd %ile) or VA (4th stanine) raise a probation banner with the next steps.
- Per-state test cadence
- Score certificates stored permanently
- Multi-year progression graphs
- Below-threshold probation handling
Year-end is a button — not a weekend.
When the evaluator interview, the FL annual evaluation, the GA progress report, or the NY quarterly is due, Lightstead exports a complete year-in-review PDF: subject summaries, completed coursework, work samples chronologically, test scores, attendance summary, and (for high schoolers) credits and grades. The state didn't ask for half this stuff — but your future college applications will.
- Subject summaries with hour rollups
- Chronological portfolio inclusion
- Inspection-ready records by date, subject, child
- Includes signature line + evaluator slot
It works alone — but it's better with the rest.
Common questions.
What is contemporaneous homeschool record-keeping?
Records kept as you go, not reconstructed at year's end. Pennsylvania's portfolio law and Florida's evaluation statute both use the word "contemporaneous" — meaning the date stamps on individual entries pre-date any compliance review. A reconstructed portfolio is usually obvious and creates a legal vulnerability if a district challenges. Lightstead's records are inherently contemporaneous: every entry has a server timestamp that can't be backdated.
What records do homeschool laws require?
It varies wildly by state. No-notice states like Texas and Illinois require nothing. Moderate states (Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia) require some combination of attendance, work samples, and test scores. High-oversight states (Pennsylvania, New York) require contemporaneous portfolios, work samples, writing samples, and test results — retained 2 to 7 years depending on state.
How long do I keep homeschool records?
Florida: 2 years for the portfolio. Georgia: 3 years for the annual progress report. New York: 7 years for all records and assessments — the longest retention requirement in the country. North Carolina: 1 year minimum for test scores. Most states don't specify a retention period but families keep records longer for transcript and college-application purposes. Lightstead retains indefinitely so retention rules become storage features rather than your filing problem.
Can I use a spreadsheet for homeschool records?
Yes, but it's a fragile foundation. Spreadsheets don't auto-timestamp, don't link work samples to lessons, don't roll up subjects for state filings, don't handle multi-child households well, and don't survive moves to new laptops. They work for year one and crack by year three. Lightstead is built for the multi-year horizon — first grade through high school transcripts.
What's in a homeschool portfolio?
Typically three things: a contemporaneous log of educational activities, work samples (writing, math, art, science), and standardized test results (if your state requires testing). Some states (PA, FL) add reading-material lists. Most evaluators want to see breadth (full subject coverage) and growth (measurable progress across the year). Lightstead's portfolio export pulls all of these into one dated PDF.
Do I need homeschool records if my state requires nothing?
Yes — for transcripts, college applications, and high-school credit purposes. Texas, Illinois, and other no-notice states require zero records. But colleges, employers, and the military will require transcripts, course descriptions, and reading lists. A complete record built year by year is the difference between an easy senior year and a senior year spent reconstructing seven years of work.
Can I share records with my homeschool evaluator?
Yes. Lightstead generates a one-PDF evaluator packet for any year, signed and dated, that you email or print and hand to a PA-certified evaluator, FL teacher, or NC inspector. The packet includes the portfolio, test scores, attendance summary, and a signature line for the evaluator's letter.
Does Lightstead replace homeschool curriculum?
No. Lightstead is the record-keeping and compliance layer — you bring your curriculum (Sonlight, Saxon, Memoria Press, Build Your Library, Charlotte Mason readers, whatever fits). Lightstead tracks what you taught, when, with which materials. Many families pair Lightstead with one or two curriculum providers and a co-op for community.
Stop reconstructing the year in spring.
30-day free trial. Lessons, work samples, test scores, attendance — all dated, all linked, all exportable. Required by your state or not.
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