The short answer
Florida’s home-education statute describes a portfolio that includes a contemporaneous log of educational activities, identifies reading materials by title, and keeps samples of the student’s work. The statute also describes a two-year preservation period and access for inspection after written notice.
Separately, the parent provides an annual educational evaluation using one of the methods allowed by the statute. A certified-teacher review of the portfolio is one option, not the only option.
What the portfolio contains
1. A contemporaneous activity log
“Contemporaneous” means the record should be made as instruction happens, rather than rebuilt entirely at year end. A useful entry usually identifies the learner, date, learning area, and a plain-language description of the activity.
The statute does not turn a long list of app fields into separate legal requirements. Duration, location, learning objective, and reflective notes can be helpful, but an app should label them as optional unless an official source says otherwise.
2. Reading materials identified by title
Keep the title with the learning record. That can include books and other reading materials used during instruction. A generic note such as “reading” is much less useful later than the actual title.
3. Samples of student work
Florida’s statute points to samples such as writing, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the student. A portfolio is a curated body of evidence; it does not need every page the child touched.
Preserve original files or physical work independently. A PDF report is a useful index and presentation layer, not the only copy of irreplaceable evidence.
4. Preservation and inspection context
The cited statute says the portfolio is preserved by the parent for two years and made available to the superintendent or designee after 15 days’ written notice. It also says the superintendent is not required to inspect every portfolio.
The portfolio is not the annual evaluation
This distinction matters. The portfolio is the record you maintain. The annual evaluation documents educational progress. Under the cited statute, the parent selects among several evaluation methods.
- A Florida-certified teacher may review the portfolio and discuss it with the student.
- The student may take an eligible nationally normed achievement test administered by a certified teacher.
- The student may take an applicable state assessment under the district’s approved conditions.
- An eligible licensed psychologist may evaluate the student.
- The parent and superintendent may mutually agree on another valid measurement tool.
A practical record workflow
Record completed learning while memory is fresh
Use one short entry per meaningful activity. Add the reading title and attach a sample when there is one worth preserving.
Check each learner separately
Look for missing months, unnamed reading material, broken attachments, and samples filed under the wrong school year.
Curate; do not reconstruct blindly
Choose representative work, export a clean index, preserve originals, and coordinate the chosen evaluation method with the appropriate person or district.
What TeachKeep is designed to do
- keep completed-learning entries under the right learner and school year;
- store a reading-material title beside the relevant activity;
- associate proof samples with a specific record;
- show a source, source-review date, and readiness checklist for supported packs;
- preview a child-specific report before the final export; and
- preserve raw-export and delete-all controls independently of a subscription.
TeachKeep is not designed to submit a notice of intent, select an evaluator, conduct an evaluation, give legal advice, or guarantee compliance.
Turn the checklist into a calm weekly habit.
Keep the source visible and the record under your control.
Official sources reviewed
- Florida Statutes, section 1002.41 — Home education programs
- Florida Department of Education — Parent Home Education FAQ (PDF)
- Florida Department of Education — Home Education
Source review completed July 31, 2026. A review date records when the linked material was checked; it is not a guarantee that no rule changed afterward.
Frequently asked questions
Does Florida require a specific homeschool curriculum?
Section 1002.41 describes portfolio and evaluation responsibilities but does not turn TeachKeep or any other app into an approved curriculum. Families should review the current statute, Florida Department of Education guidance, and any applicable district communications.
Is a portfolio the same thing as the annual evaluation?
No. The portfolio is the ongoing record. A portfolio review by a Florida-certified teacher is one of several statutory annual-evaluation methods.
How long should the portfolio be kept?
The cited Florida statute says the parent must preserve the portfolio for two years. Confirm the current text before relying on this guide.
Can TeachKeep submit the annual evaluation?
No. TeachKeep can organize records and help prepare a report. It does not conduct an evaluation, certify progress, choose an evaluation method for you, or file documents with a district.