There are numerous reasons to keep good records while you’re homeschooling. If you’re lucky, you live in a state where record keeping is minimal. However, many states require a variety of records including, but not limited to, attendance, school work, book logs, and lesson plans. Why should you bother if you don’t have to?
The 3 Why’s of Keeping Good Records
1) You should keep good records in case you ever find yourself having to defend your decision to home school in court. If for some reason, you were to be accused of educational neglect, you would have to prove that you were not guilty of neglect. While you may be thinking that’ll never happen to you, and it may not, you just never know.
A month ago my son cut his forehead deeply enough to require stitches. The ER, in an attempt to be child friendly, is decorated with a space theme complete with planets and stars. My son begins to name the planets. . .and their moons. . .and the constellations. This impresses the resident who is cleaning my son’s wound. She mentions that he’s advanced and my daughter replies–”Well, that’s because we’re home schooled.” I smiled, but the resident was slightly suspicious. We did have to talk to a social worker but nothing came of it. My children are clearly not abused and anyone who knows us would tell you that. On the other hand, you never know when you may be in a situation that causes someone to question your homeschooling intentions. It is sad, but it is the world we live in.
2) You should keep good records in case you need to put your child in school. Again, you may think that you never will put your child in school. However, you never know if something should happen to your spouse such that you are unable to stay home any longer. Homeschooling requires a great deal of energy (as you likely know) and if you are not healthy, have to support the family full time or something else–it may become unfeasible. Being able to present good records to a school will help them correctly place your child.
3) You should keep good records for when you send your children off to college. Colleges require transcripts and its important to show that your homeschooler did not just sit at home and watch T.V. Rest assured that your child’s admission to college will not just be based on transcripts, but they are important to have at that time.
You should keep your child’s records as long as the law dictates (which for some states is 18 years) or as long as makes sense. If your child is in 8th grade, you likely do not need his 1st grade records. You should keep high school records until after your child has graduated from college.