By J. Gibson
The following is from the sheet sent out by the Anne Arundel County public schools. Click here for the actual state law:
Maryland State Law, COMAR 13a.10.01.01 Home Instruction Program
I considered the following to be a guideline when I was preparing a portfolio -- that is, I didn’t follow it to the letter. My portfolio was never turned down and what should have been a 7th grade portfolio (simply because it followed the 6th grade) was accepted as an 8th grade portfolio. My son was studying Biology using a high school text and Saxon Algebra 1 that year. I did not label it with a grade level, but the county did before returning it to me.
I found that typing as much of the portfolio as possible, using the suggested looseleaf notebook, and using educational jargon where appropriate all contribute to having a portfolio accepted. For example, when you teach your 5-6 year old to brush their teeth daily, you don’t simply write “brushes teeth daily”, you write “daily instruction in dental hygiene.” Remember, you’re dealing with professional educators and they are used to seeing things phrased this way, besides, you ARE teaching, not simply allowing the child to brush his teeth. By phrasing it this way, you demonstrate your awareness of this fact. If you need help translating, email me. I’ll be happy to help.
Requirements for Preparing the Portfolio for Anne Arundel County Public Schools:
I. Use of a Looseleaf Notebook
A. Use one notebook for each student
B. Use tabs to divide notebook by subject.
C. Introductory pages
1. Student(s) name and grade
2. A bibliography of texts and other materials used
D. Arrange subjects in the same order as the evaluation sheet
E. Adequate examples of work to document work for each subject
throughout the period of instruction. [hint: I found 2-3
dated sheets to be adequate for most subjects, although I
understand that they're currently requesting one page/week
per subject]
F. Date and identify each piece of work
G. Photographs may be used to document work [hint:
especially helpful for younger students]
H. Be sure to document all subject areas [hint: programs
from concerts and ticket stubs from science museums were
accepted also]
I. It would be helpful to have child’s last name appear on the
spine of the notebook. [makes retrieval easier too]
II. Handling Portfolios
A. Portfolios may be delivered to the Board of Education at
Riva Road between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
B. They can be mailed if they are of a reasonable size.
C. Call the Office of Curriculum if you need other
alternatives.
Phone: 410-222-5412.
D. We will notify you by mail when the portfolio(s) can be
reclaimed.
E. Portfolios are turned in twice a year: the 1st week of
February for first semester and the 1st week of June for
second semester. [actually, they are getting so many
portfolios these days that they're assigning weeks by
last name]
III. Evaluation of Portfolio
A. A portfolio review sheet will accompany the finished
portfolio.
B. Each subject will be evaluated according to the following
criteria:
1. Acceptable: clear evidence of instruction. This means
there is physical evidence for material you are
teaching.
a. Written work is usually submitted to substantiate
work. In subjects where this is not possible,
photographs may be used. [hint: also concert
programs, sports league schedules, etc.]
b. Journals kept by the student also help satisfy the
requirement [make sure there is nothing of a personal
nature in the journal]
c. You may also wish to include a course outline for
each subject, which could include an outline of
material covered, a time schedule and a bibliography.
2. Needs better evidence of instruction: will be used to
notify you of portfolio weaknesses. In this case,
we will expect the weaknesses to be addressed in
subsequent submissions. [in other words, your next
portfolio]
3. Unacceptable: no evidence of instruction. Will be used
to notify you of portfolio weaknesses. If a portfolio
is not accepted by the reviewer, it will be returned so
that you may make adjustments within 30 days as required
by the bylaw. [If this happens, don’t panic. If you’re
not sure how to proceed, call the reviewer, contact a
homeschool support group, or feel free to email me.
Often simple rewording or a little more information
will fix things.]
IV. Curriculum
A. The following subject areas are on the scope and sequence
charts, and must be included in each of the portfolios.
[see below, some of this doesn’t apply to kindergarten,
and you are NOT expected to follow the scope and sequence
charts, just have the same subjects covered]
1. English (reading, literature, writing, composition,
grammar, spelling, vocabulary, handwriting), for grades
K-5; composition, literature, and spelling for grades
6-8; composition and literature for grades 9-12. [I
never submitted formal handwriting instruction for my
children and spelling was covered by having them correct
their errors showing rough draft and edited work]
2. Social Studies
3. Mathematics
4. Science
5. Computer Science (activities need not include “hands-on”
computer application) [hint: go to the library and
photograph your child using the computer if you don’t
have one at home]
6. Library skills [hint: see above. Also, include your
printed list of library books in your portfolio]
7. Art
8. Music (general or instrumental)
9. Physical education and health. (“daily instruction in
personal hygiene” and photographs -- or schedules if
they belong to a sports league)
10. Technology education, foreign language, and home
economics for middle school students [see below --
they do this sequentially in the schools -- you can
include a note that you will cover this in the next
portfolio or that it was covered in the previous one]
Be sure to note specific information for elementary,
middle, and high school students in section B.
B. Guidelines for Specific Subjects
1. Physical Education - It is suggested that a program
should stress cardiovascular activity. Program should
be regular, structured, and progressive in nature.
[hint: children who participate in sports leagues
nearly always meet this requirement, include a copy of
the schedule]
2. Computer science: Provide evidence that the student
knows the parts and/or understands the importance of
computers in society. Evidence should be shown by
photographs or computer generated work. [example:
word-processed documents elswhere in the portfolio]
3. Library - Provide evidence that the student uses the
library. Perhaps make a list of dates that the student
uses the library and learns how to prepare a
bibliography.
4. Kindergarten: Kindergarten is now mandatory in the
state of Maryland. Parents must submit portfolios to
show the student is receiving instruction. Writing and
spelling are not typically included in the curriculum.
[unless I am mistaken, 6 is still the age of mandatory
enrollment though.]
5. Middle School Requirements: In middle school, art,
technology, and home economics are taught on a 12 week
cycle. Two out of the following three are also taught
-- physical education, music, foreign language.
6. For high school students, you must have evidence that
the student is studying 6 different courses. One must
be English. [In most county high schools, students study
4 courses -- they complete each course in one semester
and take 4 different courses the following semester. I
don’t know how a portfolio would be treated if you do
this at home]