Portfolio Review

Portfolio Review of Home School Instruction

Per the Code of Maryland Regulations, (COMAR), home instruction families are required to participate in two portfolio reviews during each school year.  Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the first portfolio review for home instruction families will occur virtually through an Internet/Web-based Portfolio Review Form/Jot Form.  Both the Jot Form occurring between December and January and the second submission in May/June are mandatory to maintain compliance with COMAR.  Students who are not compliant with COMAR will be withdrawn from Home Instruction and must enroll in a private or public school.

Frequently Asked Questions about DCPS Home Instruction Supervision

  • What is required?

    • Parents are required to meet twice a year with a Home Instruction reviewer. During this conference, the parent shares specifics about the student’s home instruction by presenting a portfolio. The purpose of the portfolio, as outlined in COMAR, is to document the curriculum, materials used, and samples of the student’s schoolwork.

  • How do I sign-up for a review?

    • Home Instruction reviews are conducted twice annually:

      • 1st semester during the second marking period (approximately December through January)

      • 2nd semester during the fourth marking period (approximately April through early June)

      • All parents are required to attend two reviews per school year.

Dorchester County Public Schools Remote Review Guidelines

To assist in understanding the review process we have included a helpful video for you. Components of a Home Instruction Program (Portfolio Review information)

Please see the Mid-Year 2023-2024 Letter to Parents about the Mid-Year Review.

Please follow the steps below and use the Portfolio Review Rubric to begin your Portfolio Review for the End of Year Review.  You will be using the Rubric to organize your artifacts and documents for your virtual portfolio review.

1. Print the Rubric for Remote Review here.

  • Fill out the first column with the curriculum and/or method used to teach each subject.

  • List at least 2 pieces of evidence that reflect the curriculum/method used showing progress or variety. For example:

    • Music/Art: write in column and then submit a copy of the Christmas Choir program,

    • write in column and submit pictures of using Picasso style of painting

    • Language Arts: submit a copy of a page from grammar book, a copy of book list and a sample of

  • Other: this should be used for foreign language study, religious studies, technology, field trips ...

2. Click the link DCPS Home Instruction Portfolio Mid-Year Review for the 2023-2024 School Year Form (online form). If you have completed the rubric, you should only need about 20 – 25 minutes to complete your student’s review. Please make sure you complete one review per student. Note:  the Jotform platform does not save your work, so please make sure you have allotted enough time to begin and end your review.

3. If you plan to continue homeschooling for the 2022-2023 school year, you will need to complete the NOTIFICATION jot form link. You will be automatically directed to the Notification Jot Form Link when you complete the Portfolio Review Form. 

4. If you do not have enough internet access to be able to upload and/or participate in the Virtual Portfolio Review online, please call Jovita Adams at 410-901-6944 ext. 3606 or email at Homeschool to set up an appointment for an individual review. 

Helpful Resources