FAQs

Here are some questions I am asked often about portfolios and the review process:
  • When do portfolio reviews need to be completed?
    Portfolio reviews are to be completed before June 30 each school year. Assessment results for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 must be submitted to your BOE before June 30.

    If you are homeschooling your child under exemption (m) as a Hope Scholarship recipient, your child’s portfolio review form is to be sent to the BOE before June 8 each year, no matter what grade level your child is in.
  • When do you start reviewing portfolios?
    I start reviewing portfolios every year at the beginning of April and review through the end of June. Reviews need to be turned in to me prior to June 25th to keep from incurring a late fee.

    Reviews for Hope Scholarship recipients need to be submitted to me by June 1st in order to get them sent to the BOE in time.
  • How much do you charge for a portfolio review? How do I pay you?
    My fee is $40 per review/child. I accept payment using HOPE funds on the HOPE Scholarship portal, digital payment (PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, or debit card), or money order sent in the mail. (ANY REVIEWS SUBMITTED AFTER JUNE 25 WILL INCUR A $15 LATE FEE)
  • Who do I send my review to after grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 (not applicable for Hope Scholarship homeschoolers)?
    For those grade levels, your portfolio should be reviewed as usual, and a copy of the review form that I send you should be sent to your county BOE. The recommended method of submission is using your county’s school choice email address. CC yourself on the email when you send it. Using this method ensures a proof of submission to prevent paperwork from getting lost with no proof that it was received.
    (A list of each county’s school choice email addresses can be found at School Choice E-mails by County.)

    If you prefer to send via mail, the completed review form that I send you should be sent to your county BOE (address to the superintendent, c/o the attendance director).Always send a copy via certified signature/return receipt mail, and keep the original review form in your files.

    Hope Scholarship recipients homeschooling under exemption (m) also are required to have an assessment done each year, but they are required to turn their results in every single year to the BOE.

    Are WV homeschoolers required to have a portfolio review completed every school year?
    WV law requires an annual assessment (either a portfolio review or a standardized test approved by WV law). An assessment must be completed EVERY year, and the assessment results for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 must be submitted to your BOE. For the other years, you are required to keep your assessment results in your files for at least 3 years.

    Hope Scholarship recipients homeschooling under exemption (m) also are required to have an assessment done each year, but they are required to turn their results in every single year to the BOE.
  • Are homeschoolers required to have a portfolio review completed every school year?
    WV law requires an annual assessment (either a portfolio review or a standardized test approved by WV law). An assessment must be completed EVERY year, and the assessment results for grades 3, 5, 8, and 11 must be submitted to your BOE. For the other years, you are required to keep your assessment results in your files for at least 3 years.

    Hope Scholarship recipients homeschooling under exemption (m) also are required to have an assessment done each year, but they are required to turn their results in every single year to the BOE.

    If your middle schooler or high schooler plans to participate in public school sports, their annual assessment will need to be a standardized test, not a portfolio review.
  • When do I need to sign up for my portfolio review for this school year?
    I start my client list for the current school year each year in January/February. If you would like to be added to my list for this year, fill out the registration form on the Schedule Digital Review page or the Schedule In-Person Review page. You will sign up for a date and submit your child’s work samples and payment on or before that date at 9pm. Reviews will be completed ASAP after submission, but turn-around could take up to a week from time of submission, so please plan accordingly, keeping any submission deadlines in mind.
  • My child won’t be finished with all of her curriculum/schoolwork I have planned for the year before her portfolio review. Is that a problem?
    No problem at all! The law only requires portfolio reviewers to assess that each child has made progress during the year in each required subject. So I am looking for progress, not completion of a curriculum.
  • Do you review portfolios in the state of Virginia?
    I am also qualified to evaluate portfolios in Virginia and have reviewed several for Virginia residents. Due to different legal requirements in Virginia, I do charge a little more for Virginia reviews, since they take up a good amount more of my time to do than WV reviews. My fee in Virginia is $55 per review. Contact me if you have any questions!