I know I can't be the only certified teacher who homeschools so I need some help. I live in Ohio where you either have to test or have a portfolio reviewed by an approved person- usually a certified teacher. I have some other homeschoolers who have asked me to review their portfolio at the end of the year. My question is, do any of you review portfolios for other homeschoolers? What do you look for when you are reviewing? Do you ask the children questions? And how much do you find to be the average price per portfolio or do you charge/pay by family?
NYS does not require portfolios so no one I know has had to deal with this. In NYS some districts mandate that a certified teacher writes up the end of year narrative but most allow a parent to do it.
I don't have to do that in TX, but if I were reviewing someone's portfolio, I'd look to see that they're meeting minimum requirements for the state. If they're not, I'd make a note about progress from the year before and/or LD's that prevent the student from meeting minimum standards. Otherwise, I'd pass everything off. If it were people I knew, I wouldn't charge them. If it weren't, I'd charge an hourly rate comparable to private music lessons or tutors in the area. It's been years since I taught privately, but I used to charge $30-50 per hour for music lessons, so I'd charge something similar to review a portfolio.
I've reviewed portfolios for jr. high and high school. I took a copy of the law and made a check list for myself. I look to see if they have all the parts of the portfolio required. I check to see that they covered the required subjects thought that's flexible, because the law lists a lot of subjects to be covered but they don't all have to be done in the same year. I basically peruse the portfolio with the student and ask him/her questions about it. I have learned to ask a few questions before accepting a job. I won't do it unless I am sure that I can write a positive evaluation. I do not want to be in the position of having to tell a family that I can't write a letter for them. I charge $20 or $30, but I only give them a generic letter that states that "appropriate education is occurring." I don't write glowing reviews like I use to, becuase I don't think the school districts cared. If they want more of a summary of the interview, then I charge $50, because that take a lot more work. I had to hire an evaluator for my niece to meet the requirements of a diploma program. I think she charged $40. She spent an hour with my niece, but I didn't require her report. I just needed her signature. Had I wanted her long report, she'd have charged me $60.
