The word "review" makes it sound like an audit. In practice, a Maryland portfolio review is a friendly half-hour where someone looks through your child's work and confirms that regular, thorough instruction is happening.
How often, and when
Under COMAR 13A.10.01, a local school system may review the portfolio and discuss your instructional program no more than three times per school year. Most systems review twice — once near the end of each semester. Under an umbrella, you review with the umbrella instead, on its schedule.
The review happens at a mutually agreeable time and place. It does not have to be a home visit. Many families meet at the school system's office, a library, or over video.
What the reviewer looks at
The portfolio is the star of the show. Maryland expects it to contain relevant materials and work showing instruction in the eight required subjects: English, mathematics, science, social studies, art, music, health, and physical education.
A portfolio that reads well usually has:
- Eight labeled sections, one per subject, so nothing looks missing.
- Samples spread across the whole period — a few pieces from the beginning, middle, and end, which shows a rhythm rather than a last-minute stack.
- Instructional and reading materials — a short list of the curricula, books, and programs you used. Titles are enough; no receipts required.
- Variety — writings, worksheets, workbooks, creative work, projects, photos of hands-on work, and tests if you give them.
- A short summary per subject, optional, but it makes the conversation effortless.
What it feels like
You sit down. The reviewer turns pages, asks a few questions — "What's she reading right now?", "How is math going?" — and makes notes. Your child may or may not be there; many reviewers enjoy a brief hello but do not test or interview them. Thirty to forty-five minutes is typical.
Make Maryland paperwork the easy part
Pennsole keeps your portfolio, review dates, subject coverage, and notices in one calm place — and the Home Instruction Notification generator is free.
More Maryland guides: requirements · free notification generator · umbrella school directory · where to submit · free portfolio checklist
General guidance, not legal advice. Always confirm details with your local school system or umbrella.
What a reviewer cannot demand
- More than three reviews in a school year.
- A home visit, if another mutually agreeable place works.
- Standardized test scores, grades, or a set number of hours — Maryland requires none of these.
- That you follow the school system's curriculum or scope and sequence.
- A judgment on your child's performance. The purpose is to confirm regular, thorough instruction, not to grade a student.
If something is thin
It happens — a subject drifts, a month gets lost to illness. Say so plainly and show what you are doing about it. Reviewers deal with real families constantly, and honesty with a plan lands far better than a padded binder. If a reviewer raises a concern, ask exactly what evidence they would like to see next time and write it down.
The easiest way to be ready
Do not build the portfolio the week before. Drop work in as it happens — a photo of a science experiment, a scan of a writing page, a note about a field trip — and the review becomes a matter of printing a cover sheet and showing up.