Need a Report Card?

Report cards are not something that Florida law requires parents to make, but if a report card is needed, the parent would create one.

If putting a child into a school, the school will want to see either a report card or--especially for high school students--a transcript.

A report card may be useful to show eligibility to participate in extracurricular activities or to earn discounts at certain places. Or just as a record of the child's education and accomplishments.

Most homeschool parents don't make report cards until the student is likely to need one.

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Report Card Templates

How do you figure out grades?

If you use a program that produces grades, they may have a report card format that you can use, but it may be better to type their information in a report card template--especially if you used more than just their program

Didn't keep grades? That's okay. Most homeschooling families don't because they focus more on learning than on assigning letter or number grades.
So, how do you figure out report card (or transcript) grades if you didn't grade individual assignments? You think holistically about your student's work over the course of the year. Did your student struggle a lot with the material or use material that was below the grade level expected for your child's age? Then you'll want to assign C's or D's (or F's if your child really needs to be placed at a lower grade level--though you'll want to discuss this with the evaluator). Did your student excel or use material that was above the grade level expected for your child's age? Then you'll want to assign A's or A+'s. And so on. The point of the grades is to let the school know whether your child will need extra help or remediation or whether your child will need enrichment and more challenges.

What if your child took some classes from a program that assigns grades such as FLVS, dual enrollment college courses, Acellus Power Homeschool, or some other program? Your report card or transcript should reflect all the classes that you accepted as part of your student's education. Include those classes and their grades on your documentation, but you may want to put an asterisk by the course name and elsewhere note the source of the classes. In addition, you may want to also provide a copy of the grades directly from the source to the school or college that the student is enrolling in.

Florida public schools are required to accept documentation parents give them as long as the child passes the first grading period in school. Of course, be sure that the documentation accurately reflects what the child has learned, so you aren't setting your child up for failure. (Florida public schools place students by age rather than curriculum levels used. A report card or transcript won't typically change the grade level at which a school places a student, but it can help with registering the child and placing appropriately in either remedial, regular, or advanced classes. The school cannot require public school state-mandated testing in order to enroll in a public school.)


Let me know if we can help with a final evaluation if you are finishing your homeschooling.

Cheryl Trzasko
[email protected]

In addition to the child's name, a report card typically lists a school name (feel free to create one or just put Homeschool), subject areas covered, grades earned in each subject, perhaps grades for behavior, the school year, a place for a parent to sign. There may be notes included about strengths or weaknesses.

If the report card is for an entire school year, it will typically have a student about being promoted to the next grade (and will give the number of the grade level that the student will be in).

Getting the report card notarized might make it seem more official.

Or showing the report card along with an evaluation or test results may help,

 Enrolling a child in a school?

Florida public schools will typically place students according to their Pupil Progression Plan which basically places students according to their age as long as a passing homeschool evaluation or PEP test score is on record. A few schools may require a placement test, especially for those entering first grade level because their accreditation agency requires it.

For high school students or those soon to graduate high school, a transcript is likely more valuable.

Schools use a variety of formats for their report cards. So use any format you like. There are a lot of templates that you can use to make the process simpler. Online templates will allow you to just fill in the appropriate information.

NOTE: Every year we are contacted by untrained guidance counselors looking for transcripts or report cards or other documentation from us rather than from parents. When enrolling a child in school, give the school a report card or transcript--even if someone in the office says it's not needed--to avoid a panicked search for records later.

Report card software

Tips on Creating a report card

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Transcripts

Finished homeschooling?