A professional evaluation is a formal review by a qualified educator who examines a homeschooled student's portfolio and typically interviews the child to certify that adequate educational progress is occurring. States like Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida require these assessments.
What is a Professional Evaluation?
When states require proof that homeschooling is actually happening, professional evaluations offer an alternative to standardized testing. A qualified professional—typically a certified teacher or licensed evaluator—reviews your child's portfolio of work samples and often meets with your student for a brief interview. The goal isn't to compare your child to national averages or grade-level expectations. The evaluator is certifying that an "appropriate education is occurring," which means demonstrating growth commensurate with your child's abilities. For many families, this feels less stressful than bubble tests.
Key Takeaways
- Required in states like Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, and Virginia (as an alternative to testing)
- Typically involves portfolio review plus student interview
- Evaluators must meet state-specific qualification requirements
- Costs generally range from $25-75 per student with sibling discounts common
- Often preferred over standardized testing for young children or those with test anxiety
Who Qualifies as an Evaluator
Qualifications vary by state and matter enormously—using an unqualified evaluator could mean your assessment doesn't count. In Pennsylvania, evaluators must be certified teachers with two years of grading experience at the relevant level (elementary or secondary), and they cannot be the homeschooling parent or spouse. Florida requires a Florida-certified teacher with a valid certificate to teach academic subjects. Virginia accepts any person with a valid teaching license from any state or a master's degree in an academic discipline. Before booking, verify your evaluator's credentials meet your state's specific requirements.
What to Include in Your Portfolio
What to Include in Your Portfolio
- Work samples across all subjects
Include pieces from beginning, middle, and end of year to show growth
- Educational activity log
Dated record of what you taught and when
- Reading list
Titles of books read during the year
- Tests or graded assignments
Representative samples, not everything
- Photos of hands-on projects
Science experiments, art, building projects
Finding an Evaluator
Start with personal recommendations from other homeschool families—they'll know who understands homeschooling philosophies and who approaches evaluations punitively. State homeschool organizations maintain evaluator directories: CHAP covers Pennsylvania, FPEA serves Florida, and VaHomeschoolers lists Virginia options. Local homeschool co-ops and support groups often share evaluator recommendations in newsletters or Facebook groups. Interview potential evaluators early in the school year rather than scrambling in spring.
Typical Costs
Expect to pay $25-75 per child for a standard evaluation, with most falling in the $40-55 range. Many evaluators offer sibling discounts of 25% or $20-25 off additional children. In-person evaluations with extensive portfolios may cost more. Virtual evaluations became common during COVID and often cost $40-50. Friends or family members who meet your state's qualification requirements can sometimes evaluate for free, though experienced homeschool evaluators often bring valuable perspective and know what districts expect to see.
The Bottom Line
Professional evaluations exist to satisfy state compliance requirements while respecting the diversity of homeschool approaches. Unlike standardized tests that measure against national norms, evaluations focus on individual progress and whether genuine learning is happening. For children who are poor test-takers, very young, or have learning differences that affect standardized test performance, evaluations often provide a more accurate picture of their educational growth. Choose an evaluator who understands homeschooling, prepare your portfolio throughout the year rather than frantically in spring, and approach the process as documentation of what you're already accomplishing.
