Indiana Homeschool Record Keeping: What to Track & How

by | Apr 13, 2026 | Homeschooling in Indiana, Record Keeping & Compliance

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Indiana Homeschool Record Keeping: What to Track & How

Record keeping is often the most confusing part of Indiana homeschooling. The state requires very little—one main thing, actually. But best practices go beyond legal minimums to protect yourself and prepare for college. Understanding what’s legally required versus what’s recommended will help you keep records efficiently without unnecessary overhead.

Key Takeaways

  • Legally required: Daily attendance records (IC 20-33-2-20) showing 180 days of instruction; everything else is optional
  • No reporting required: You never file these records with anyone; they’re for your records only
  • No portfolio required: Indiana doesn’t require collecting work samples or proof of curriculum
  • Best practices: Maintain curriculum records, work samples, course documentation, and test scores for college applications
  • High school: Careful transcript documentation is essential for college admissions

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Indiana’s Legal Record-Keeping Requirement

The Attendance Record (IC 20-33-2-20)

Indiana law requires:

“Accurate daily record of attendance”

That’s it. That’s the legal requirement.

What This Means

You must maintain:

  • Daily record of whether your child was engaged in educational instruction
  • 180 days minimum of instruction per year
  • Accuracy — the record should reflect actual attendance
  • No specific format required (no particular form or template mandated)

What This Does NOT Mean

You do NOT need:

  • Detailed lesson plans
  • Grade books
  • Test scores
  • Curriculum records
  • Work sample collections
  • Progress reports
  • Regular submission to the school district
  • Inspection of your home or records
  • Any approval or notification

Your attendance records are for your files. The state doesn’t request them or inspect them. The only scenario where you’d produce them is if someone challenged whether you’re providing an “equivalent education”—then you’d present your attendance records and educational materials to demonstrate compliance.

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How to Keep Attendance Records

Simple Method: Attendance Calendar

Create a simple calendar or checklist showing instruction days:

“` Indiana Homeschool Attendance Record – 2025-26 Student: [Name] Year: [Grades]

Month: August Week 1: [ ] Mon, Aug 4 — Math, English, Science [ ] Tue, Aug 5 — Math, English, History [ ] Wed, Aug 6 — Math, English, Science [ ] Thu, Aug 7 — Math, English, History [ ] Fri, Aug 8 — Math, English, Science “`

Or simpler:

“` August 2025 4 – School day ✓ 5 – School day ✓ 6 – School day ✓ 7 – School day ✓ 8 – School day ✓ … “`

Track 180 days and you’re compliant.

Detailed Method: Daily Log

Keep a log with more detail:

“` Date: August 4, 2025 Subjects: Mathematics (1 hr), English/Language Arts (1.5 hrs), Science (1 hr) Activities: Math curriculum lesson, reading and discussion, science experiment Notes: Good progress on algebra unit “`

This provides more documentation if you ever need to demonstrate what instruction occurred.

Hybrid Method: Calendar + Curriculum Record

Most practical approach for most families:

  1. Attendance calendar showing 180 instructional days
  2. Simple log of subjects covered each day or week
  3. Curriculum list (what textbooks/resources you used each subject)

This balances minimal overhead with adequate documentation.

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Beyond Legal Requirement: Best Practices

While only attendance records are legally required, document these items for your own benefit and for college:

Curriculum Records

Document what curriculum/resources you used:

  • Subject: Mathematics
  • Resource: Art of Problem Solving Prealgebra
  • Dates: Aug 2024 – May 2025
  • Completion: 100% of text completed
  • Grade: A (or descriptor if not letter grades)

This helps you remember what you did and create accurate transcripts later.

Course Description

For high school courses especially, create brief course descriptions:

“` Course Title: American History & Government Grade: 10 Duration: Full year (180 days) Curriculum: American Pageant (textbook) + primary source analysis Topics: Colonial America through present day; Constitution; civil rights; elections Assessments: Chapter tests, essays, primary source analysis, end-of-year comprehensive exam Grade: A (93%) Credit: 2.0 (Indiana standard) “`

This documentation is valuable for college applications and transcript building.

Standardized Test Results (Optional)

If you administer any standardized tests (optional in Indiana):

  • Test name: Iowa Assessment, Stanford Achievement Test, etc.
  • Date taken: [Date]
  • Results: [Percentile/scores]
  • Subject areas: [Which subjects tested]
  • Grade level: [Grade level of test]

Optional testing provides external verification of academic progress. Keep results for your records.

Work Samples

While not required, collect samples of significant work:

  • Major essays or projects from high school
  • Examples of mastery in key subjects
  • Creative work (art, music, writing) if applicable
  • Dual enrollment work (college coursework completed)
  • AP exam scores or results

Keep these in a portfolio for:

  • Your own assessment of progress
  • College applications (some schools request portfolios)
  • Demonstrating rigor if needed

Course Completion and Credits

Document high school courses carefully (critical for transcripts):

“` Grade 9:

  • English 9 (1 credit = 1 year; Indiana standard)
  • Algebra I (1 credit)
  • Biology (1 credit)
  • World History (1 credit)
  • Physical Education (1 credit)
  • Spanish I (1 credit)

    • Total: 6 credits (Grade 9 = 6 credits completed) “`

Remember: Indiana counts 1 year of coursework = 2 credits (unique to Indiana). So completing 6 academic courses (not including PE) = 12 credits (two years’ worth) in Indiana’s system.

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Record Organization

System Setup

Create a system that works for you. Options:

Option 1: Digital (recommended for accessibility)

  • Google Sheets: Attendance calendar, subject log, course listing
  • Word documents: Course descriptions, curriculum summary
  • Cloud storage: Keep all files backed up in Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox
  • Password protection: Secure sensitive information if applicable

Option 2: Paper-based

  • Binder system: Attendance calendar section, curriculum section, grades section
  • Individual files: One file per year
  • Index: Clear organization so you can find what you need

Option 3: Hybrid

  • Digital records for attendance and tracking
  • Paper copies of significant work samples
  • Cloud backup of everything

What to Keep and for How Long

Keep permanently:

  • Attendance records (for all years homeschooled)
  • Course descriptions and curriculum records (especially high school)
  • High school transcripts and grade records
  • Standardized test results
  • Diploma documentation

Keep for 2-7 years:

  • Attendance logs
  • Work samples
  • Curriculum materials
  • Progress notes

Discard when no longer useful:

  • Daily assignment notes
  • Rough drafts (keep final versions)
  • Outdated planning documents

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High School Transcript Building

This is where careful record-keeping becomes critical.

What Your Transcript Should Include

Your high school transcript (you’ll create this) should document:

| Information | Required? | Notes | |————-|———–|——-| | Student name | Yes | Legal name | | Years of homeschooling | Yes | Grades 9-12 typically | | Courses taken | Yes | By year and title | | Course credits | Yes | Use Indiana standard: 1 year = 2 credits | | Grades or assessments | Yes | Letter grade or descriptor | | GPA | Yes | Calculate accurately; show calculation | | Dual enrollment courses | Yes | Include college name, grade, credits earned | | AP/CLEP scores | Yes | Include score and date | | Cumulative data | Yes | Total credits, cumulative GPA | | Extracurriculars | Optional but recommended | Activities, leadership, honors, service | | Test scores | Optional | SAT/ACT scores |

Creating a Professional Transcript

Options for transcript creation:

  1. Homeschool Transcript software/template: $20-$50 one-time; creates professional-looking transcripts
  2. Portico: Transcript service specifically for homeschoolers; helps create polished transcripts
  3. Word/Google Docs: Create your own using a clean, professional template
  4. Spreadsheet: Simple but less formal appearance

Example format:

“` [Student Name] Homeschool Transcript

GRADE 9 (2023-24):

  • English 9 — Grade A (4.0) — 2 credits
  • Algebra I — Grade A (4.0) — 2 credits
  • Biology — Grade B+ (3.7) — 2 credits
  • World History — Grade A (4.0) — 2 credits
  • Spanish I — Grade A- (3.7) — 2 credits

GRADE 10 (2024-25): [Continue by grade…]

CUMULATIVE: Total Credits: [#] Cumulative GPA: [#.##] Weighted GPA: [#.##] (if applicable) “`

Professional formatting matters. Colleges receive many transcripts; yours should look official and complete.

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Documentation for Special Situations

If You Use Dual Enrollment

Keep:

  • College course transcripts (request official copy from college)
  • Course syllabi
  • Final grades and credits earned
  • How the course counts toward high school graduation (usually lists as high school credit)

If You Use Online Curriculum

Keep:

  • Registration/enrollment confirmation
  • Completion certificates or transcripts from provider
  • Grade records/progress reports
  • Course description

If You Use Multiple Providers

Track where each course came from:

“` Math sequence:

  • Grade 9: Algebra I (AoPS Online)
  • Grade 10: Geometry (Khan Academy + Art of Problem Solving book)
  • Grade 11: Algebra II (IXL Math + tutor support)
  • Grade 12: Pre-Calculus (Dual enrollment at Ivy Tech)

    • “`

If You Take Standardized Tests

Document even though not required:

  • Test name and date
  • Grade level of test (important to show progression)
  • Results/percentiles
  • Which subjects tested

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If You’re Ever Questioned

The extremely unlikely scenario where you’re questioned about adequacy of education:

You would present:

  1. Attendance records — showing 180+ days per year
  2. Curriculum documentation — materials used, subjects covered
  3. Work samples — representative student work
  4. Assessment results — optional test scores, course grades, progress indicators
  5. Course descriptions — evidence of academic rigor

Having organized records makes this straightforward if it ever occurs. But in Indiana’s regulatory environment, this is rare because there’s no mechanism for proactive oversight.

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The Bottom Line

Indiana’s record-keeping requirements are minimal: maintain attendance records. Everything else—transcripts, course descriptions, work samples—is optional but wise to do, especially for high school.

Create a system that:

  1. Tracks attendance (legal minimum)
  2. Documents curriculum (practical minimum for college prep)
  3. Organizes key documents (for your sanity and college applications)
  4. Isn’t excessive overhead (balanced with your teaching time)

A simple spreadsheet with attendance + basic course documentation is sufficient for legal compliance. A more detailed portfolio is better for college preparation. Do what makes sense for your family’s needs.

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Resources

  • Homeschool Transcript: Professional transcript software
  • Portico: Transcript service for homeschoolers
  • IAHE: Record-keeping templates and guidance
  • Time4Learning, Khan Academy: Digital platforms that maintain progress records for you
  • Google Sheets/Drive: Free cloud-based record keeping