The superintendent can choose to review your portfolio at any time, for any reason, including for no reason at all. He/she is required to give you 15 days advance notice in writing of the decision to perform such a review. Should you receive such a notice, don’t panic. The Superintendent does not have the authority to grade or evaluate your portfolio. He/she can only verify that one exists, that is, that you have complied with the law by maintaining a portfolio.
Further and perhaps even more important, the inspection is of the portfolio, not of you, your child or your home. There is nothing in the home education statutes that gives the superintendent (or anyone else) the authority to perform a “home visit,” nor to interrogate or test children. It is recommended that you arrange to have your portfolio brought to the Superintendent’s office and that you leave your child(ren) at home. In fact, the parent does not have to attend and can send a representative.
At the review, don’t offer information or respond to questions about your child’s abilities, accomplishments, grade level or similar. These are all outside the bounds of a portfolio review.