{
  "$schema": "https://ivywaters.com/research/schema.json",
  "id": "IW-RK26",
  "slug": "state-of-homeschool-record-keeping-2026",
  "shortTitle": "Record-Keeping",
  "title": "The Global State of Homeschool Record-Keeping 2026",
  "deck": "A global infrastructure report on how home-educating families document learning, preserve evidence, and prepare records for moments that matter.",
  "category": "Records infrastructure",
  "geography": "Global outlook with jurisdiction-specific examples, including the United States",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "pdfFile": "state-of-homeschool-record-keeping-2026.pdf",
  "status": "Published",
  "publishedAt": "2026-08-13",
  "updatedAt": "2026-08-13",
  "nextReview": "2027-08-01",
  "methodology": "Structured desk research of official guidance, public-sector documentation requirements, transition materials, and credible home-education organizations. No original family survey is claimed in this edition.",
  "limitations": "Requirements vary by jurisdiction and family circumstance. This report is not legal advice and does not estimate prevalence where comparable official data do not exist.",
  "ledger": "RECORD-KEEPING-SOURCE-LEDGER.md",
  "figures": [],
  "claims": [
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-C01",
      "label": "Core finding",
      "text": "A useful homeschool record is designed for retrieval and transition, not merely collection.",
      "classification": "Ivy Waters synthesis",
      "sourceScope": "Cross-jurisdictional official guidance",
      "figure": "iw-rk26-f01",
      "canonicalAnchor": "https://ivywaters.com/research/reports/state-of-homeschool-record-keeping-2026.json#IW-RK26-C01",
      "evidenceNote": "Use the report's inline citations and source scope; do not present an Ivy Waters synthesis as a directly measured statistic."
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-C02",
      "label": "Infrastructure finding",
      "text": "Compliance records and learning records overlap, but they are not the same system.",
      "classification": "Ivy Waters synthesis",
      "sourceScope": "Official requirements and portfolio guidance",
      "figure": "iw-rk26-f02",
      "canonicalAnchor": "https://ivywaters.com/research/reports/state-of-homeschool-record-keeping-2026.json#IW-RK26-C02",
      "evidenceNote": "Use the report's inline citations and source scope; do not present an Ivy Waters synthesis as a directly measured statistic."
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-C03",
      "label": "Practical finding",
      "text": "The strongest record-keeping rhythm captures evidence close to the learning event and curates it later.",
      "classification": "Practice synthesis",
      "sourceScope": "Documentation and transition guidance",
      "figure": "iw-rk26-f03",
      "canonicalAnchor": "https://ivywaters.com/research/reports/state-of-homeschool-record-keeping-2026.json#IW-RK26-C03",
      "evidenceNote": "Use the report's inline citations and source scope; do not present an Ivy Waters synthesis as a directly measured statistic."
    }
  ],
  "editorialStance": "Ivy Waters measures the infrastructure of home education, not whether one family's educational choices are superior to another's.",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://ivywaters.com/blog/state-of-homeschool-record-keeping-2026",
  "jsonUrl": "https://ivywaters.com/research/reports/state-of-homeschool-record-keeping-2026.json",
  "pdfUrl": "https://ivywaters.com/research/reports/state-of-homeschool-record-keeping-2026.pdf",
  "sourceLedgerUrl": "https://ivywaters.com/research/sources/RECORD-KEEPING-SOURCE-LEDGER.md",
  "correctionsUrl": "https://ivywaters.com/research/updates.json",
  "citation": "Ivy Waters Research (2026). The Global State of Homeschool Record-Keeping 2026 (Version 1.0.0). https://ivywaters.com/blog/state-of-homeschool-record-keeping-2026",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-0F98C444",
      "title": "Information Commissioner’s Office guidance on data minimization",
      "url": "https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/childrens-information/childrens-code-guidance-and-resources/age-appropriate-design-a-code-of-practice-for-online-services/8-data-minimisation/",
      "publisherDomain": "ico.org.uk",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-1DB21D94",
      "title": "National Center for Education Statistics homeschooling overview",
      "url": "https://nces.ed.gov/nhes/homeschooling.asp",
      "publisherDomain": "nces.ed.gov",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-256A6EB3",
      "title": "Colorado",
      "url": "https://www.ed.gov/birth-grade-12-education/education-choice/state-regulation-of-private-and-home-schools/colorado-state-regulation-of-private-and-home-schools",
      "publisherDomain": "ed.gov",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-35D174A3",
      "title": "home education registration and assessment service",
      "url": "https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/alternative-education-assessment-and-registration-service/home-education/",
      "publisherDomain": "tusla.ie",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-37DD9059",
      "title": "Service-Public instruction in the family",
      "url": "https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F23429",
      "publisherDomain": "service-public.fr",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-39C0EC1C",
      "title": "Policy/Program Memorandum 131",
      "url": "https://www.ontario.ca/document/education-ontario-policy-and-program-direction/policyprogram-memorandum-131",
      "publisherDomain": "ontario.ca",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-3EA79CE3",
      "title": "guidance for local authorities and schools",
      "url": "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/elective-home-education",
      "publisherDomain": "gov.uk",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-44CF49C7",
      "title": "U.S. Department of Education FAQ",
      "url": "https://www.ed.gov/about/contact-us/faqs/Non-Public%20Education",
      "publisherDomain": "ed.gov",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-5774EB23",
      "title": "Department of Education page on home schooling",
      "url": "https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/policy-information/home-schooling-or-attendance-at-non-recognised-schools/",
      "publisherDomain": "gov.ie",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-85463FF6",
      "title": "Welsh Government’s statutory guidance",
      "url": "https://www.gov.wales/elective-home-education-guidance-html",
      "publisherDomain": "gov.wales",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-870EAA8F",
      "title": "HSLDA’s legal resource",
      "url": "https://hslda.org/legal",
      "publisherDomain": "hslda.org",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-874DBC47",
      "title": "Service-Public information page",
      "url": "https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits//F23429",
      "publisherDomain": "service-public.fr",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-8F5FB99C",
      "title": "Florida",
      "url": "https://www.ed.gov/birth-grade-12-education/education-choice/state-regulation-of-private-and-home-schools/florida-state-regulation-of-private-and-home-schools",
      "publisherDomain": "ed.gov",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-9C4D1582",
      "title": "Education Authority guidance for parents",
      "url": "https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/other-help-for-parents/educating-your-child-at-home",
      "publisherDomain": "eani.org.uk",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-9E626312",
      "title": "Scottish Government’s 2025 home education guidance",
      "url": "https://www.gov.scot/publications/home-education-guidance-2/",
      "publisherDomain": "gov.scot",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-B2D50D6F",
      "title": "National Home Education Research Institute",
      "url": "https://www.nheri.org/",
      "publisherDomain": "nheri.org",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-B3C4CF8C",
      "title": "South African Department of Basic Education home education page",
      "url": "https://www.education.gov.za/Parents/HomeSchooling/tabid/406/Default.aspx",
      "publisherDomain": "education.gov.za",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-BCB6F11C",
      "title": "Missouri",
      "url": "https://www.ed.gov/birth-grade-12-education/education-choice/state-regulation-of-private-and-home-schools/missouri-state-regulation-of-private-and-home-schools",
      "publisherDomain": "ed.gov",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-D30FBCD0",
      "title": "UCAS guidance on documents",
      "url": "https://www.ucas.com/applying/applying-to-university/uploading-documents-to-your-application",
      "publisherDomain": "ucas.com",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-E78091BF",
      "title": "New Zealand Ministry of Education home education page",
      "url": "https://www.education.govt.nz/parents-and-caregiversprimary-school/schooling-in-nz/home-education",
      "publisherDomain": "education.govt.nz",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    },
    {
      "id": "IW-RK26-S-E9F78325",
      "title": "official home education page",
      "url": "https://www.gov.uk/home-education",
      "publisherDomain": "gov.uk",
      "accessed": "2026-08-13"
    }
  ]
}