The Short Answer
Saskatchewan home-based educators have two yearly duties: keep a portfolio of each child's work, and submit one annual progress report for each child to your registering authority near the end of the school year. The Regulations let your report take several forms. It can be a portfolio of work, an evaluation by someone other than you, or the results of standardized tests. You pick the form that fits your family, so testing is an option, not a requirement. The reporting is light, and a folder kept through the year makes it almost effortless.
Verified June 2026. Reflects the Home-Based Education Program Regulations, 2015 (Division 2.16).
Saskatchewan Reporting at a Glance
| What you keep | A portfolio of each child's work through the year. |
|---|---|
| What you submit | One annual progress report per child to your registering authority. |
| When | Near the end of the school year. Your division sets the exact date. |
| How you can report | A portfolio, an evaluation by someone other than you, or standardized test results. |
| Standardized testing required? | No. It is one allowed option, not a requirement. |
| Who you report to | The school division that holds your registration. |
What the Regulations Ask For
Under the Home-Based Education Program Regulations, you do two things each year. You maintain a portfolio of your child's work, and you submit an annual progress report for each child to the registering authority near the end of the year. There is no monthly check-in, no surprise inspection, and no provincial exam your child must pass. The reporting is built to confirm progress, not to second-guess how you teach. For where this sits in the full picture, see our main guide on how to homeschool in Saskatchewan.
The Three Ways You Can Show Progress
This is the part worth knowing, because it gives you control. The Regulations let your progress report take any of three forms, and you choose:
- A portfolio of work: a selection of your child's writing, math, projects, and reading that shows growth over the year.
- An outside evaluation: an assessment done by someone other than you, such as a tutor or qualified evaluator.
- Standardized test results: scores from a recognized test, if you want a number and your child tests well.
Most families use the portfolio, because it is the least disruptive and reflects real learning. If you dislike testing, you never have to give one. If you want an outside opinion, you can buy one. The choice is yours each year.
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How to Build a Portfolio Without the Stress
The trick is to collect as you go rather than assemble at the end. Keep a folder or a box per child and drop work in across the year, dated. By spring you have a rich record and nothing to scramble for. A strong portfolio usually holds:
- Writing samples from across the year, so growth is visible
- Math pages or workbook sections your child finished
- A reading list or log of books read and read together
- Photos of projects, experiments, and hands-on work
- Any course work, quizzes, or certificates from outside classes
You do not save every page. A handful of pieces per subject that show your child moving forward is plenty. The portfolio tells a story of progress, and that story is what your report rests on.
Writing the Annual Progress Report
The report itself is short. For each child, you summarize the year: the subjects you covered, how your child progressed, and the evidence you are relying on, whether the portfolio, an outside evaluation, or test results. Write it in plain language. You are reporting growth, not defending a thesis. Your division may give you a template, so ask for one and write to it. To get a clear read on your child's level before you write, our free reading assessment gives you a concrete data point in about ten minutes.
When and Where It Goes
You submit the report to your registering authority, the school division that holds your registration, near the end of the school year. The exact date is set by your division, so confirm it when you register and put it on the calendar. One report per child, once a year, and you are done until the next registration cycle.
Val's Note: What This Really Means for You
I want to take the fear out of this, because it stops people from starting. Saskatchewan is not watching over your shoulder. One report a year, in the form you choose, backed by a folder of your kid's work. That is lighter than the paperwork most parents do for a single field trip in a brick-and-mortar school.
So keep it simple. Start a folder per child in September, drop work in every week or two, and let it fill on its own. When report season comes, you flip through the folder, write a page that says here is what we did and here is how it went, and send it in. If your child tests well and you like numbers, add a test. If not, skip it. The system gives you room, so use it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Have to Submit a Progress Report?
Yes. You submit one annual progress report for each child to your registering authority near the end of the year, and keep a portfolio of the child's work through the year.
What Can the Report Include?
It can be a portfolio of your child's work, an evaluation by someone other than you, or standardized test results. You choose the form that suits your family.
Do My Kids Have to Write Standardized Tests?
No. Testing is one allowed way to show progress, not a requirement. Many families report through a portfolio and never sit a standardized test.
What Goes in the Portfolio?
A collection of your child's work across the year: writing samples, math pages, projects, reading lists, and photos of hands-on activities. It shows progress and backs up your report.
When Is It Due?
Near the end of the school year. Your registering authority sets the exact date, so confirm it with your division.
Sources
This guide was verified in June 2026 against the following primary sources. Reporting dates and any division-specific requirements vary, so confirm with your registering authority.