Rhode Island is an approval state built around an attendance register — the school committee approves you and can ask to see your records. Keep all of the following:
What to keep
Your school committee approval — and its annual renewal (most committees renew each year)
An attendance register kept available to the school committee (required by R.I.G.L. section 16-19-2)
Samples of your child's work across the required subjects (including Rhode Island history)
A record of instructional time substantially equal to the public schools (about 180 days)
Any assessment your school committee requires(none is required by state statute, but towns vary)
Your Rhode Island filing timeline
Before the school year startsGet approval from your local school committee before beginning instruction.
All year longKeep your attendance register and work samples current as you go.
If your committee requires itComplete any testing or portfolio review your town sets — some require it, some require nothing.
Each new school yearRenew your approval with the school committee.