Schools using the graduation portfolio as part of their diploma system must develop a formal process for evaluating graduation portfolios. Planning for the review process must begin early in the planning and development of your graduation portfolio system as the protocol should be piloted and evaluated at least a year or two before the first class (2008) graduates under the new Rhode Island Diploma System. Plans must be made to provide the necessary training for members of the review panel to ensure fair and consistent evaluation of each student's portfolio. The review plan must consider the student presentation format that will be used and plan for the time and resources needed for a full review process.

Students, parents, teachers, and members of review panels must be informed of the expectations for the graduation portfolio and the criteria against which students' portfolios will be evaluated. Plan to hold the formal reviews early enough to allow students time to complete portfolios before graduation. Ongoing review of and communication about student progress in collecting evidence should be part of the review plan.

A school's graduation portfolio system must meet the minimum criteria of the Regent's regulations and those found in this toolkit in order to support students in demonstrating proficiency for graduation. A formal review process will evaluate each student's portfolio as well as provide evidence of the validity of the graduation portfolio system.

It is important to create handbooks for parents, faculty, and students as part of the communication process for developing and implementing a graduation portfolio review system.