A key objective of a federally funded grant received by the Wake County Public Schools (North Carolina) was to develop new methods of assessment. The school district decided to fulfill this objective by developing student electronic portfolios. In spite of careful planning, the development of the electronic portfolios was filled with difficulties. Staff members persevered, developing electronic portfolios geared to the programs of six magnet elementary, middle, and high schools. Evaluation of the portfolio development process resulted in the identification of five specific lessons: (1) it may be better to develop traditional portfolios first and then mediate them; (2) schools should start small with this type of technology; (3) schools should take the time to find the right software for the electronic portfolios; (4) both students and teachers need to have access to the portfolio at any time from any place in the school; and (5) technology support is essential. (Contains 4 tables and 13 references.) (SLD)