HELP! Grade-level testing for court -- 7yo.

[morgainesmama]

I got a summons Saturday from xh. My homeschooled lo's are 5 and 7, and in our divorce decree (4 years ago) he agreed each would be homeschooled through third grade -- and has worked since to sabotage our homeschooling. (DD couldn't deal with the stress/pressure and started public school halfway through third grade).

My 7yo wants to be homeschooled. I'm due in court January 4 where he is trying to force them into public school. Courts DO NOT LIKE alternative lifestyles -- if I am to win my son's right to stay home, I need some concrete evidence that what we're doing is effective.

I'm hoping to do some grade-level testing between now and then -- ideally something I can administer myself and download online (paid is fine). Ideally something that compares him to his age peers. I believe he's a bit behind in reading and quite ahead in math and reasoning.

Please help -- I'm at a loss. With my daughter we did this through the public school but of course they're closed for break, and won't reopen til the day of my hearing.

ETA -- We're in Maine (border town) and going to court in NH.

[rebeccalizzie]

Honestly, if it's possible I'd do a test administered by someone other than you. It proves that you couldn't have given him the answers or fudged the test.

Do Sylvan or Kaplan do grade level testing? Maybe check with them? When we tested DD (our state requires it) we used a standardized test, but it wasn't online and you sent it back to be graded. So you don't have enough time for that.

[theretohere]

Originally Posted by rebeccalizzie

Honestly, if it's possible I'd do a test administered by someone other than you. It proves that you couldn't have given him the answers or fudged the test.

Do Sylvan or Kaplan do grade level testing? Maybe check with them? When we tested DD (our state requires it) we used a standardized test, but it wasn't online and you sent it back to be graded. So you don't have enough time for that.

For this, I agree. You want it as non-partial as possible.

[morgainesmama]

Trouble is, I have 6 business days (7 if you count today) before I go to court, and finding someone to administer a test in that time period will be challenging.

I've filed a continuance today but whether it will be granted will be hit or miss.

[Dar]

Instead of testing, you could download the grade level standards for your state and check off skills he's mastered, and maybe create a portfolio to document mastery.

Have you asked on your state homeschool list? I'm a formerly certified teacher and would gladly write up a report within a week if a local mother needed help... maybe you can find someone?

[AngelBee]

for you

[Black Orchid]

I know different states have different requirments, but in PA, we don't even have to register kids until they are 7... so I don't think the first test is until they are 9 or 10. I think Dar gave you some GREAT advice... look up the portfolio requirements for 1st grade and check them off, make a list of the books read and let that be it. Maybe see if you can get it evaluated by a teacher/evaluator. You don't want to give any more information than is required.

[Ruthla]

It might be enough to walk into court with proof that you're planning to get him tested- the judge will probably ask you all to come back in a month or two with the results. You don't necessarily need to get the testing completed before January 4th.

IME, judges in Family Court like to keep you coming back to assess the situation before making any permenant rulings. The only time I ever had something settled in 1 day was when DS' dad tried to get joint custody and visitation (after being before this same judge repeatedly for the Order of Protection I had against him, and the same judge for false accusations DS' dad made against DDs' dad- the judge was already familiar with our family) and he gave me full custody and him absolutely no visitation, and no need to come back unless X pulled himself together and filed again.

Prior to that, it was "here's the ruling that will stand for the next month or so, then come back and we'll see how everybody's doing and if anything needs to be changed."

I really don't think that a judge is going to order you to put your child in school 2 weeks from now. He's either going to rule in favor of the status quo, or he'll want further evaluations and have everybody come back in a month or so before making a decision.

[Momma Aimee]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

It might be enough to walk into court with proof that you're planning to get him tested- the judge will probably ask you all to come back in a month or two with the results. You don't necessarily need to get the testing completed before January 4th.

IME, judges in Family Court like to keep you coming back to assess the situation before making any permenant rulings. The only time I ever had something settled in 1 day was when DS' dad tried to get joint custody and visitation (after being before this same judge repeatedly for the Order of Protection I had against him, and the same judge for false accusations DS' dad made against DDs' dad- the judge was already familiar with our family) and he gave me full custody and him absolutely no visitation, and no need to come back unless X pulled himself together and filed again.

Prior to that, it was "here's the ruling that will stand for the next month or so, then come back and we'll see how everybody's doing and if anything needs to be changed."

I really don't think that a judge is going to order you to put your child in school 2 weeks from now. He's either going to rule in favor of the status quo, or he'll want further evaluations and have everybody come back in a month or so before making a decision.

in all my expereince with family court ...i agree.

the judge is not going to order the child into school on Jan 5th.

i would think the most likly outcome is for the judge to order gread level testing, maybe by teh schools or by some place that teh school district accepts.

You might be given X amount of time to prove your curr, your lesson plans, your grades, past work .. stuff like that.

I would really doubt much is decided on jan 4 ...

I would just start getting your ducks in a row, and locateing services.

Aimee

[ChristaN]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

It might be enough to walk into court with proof that you're planning to get him tested- the judge will probably ask you all to come back in a month or two with the results. You don't necessarily need to get the testing completed before January 4th.

Do you have a BA? If so, you can administer the ITBS yourself. If not, get someone else who does homeschool testing to give him the ITBS or another similar test like the SAT10.

You can order both from Bob Jones (even if you're not Christian, it is the same test regardless of where you get it). You can also try Triangle Educational Assessments. They are secular and will rent you the test as well. You pay them somewhere around $50, they loan you the test, you or someone else gives it to your child, and then you send the test and answer sheet back to them. They'll send the answer sheet into the publisher for scoring and you'll get a score report back with national norms for your dc.

It's not going to happen in a week, though. I do agree with the pps that proof that you are in the process should be good enough for now, hopefully!

[morgainesmama]

I do have a BA (k-8, language arts concentration, and a right nice GPA) but I never got certified, as by the time I finished the program dd was 14 months and I had decided to stay home with her. Since I lack the certification, I don't know whether I'm qualified to administer testing -- in ME, you need to consult a certified educator.

I looked into the SAT10 today, and spent a while on the phone with the company, who referred me to Bob Jones -- we had to head out by then to our homeschool group, and I really needed the support, so stopped there. I like that it's not timed -- ds has no experience with testing. The Iowa test is timed, correct?

I use the Maine Learning Results as our curricular foundation, and we're doing well with their markers.

I am not on any state lists; I should seek one out tonight.

My only experience with family court has been our first time there -- when the judge said (of my then 18mo) "It's time to make a weaning plan for this child," (of my then 5yo) "time to get this child in school, and time for this mother to get a full time job." She issued xh 3 consecutive nights a week with the kids and was about to make a ruling to put dd in school when I pointed out to my attorney that at that age it was a parenting decision, as kindergarten was optional in NH, and she halted the ruling.

In the end, xh agreed to a more reasonable plan because his gf was 7 months pg, and her hubby was waiting to do their divorce til he saw what happened with ours, and they wanted everything done before their baby was born.

Family court scares the bejeezus out of me, to be very honest.

I really appreciate the responses here. I'm trying to hope for a best-case but prepare for a worst-case (that on the spot, I have to staunchly defend my position as a homeschooler to a 100% mainstream judge who does not believe that a running a home business grossing almost 200K is a meaningful employment).

I'll call Bob Jones tomorrow.

I've just come out of my first trimester last week, so my organization these last months has been nil -- scrambling to find our many writing samples, etc that are scattered to the four winds of the house.

Again -- THANK YOU for the responses. I really am beyond anxious about all of this!!!

[ChristaN]

Yes, the ITBS is timed. It is going to take you 3-6 hours to administer either the SAT10 or the ITBS and you don't need to be a certified teacher for either. For the ITBS, you just need a BA. For the SAT10, you need a BA and some coursework in testing and assessment. If you don't have the testing coursework, you can buy and view a video from Bob Jones that will count as training in how to administer tests.

Another option is to just ask Bob Jones to refer you to an approved tester in your area. The approved testers aren't necessarily religious based homeschoolers if that matters to you. I'm not personally very religious, but I am a certified tester through them b/c they are easy to work with and, like I said above, it's the same test regardless of whether you get it from a secular or religious source.

[Forsanda]

Haven't read the replies, but Kumon tests math and reading for free. http://www.kumon.com/

HTH. Good luck!

ETA: Take a look at www.kidtest.com. They my have online testing. Not sure though. I bookmarked them and plan to order their battery tests in the near future.

[oceanbaby]

Instead of a test, how about a written assessment? Maybe by a learning specialist, or a tutor? Often the tutors on Craigslist are teachers or ex teachers from local schools, and the ones I've talked to have extensive resumes, letters of references, etc. Or you could call your local school and ask for a referral. For this quick of a turnaround, you would have a good shot at arranging a one or two hour assesment, and then paying them extra to give you a written summary. Plus, you would get more out of than just test answers. A kid could be above grade level and still do badly on a test.

Good luck. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this.

[pigpokey]

I asked about Kumon and they test for entry into their curriculums, but that's not a grade level. It's a Kumon level.

[fullofgrace]

Have you been keeping a portfolio or records of what you have been doing? Since you are going to court in NH, you could point to NH Homeschooling law which does not specifically require testing as a form of evaluation. The portfolio method, where a certified teacher reviews a child's work, can be used instead. And even then, per NH Homeschooling law, it states you only legally need to do that annually. From what I understand, if you have not been homeschooling for a full academic year, you are not yet required by NH to submit an evaluation.

Section 193-A:6
193-A:6 Records; Evaluation. –
I. The parent shall maintain a portfolio of records and materials relative to the home education program. The portfolio shall consist of a log which designates by title the reading materials used, and also samples of writings, worksheets, workbooks, or creative materials used or developed by the child. Such portfolio shall be preserved by the parent for 2 years from the date of the ending of the instruction.
II. The parent shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the child's demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with the child's age and ability. The child shall be deemed to have successfully completed his annual evaluation upon meeting the requirements of any one of the following:
(a) A certified teacher or a teacher currently teaching in a nonpublic school who is selected by the parent shall evaluate the child's educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the parent or child. The teacher shall submit a written evaluation to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;
(b) The child shall take any national student achievement test, administered by a person who meets the qualifications established by the provider or publisher of the test. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such tests shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency. Such test results shall be reported to the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal;
(c) The child shall take a state student assessment test used by the resident district. Composite results at or above the fortieth percentile on such state test shall be deemed reasonable academic proficiency. Such test results shall be reported to the commissioner of education, the resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal; or
(d) The child shall be evaluated using any other valid measurement tool mutually agreed upon by the parent and the commissioner of education, resident district superintendent, or nonpublic school principal. The results shall be reported by the parent or the testing agency to such appropriate official.
Source. 1990, 279:3. 2006, 13:4, eff. May 12, 2006.

Summarized here: http://nhhomeschooling.org/law
NH State dept. of Ed: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/.../193-a-mrg.htm

[Lillian J]

As well as anything else you do, I think it might be helpful if you can present a copy of this legal abstract, published by Widener Law Review, prepared by lawyers who were involved in a case that was turned around in the favor of homeschoolers in California. They gathered research from sources other than homeschoolers. You can buy a hard copy of it from the Social Science Research Network website:
Evidence for Homeschooling: Constitutional Analysis in Light of Social Science Research

Lillian

[morgainesmama]

Thank you!!!

I was able to get my continuance granted, so don't have to go to court Monday. I'm so relieved. My attorney is not overly concerned; I was finally able to meet with her ... I'm still incredibly anxious, but that short notice really had me nervous like crazy.

The difficult thing about family court is that it's so much more about the judges' opinions than about particular law, although case law does come into play.

But now there is time to breathe.

[kittie313]

Are you a member of HSLDA? I'd be calling them if I was in your shoes and a member.

[skueppers]

Originally Posted by kittie313

Are you a member of HSLDA? I'd be calling them if I was in your shoes and a member.

There may not be much they'd be able to do:

http://www.hslda.org/docs/faqs/default.asp#q107