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Does your state require assessment testing?  

post #1 of 22
9/15/05 at 2:35pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Fellow Homeschoolers!

I am wondering if you can help me out here. I am trying to do some research to determine the following:

1. How many states require end of year assessment tests?

2. How many states include testing as a possible option for end of year assessment but do not require it?

3. How many states allow parents to administer assessment tests to their own children?

4. How many states require that testing be administered either by a certified teacher in the home or taken at the local school district school or other location with a certified teacher as the test giver?

5. How many states have no testing requirement at all?

I currently live in NH where we currently have testing listed as one of our options for end of year evaluations. We are allowed to follow whatever rules are set up by the test maker. If they state a parent can give it, the parent is allowed to do the testing. There are rumors that the powers that be are attempting to change this, so we are trying to get some actual facts gathered about what is the current practice across the Country to help us in our discussions. Any help you can give me in collecting this information would be appreciated. Unfortunately, online sources seem to often be outdated or very confusing to dig through each State. I thought if I could get responses from at least one person from each state, it would give me the CURRENT answers by people who actually have to abide by the rules. You can email me off-list if you want at coltonscornr@metrocast.net Thanks for your help!

Best Regards,
post #2 of 22
9/15/05 at 2:50pm
Maine requires an end of year assessment.

I can be a standardized test, but it can also be a portfolio review done by a certified teacher (most HS groups hire a HS friendly one to do this) or other testing done by the school system.

Parents can administer the test, so can hs groups (which may use certified teachers, not sure as we don't use this option).

I have my kids assessed by a certified teacher that our HS group hires each year. I may do testing this year in addition and for my own benefit only (state won't see it).
post #3 of 22
9/15/05 at 3:01pm
Texas requires nothing.
post #4 of 22
9/15/05 at 4:04pm
We currently live in Ohio. Standardized tests are one option for assessment, and the parent may administer it as long as approved by the test company (I'm approved on the ITBS, for example, but don't feel like dealing with the Stanford approval process).

Edited to add: if we didn't test we would need to have a portfolio evaluation. I think we could also form an O8 private school and avoid the testing, but I'm not sure about that as I never cared to pursue it.

We are moving to Missouri. No assessment needed there.
post #5 of 22
9/15/05 at 4:06pm

In Texas

they don't make you do anything except they might check up on you if your kids have been in ps before. We expect a call any day now to say ds's former teacher has reported us as being neglectful because we didn't keep him in ps and she suspects he has dyslexia and dysgraphia (bogus diagnosis for dysgraphia by the way....it's like saying someone is hyper or lazy...totally relative).

Then the school district sends an officer to your house and you just tell him/her that you'll make arrangements to meet him at his office. For some reason they can actually use a few dirty dishes in the sink to support educational neglect.

Oh, and if you want your kid back in ps :LOL then they have to take the taks test or in case of hs they have to take a test for every core subject.

If you never put your kids in ps though, there isn't anything. Ya know, I'm really tempted to put dd in ps at 4 years....but then again I haven't lost my mind so probably not. :LOL

Texas schools suck big time. We were in the "best" school in the "best" school district and I still have nightmares about sending ds back.

Liv
post #6 of 22
9/15/05 at 4:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wynkenblynken&nod
they don't make you do anything except they might check up on you if your kids have been in ps before. We expect a call any day now to say ds's former teacher has reported us as being neglectful because we didn't keep him in ps and she suspects he has dyslexia and dysgraphia (bogus diagnosis for dysgraphia by the way....it's like saying someone is hyper or lazy...totally relative).

Then the school district sends an officer to your house and you just tell him/her that you'll make arrangements to meet him at his office. For some reason they can actually use a few dirty dishes in the sink to support educational neglect.
Actually they can't do this under law in TX. All that is required is that you withdraw your child from school. You don't have to do anything else. If they bug you you can tell them that you are persuing homeschooling in a bona fide manner and teaching the required subjects (don't have it in front of me but it's weird- math, spelling, citizenship.. something like that) But you do NOT have to talk to anyone else. If an officer shows up tell them the same (bona fide stuff...)

-Angela
post #7 of 22
9/15/05 at 4:37pm
Maryland doesn't require any testing.

There is a box you can check on the homeschooling form if you want the kids to participate in the public school's tests.
post #8 of 22
9/15/05 at 5:03pm

Thanks Angela,

I think it was all the horror stories I've heard and the school's reaction to our hs's name (hs'ing is considered going to a non-accredited private school in texas) which is *our last name*'s school of witchcraft and wizardry. The kids came up with it and I'm in support of living a whimsical style of life and incorporating that into learning.

Thank you Angela, I feel a lot better.

With Love,

Olivia
post #9 of 22
9/15/05 at 5:20pm
Oregon requires testing at the ends of grades 3, 5, 8, and 10.
post #10 of 22
9/15/05 at 5:31pm
Pa has testing in 3, 5, and 8. We are required to have a yearly portfolio assesment done by a PA certified teacher. But that all only starts at compulsive school-age of 8, or the year you pull your child from ps. We are also required to send in our Intent to Homeschool yearly.
post #11 of 22
9/15/05 at 5:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wynkenblynken&nod
*our last name*'s school of witchcraft and wizardry.
OH! ha ha ha. Love it. The name for our school that I came up with makes perfect sense to me, but unfortunately gives off a decidedly (but unintentional) fundamentalist aura. DH doesn't like it. DD doesn't care. Maybe I should give DH the choice of <lastname>'s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Sorry to go off topic. No, Texas does not require testing, thank goodness.
post #12 of 22
9/15/05 at 5:47pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the responses so far.

UnschoolnMa and chickadee79, is the testing they require done by the school or can the parents give assessment tests at home?

TIA!
post #13 of 22
9/15/05 at 5:51pm
Oklahoma requires no testing.
post #14 of 22
9/15/05 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilskid
Thanks for the responses so far.

UnschoolnMa and chickadee79, is the testing they require done by the school or can the parents give assessment tests at home?

TIA!
In Oregon testing of homeschool students generally has to be done by a qualified and neutral "tester". Most ESD's keep lists of testers available.
post #15 of 22
9/15/05 at 6:08pm
South Dakota has to test 2, 4, 8, and I think 11 but 11th is optional because your child will be past the age of compulsory attendance.

anyone can give the state test in thier home. if you use a different test you have to follow thier rules. Some require a degree. any degree will do . because we all know going to college makes you a better, smarter, more honest person who is more qualified to read step by step instructions about filling in bubbles.

anyway, it doesn't matter how you do. they just want it for thier records and as it is all we have to do I am not cmoplaining. m y dd enjoyed the test. she thoguht it was fun and easy and did pretty well.
post #16 of 22
9/15/05 at 6:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wynkenblynken&nod
Thank you Angela, I feel a lot better.


Glad to help! If they show up- tell them where they can go Get the wording (do a search, should be easy to find) and just tell them that. FWIW you don't have to give them a name of your "private school" either.

-Angela
post #17 of 22
9/15/05 at 8:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lilskid
Thanks for the responses so far.

UnschoolnMa and chickadee79, is the testing they require done by the school or can the parents give assessment tests at home?

TIA!
In PA it has to be done by a certified tester. There are several in my area, usually the tester is also the person who does the portfolio assessment. You can choose between a couple standardized tests too.
post #18 of 22
9/15/05 at 9:38pm
NJ requires nothing.
post #19 of 22
9/15/05 at 10:27pm
neither Arizona nor Kansas require testing
post #20 of 22
9/15/05 at 11:33pm
Colorado:

We have the option of having kids evaluated (by a qualified teacher) or tested (by parents) at grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11.

And I'll mention being an unschooler, we have the option to opt out of the whole thing (thank goodness) by going with a umbrella school who is unschooling friendly. We have two in Colorado.
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Mothering › Forums › Education › Learning at Home and Beyond › Does your state require assessment testing?