Homeschool testing is a cause of concern for many of my non-homeschool friends. They ask, “How do you test them?” and “How do you know that they’re at grade level?” For those mired in the pervasive testing of public schools, it’s hard to imagine a life not defined by frequent standardized tests. For homeschoolers, standardized tests are more a matter of adhering to state law and seeing a limited picture of academic standings. In short, homeschool testing is just one piece of a much larger story.
Homeschool standardized testing laws vary from state to state. Some states require standardized tests, others give a choice between testing and submitting a portfolio, and still others have no formal assessment requirements. No matter where you live, your state’s department of education website will outline what you need to do.
Colorado Homeschool Testing
Here’s what the Colorado Department of Education’s website says about asssessments:
“Students that are participating in a home school program must have academic progress evaluated in grades 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Students can take a nationally standardized achievement test or a qualified person, as described in C.R.S. 22-33-104.5(3)(f), can be selected by the parent to evaluate the student’s academic progress.” (For more, click here.)
After you check on your state’s website and (if needed) your local school district, then you should check in with other local homeschoolers.
California Achievement Test
I began using the California Achievement Test when we first started homeschooling on the advice of a veteran homeschool mom. She thought it was the simplest option. Back then, we received the tests in the mail, returned them by mail, and then waited for the results… by mail. It was slow but it worked just fine.
Now, the process is super fast. The testing is online and the results are ready immediately. I go through Academic Excellence – the test is $25 plus an extra $3 for the premium scoring which is required in Colorado. I don’t pay for the extras – a practice test or educational recommendations based on the results – although you can if you want. The site also has a page that shows which states accept the California Achievement Test for homeschoolers.
Other tests that are widely accepted are the Stanford Achievement and Iowa Tests.
When to Test
I prefer to test in February. It fits well in the lull between our annual National History Day and Jane Goodall Roots and Shoots service-learning projects. Also, April and May are already busy enough for us without adding in testing. February works for us. We get it done early and I’m all set to submit the test results with our letter of intent for the next school year.
Bottom line: Choose a week that works for you and your family’s schedule. It’s nice if you can spread the testing out over several days, especially when they’re young. This is allowed. You have a full week for your students to complete all the sections of the California Achievement Test.
Preparation
My advice: Don’t make a big deal out of these tests. Just tell your students to do their best and set aside a quiet area for them to test in a relaxed manner.
Remember that these tests are certainly not going to cover all the amazing things you do in your homeschooling. They are standardized tests. They provide a general sense of whether your child is on track or not but they don’t define your child or your teaching skills.
If you’re stressed about testing, then this might help – keep in mind that you do not need to report poor scores. You can always have your child retest if necessary… although personally, I’d hate to waste more time on testing. There’s no need to get a perfect score. The only test scores that ‘count’ are the SAT or ACT in 11th grade.
By the way… Colorado homeschool law only requires your child to test in the 13th percentile. And that’s something I don’t broadcast to my non-homeschool friends because it seems like a pretty low expectation for us homeschoolers.
If your child needs special accommodations for testing or would do better with an assessment by a qualified professional, check with your school district or the Colorado Department of Education to determine the specific guidelines you need to follow. And then, as always, ask other homeschoolers you know for recommendations.
The Progression
Here in Colorado, you can use the California Achievement Test (or any other accepted standardized test) for grades 3, 5, 7, and 9. In 11th grade, you choose either the SAT or ACT. For these, you sign your student up online and they take it at a testing site. I’ll be covering all the details for that process in a future post.
I don’t see testing as a bad thing. It does give your child some valuable experience with standardized testing. And you get to see some measurable results.
Here’s the thing though – you probably already know where your child is ahead and where they might be lagging behind. We homeschool so our children can move at their own pace. We homeschool so they can go slower when they need to and jump ahead when they’re ready.
As homeschoolers, we know that the test results don’t show the big picture. Exceptional or below average, the scores don’t predict the ending to our homeschool story. They only tell us what’s happening in one chapter or perhaps even just a few pages of our homeschool lives. Our student’s true stories are written over the days, months, and years that we homeschool.
Enter your email address below to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.