Many homeschooling parents begin to think about the annual assessments for their children at this time of the year. In at least 20 states, these tests are required by their homeschool laws. Washington State is one of these states, and allows for two types –
standardized and non-test assessments.
- Standardized tests – While some are administered in online formats, they have traditionally been administered by having the student fill in the bubbles on an answer sheet. They are then normed and standardized, meaning that they tell you how your child compares to a representative 99 others. Further, they are to be administered according to set rules and times.
- Non-test Assessments – In the Washington State homeschool law these are not defined per se, but they are to be administered by a certified teacher currently working in the field of education. Since the assessments are not defined qualified test administrators use a variety of measures – some more subjective and others more objective.
Whether your state requires annual assessments or not, you can gain valuable information from these experiences. Other than “the homeschool law requires assessments” these other points may prompt you to have your children tested:
- Assess a starting point in your homeschooling (given before you begin or early on). Using the same instrument of assessment before, and after, provides comparable scores.
- Assess whether the curriculum, learning styles, or methods you are using, are helping your child learn.
- Provide preparation for your child to take college entrance tests in the future.
- Provide objectives, or ideas, for study for the next year, semester, or month.
- Provides a “third party” assessment of academic process
- Identifies areas that the child may need some additional help.
In all the flurry of assessments, don’t forget to encourage development of many character traits that do not appear in test scores.
How to Find a Test Provider:
- Many of our Academy Northwest Teacher Consultants provide one, or both, types of testing in Washington State
- Online Non-Test Assessments – Unlocking Learning Potential
- Many State Homeschool Organizations post a list of test providers. For example: WHO (Washington Homeschoolers Organization)
By Maggie Dail, M.A. Learning Specialist
Share This Article:
