Do You Have To Take Standardized Test If You HomeSchool?

Parents are looking for ways to have their youth educated without being taught to a test and feel that homeschooling is a solution. In Pennsylvania homeschooler's don't have to take the keystone test, but the truth is that in most states homeschooler's must take the standardize test also, but there are other test homeschooler's can take in place of the standardize test.

Standardized Testing

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/overview_of_homeschooling/20312/standardized_testing/973993 Homeschooled students in grades 3, 5, or 8 must take, and report in their portfolio, the results of the statewide tests (PSSA) or another nationally normed standardized achievement test in reading/language arts and mathematics. At the discretion of the supervisor, the portfolio may include the results of nationally normed standardized achievement tests for other subject areas or grade levels. Homeschooled students do not “skip” grades, although they may cover the usually grade-specific material more quickly. Similarly, a student may not “skip” a tested grade and so avoid the standardized tests. As a homeschooled student moves through their educational plan, the tests must be administered at the appropriate time, regardless of how quickly the student accelerates through their education. Home education students do not have to state a reason for not taking the statewide tests. However, the statewide tests may be taken at their school district without cost to the homeschooled student while parents must pay for an alternative test and its administration. Neither the home education supervisor (parent or guardian) nor the spouse of the supervisor may administer the alternative test. The Department must provide at least five (5) alternative tests in place of the statewide test. A list of approved alternative tests is provided on the website in the Home Education Program BEC. The Home Education Program Basic Education Circular (BEC) is accessible from the list of BECs. PSSA Testing Dates A student may take the PSSA test through their school district in order to fulfill the standardized test requirement. The supervisor should notify the school district early in the school year if the PSSA is to be taken so the school can order the extra tests and arrange for where the test will be administered.  The calendar for the PSSA is available on the PDE website.   Accommodations for Special Needs The supervisor of the home education program is responsible for determining whether the test publisher allows for accommodations on the particular test and to ensure that the publisher’s policies are followed. Keystone Exams The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Literature, English Composition, Biology, Chemistry, U.S. History, World History, and Civics and Government. Homeschooled students are not required to take the Keystone Exams but supervisors of home education programs may request that their students take the test along with the school district, if they so desire. The supervisor should notify the school district early in the school year if the Keystone Exams are to be taken so the school can order the extra tests and arrange for where the test will be administered.

For additional information, please contact:  Suzanne Tallman |  Pennsylvania Department of Education 333 Market Street | Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333 Phone: 717.214.8212 RA-home-education@pa.gov | www.education.state.pa.us Letter Courtesy of Opt Out Mom Ceresta Smith  Edit 0 1… To Whom It May Concern: Please be advised that our child will not be participating in state standardized testing during the current school year. Furthermore, we ask that no record of this testing be part of our child's permanent file, as we do not wish our child to participate in standardized achievement testing for promotion, graduation, or school.../state report cards. We believe the following of forced, high stakes testing: •Is not scientifically-based and fails to follow the U.S. Government’s own data on learning •Fosters test driven education that is not meeting the individual/intellectual needs of students •Presents a racial and economic bias that is beneficial to white middle/upper class students and detrimental to second language students, impoverished students, and students of color •Violates the United States Constitution’s ESEA Fiscal Fairness Act •Supports complicity of corporate interests rather than democracy based on public concerns •Fosters coercion over cooperation with regards to federal funding for public education •Promotes a culture of lying, cheating, and exploitation within the school community •Has used the achievement gap to foster a “de facto” segregation that has resulted in separate and unequal education for minorities We understand that federal law provides the parent or guardian the right of choice regarding standardized testing when such testing violates spiritual beliefs. In contrast to our spiritual beliefs, which are firmly rooted in a moral code that embraces equity and fairness, we believe such testing is not in the best interests of our child since it fosters competition instead of cooperation, contributes to separate and unequal education for minorities, and belies our child’s intellectual, creative, and problem-solving abilities, while presenting a fictitious picture as to the impact of the pedagogy provided by our child’s individual educators. Ultimately, our state is required to provide our child with an education in a least restrictive environment that does not force us to go against our spiritual beliefs. My child should proceed to learn and develop at an individual pace following education standards that are imparted under the guidance of education professionals, not market-based reformers, who are able to provide quality pedagogy without fear of reprisal if students - who mature at vastly different levels and come from diverse backgrounds that may or may not be supportive of intellectual pursuit - do not hit the bulls’ eye of a constantly moving achievement target. Therefore, we request that the school provide appropriate learning activities during the testing window and utilize an alternative assessment portfolio or concordant college testing score to fulfill promotion and or graduation requirements, as our child opts out of standardized testing. Sincerely, Child’s Name ID#_ https://optoutofstandardizedtests.wikispaces.com/Letter+Courtesy+of+Opt+Out+Mom+Ceresta+Smith                   For more information about homeschooling please visit:http://home.comcast.net/~askpauline/index.html