Should we have our homeschooled children tested by a nationally approved standardized achievement test?

There are two very definitive sides of the debate among homeschooling families regarding whether or not they will choose to participate in standardized testing. Most families who have been homeschooling for a while have a strong opinion one way or the other. If you are at the beginning of your journey and find yourself in the middle, do some research to find out why various families hold to such strong views. And keep in mind that while it is good to have an educated opinion on the subject of standardized testing, if your state requires homeschooling families to submit to this process, you may not be able to choose.

 

Pros of Testing—

o       Testing can provide a general, objective view of what your child knows. It can help you spot weak points and be a measurable way of tracking yearly progress. If your student will one day be taking college entrance exams or placement tests, it can help prepare them and build confidence for that process. Beverly Hernandez says, “Sometimes just hearing that your kids are tested every year is the key to smoothing over the problems and doubts your friends and relatives might have with you homeschooling.”

o       Some families need the accountability testing affords to keep them focused on what they need to cover during the year.

o       Testing takes less work than portfolio assessment and can be a quicker way to evaluate what your child understands.

o       Many tests can be administered at home, with the results being mailed in to the school district.

o       Some homeschool support groups offer testing services which might be necessary if your state requires that a non-relative administer the exam.

o       For testing done through the local school district, the cost of the test is eliminated as is the stress of choosing, ordering, administering, and reporting.

o       For testing done with an independent testing administrator, parents can choose who gives the test and possibly make that person someone with whom your child is familiar. Parents stay in control regarding which test is used, where the test is taken and when. The test scores go directly to the parents who can then make the decision about whether or not to submit those scores to the local school district.

o       For parents who decide to administer the tests themselves, this option can allow children to be relaxed as they are in their own learning environment and they are comfortable with who is giving the test. Parents have the option to choose from many standardized tests and again, parents receive the scores directly and then make the decision about whether or not to submit those scores to the local school district.

o       Many parents are opposed to testing on the grounds that they are opposed to anything that makes them accountable to the state. They believe that giving in to officials in the area of testing opens the doors to more stringent government control and regulation of homeschoolers in the future.

o       Teaching to the test is a deterrent to many. This is a concern not just for homeschooling families, but for children in traditional school situations as well.This can prevent families from following the natural learning interests of their children.

o       Testing can prevent the evaluator (be it the parent, or someone else) from obtaining an accurate view of what the child actually knows.

o       Many families believe testing to be an ineffective tool used in traditional schooling situations and thus not see the point of bringing something they already believe to not work into their homeschool.

o       Testing can be a stressful process and one that parents do not want to subject their children to, particularly children who are easily discouraged.

o       Tests can be expensive and a hassle to choose and order.

o       Finding an approved administrator to give your child the test can be a hardship for some families.

o       Some families would rather have the child’s work evaluated than have them take a test where they may or may not be familiar with the material.

o       For families who test through the local school district, the process can be nerve-wracking for their young children who are not familiar with the location or the people. Going this route also allows for little flexibility, as you must be ready to test per the school’s schedule and not your own. And if your child doesn’t do well on the exam, they could decide not to allow him or her an additional assessment for that school year.

o       Families who choose to use an independent testing administrator, as above, the child could become anxious due to the unfamiliarity with the test giver. And similar to using the school district, there can be little flexibility in the schedule as the family will need to adhere to the schedule of the test giver. There is also a possibility that parents have to secure the exam themselves which means choosing the test and paying for it, in addition to paying the test administrator.

o       Families who decide to administer the exam themselves bear the sole responsibility of choosing the exam, paying for it, and administering it. It is important for the child being tested to have a quiet place to do so which can be a difficulty for some families, particularly those with young siblings. The test and the scores may not be received with credibility by the educational establishment since it has been administered by a parent. And it can be hard to watch your young child struggle through answers they don’t know and not be able to help them with the concept.