Homeschool testing is a normal occurrence in our household. It’s something we have done with each of our kids once they hit around 3rd grade.  Not only is it required in our state, but we believe testing is something of a “hoop” you have to jump through in life. This year we used the Stanford Achievement Test through Homeschool Testing Services for the first time.

Homeschool testing is a topic that comes up often for us because we live in a state where it is required. Many homeschoolers fear testing and are anxious about fulfilling the NYS Homeschool Regulations for testing. {Click the image below for more on homeschooling in NYS including a break down of the regulations and sample paperwork.}

NYS Homeschooling Regulations on Testing

The following information comes directly from the NYS Homeschooling Regulations:

“(h) Annual assessment.
At the time of filing the fourth quarterly report as specified in the IHIP, the parent shall also file an annual assessment in accordance with this subdivision. The annual assessment shall include the results of a commercially published norm-referenced achievement test which meets the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subdivision or an alternative form of evaluation which meets the requirements of paragraph (2) of this subdivision.

(1) Commercially published norm-referenced achievement tests.

(i) The test shall be selected by the parent from one of the following: the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, the California Achievement Test, the Stanford Achievement Test, the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills, the Metropolitan Achievement Test, a State Education Department test, or another test approved by the State Education Department.”

Homeschool Testing

In our homeschool we have been using one form of testing or another for over 10 years. While we don’t report test scores each year, we do continue to test every year.

Benefits of Homeschool Testing

• Making it a part of our routine each year helps take the anxiety out of testing.
• Testing helps you identify areas where there may be a gap in knowledge.
• Testing can also help put you or your child at ease over an area they may have thought they struggled in or did struggle in but show improved test scores in that area.
• It’s good preparation for taking college entrance exams.
• Like it or not tests are used as a measure and your children will be measured this way in comparison to others. Testing at home throughout the homeschool years allows you to see where they fall so there are no surprises later.

It’s also important to remember that one test does not define your child or their abilities. Some children struggle with testing more than others, and there is always great debate as to whether testing is really an accurate gauge of knowledge.

Homeschool Testing with the Stanford Achievement Test

This year we were given the opportunity to try the Stanford Achievement Test 10 with 2018 Norms (Stanford-10 or SAT10) through Homeschool Testing Services. {Disclosure: I received a copy of the test for free. I am being compensated for my time to write this review. I was not required to post a positive review. Please see my full Disclosure Policy for more details.} 

Homeschool Testing Services offers At-Home Testing, meaning you can administer this standardized test at home. AND you don’t need to be a teacher or certified educator to administer this test! For NYS Homeschoolers that means as long as your district approves it, you do not have to take your child to school for testing, or hire a certified teacher to come administer a test to your child.

The Stanford Achievement Test is offered for students in K through 12th. As a norm-referenced test, the Stanford-10 not only offers homeschoolers information on their children’s achievement, it also provides comparisons based on nationwide test results. The first version of the Stanford Achievement series was published in 1926. Its history and academic excellence has earned its acceptance as a nationally normed achievement test, and meets most states’ testing requirements, including NYS.

Using the Stanford Achievement Test

Getting and using the Stanford Achievement Test through Homeschool Testing Services is super easy. “Healthy Assessment Strengthens Families,” is the motto of Homeschool Testing Services and they help make that happen through the ease of use of their website and testing services.

1. You order the test from their website (allowing up to 10 days for them to ship it to you)

In the mail you will receive:

• the student test booklet
• bubble sheet student answer form
• the test administrator book
• an envelope for sending everything back

2. Administer the test over however many days you need (up to 2 weeks)

I had both my current homeschoolers taking the test. One in 7th grade and one in 10th grade. While some of it was done at the same time, it was also super easy for me to administer the test in sections to each of them as their schedules permitted.

The test is not timed and since it is all bubble sheet there is no writing component.

3. Send it back in the provided envelope

4. Receive your results!

Your test result will appear within your Homeschool Testing Services account within a couple of weeks!

Here is a look at a bit of my 7th graders results. It includes things like:

• RS (Raw Score) which represents the actual number of correctly answered questions.
• Max Pts (Maximum Points Possible) is the most they could have gotten correct.
• PR (Percentile Rank) is the % that they did as well as or better than other students in the nation.

Another way Homeschool Testing Services makes this process so easy is that they provide a video that takes you step by step through understanding and interpreting your test results!

 

Yes, It’s that easy!

GIVEAWAY

TEN winners will get their choice of Stanford-10 test. Prizes shipped only to US addresses. Giveaway ends 4/30/2019 11:59 PM CT.

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