Q&A: Should I test my children?

“I’m a new homeschooler and I’m really unsure about standardized testing. I’m torn as to whether or not I want to test my children. I’m not even sure how to prepare them if I do give them a standardized test.”

Answer:
Begin by checking out your state’s homeschool laws. You may not have a choice about testing if your state requires it. On the other hand, if your state doesn’t require testing then the choice is yours. I personally feel that testing can be very positive for homeschoolers. It helps both the students and the teachers better understand the strong and weak points in the curriculum they’re using and also familiarizes your child with a testing style that they’ll probably encounter eventually anyway.

If your child takes a standardized test and doesn’t do well in a subject, it’s a great straightforward way of knowing that you need to approach that subject differently. Not everyone is a fan of testing and I can fully understand that; however, your children will probably have to take a standardized test at some point if they ever want to get into college. Most schools require that incoming students take the SAT’s or, at very least, they perform some type of placement exam. I feel that getting homeschoolers ready and comfortable with testing is a great gift that parents can give their children to better prepare them for higher education.

In my state, standardized testing is required for grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. When you sign up in your school district as a homeschooling parent, most states will put you on a list to be contacted regarding the testing. In my state, the tests can be taken at the local school or at my expense (a "qualified official" can come to my home and give the test to my son). You can find out about testing in your area from your local superintendent. Because these tests are required, I decided to prepare my son for the standardized test; I didn’t want my son to walk into a situation where he was going to be evaluated and not have the knowledge he needed to succeed. I also found that using the standardized test study guides (available from the companies that provide the tests) as well as my state’s content standards are a great way to develop homeschool study guides and lesson plans. I’m not saying that content standards are necessarily an outline of what to teach; however, they are an outline of what will be on most standardized test.

Give standardized tests on your couch!
Every state has individual laws about who can give the SAT, CAT, or MAT test. Talk to your local superintendent to find out about your state. In some states you need no certification and you can give the test in the comfort of your own home. The tests themselves usually cost somewhere around $35 a test, depending on your child’s age level. Once your child has completed the test, you then send it back to the company that you received it from and they’ll send you the same score and evaluation that they would’ve sent to the public school. Here are a couple of links to sites that provide online certification for testing as well as the tests and study guides themselves:

• Family Learning Organization 1-800-405-8378



• Bayside School Services 1-800-723-3057



• SuperKids Study Guide Software



• Christian Liberty Academy 1-847-259-8736 (Central Time)



• Bob Jones University Press Testing and Evaluation 1-800-845-5731 (Eastern Time)