What do you do?

smithpaint · July 2013

For our state we have 3 choices to make sure our homeschooled children are receiving a proper education -

1. Standardized testing

2. Certified teacher reviews a narrative of what you've done along with reviewing children's work.

3. Some other form agreed upon by superintendent and parent.

Just wondered what you do? My first thought was standardized testing just so I would know where the kids were at. Now I'm thinking about choice #2. Would love to hear your thoughts. (we haven't started homeschooling yet - this will be our first year)

wifeofadam · July 2013

We will be doing #2 this year when I file. From what I've read, it is better to do the narrative because the purpose of the testing is to assess proficiency and the purpose of the narrative is simply to report progress according to your own child's needs. With the standardized test, in Ohio, is your child falls below the 25th percentile the Superintendent can request a plan of remediation, which in my opinion just involves the school district way more than most homeschoolers would want them to be. With the narrative, you just have to show that your child has made progress throughout the year. That's much easier.

But in terms of preparation, it may be easier to just take the test and not have to worry about supplying a portfolio or narrative. I guess different people prefer different things.

For me, part of my reasoning for homeschooling is so that I don't have to teach to the test.

I've talked with other HSing parents in my area and they said the only thing that stinks about option #2 is that your child has to be alone with the teacher to do the portfolio review at the end of the year and that it can be kind of scary and stressful for the kid. There is that to consider too, I guess.

LatteLady5 · July 2013

We have options 1 and 2 or compiling a portfolio of work completed throughout the year. We will test every other year and do 1 or 3 in the off years.

tjkdlhb · July 2013

Not homeschooling... DD is only a year old.

BUT. as a teacher who has done a lot of work (many masters courses) in the area of assessment, I would highly recommend route #2.

The kind of standardized testing that occurs in the US would be a major deterrent for me from public schools. I live in Canada and we don't have the same types of high stakes testing, yet... thankfully.

lilyaster · July 2013

We just finished Kindergarten and took the CAT test but didn't have to report it this year. For 1st and up, you have to report your scores if you choose testing. Most of my friends go that route, and I think we will too.

Gwyneddlesliegrace · July 2013

In NH, we have to have our work reviewed by a cert. teacher every year. Our friends mom is a teacher and she home schooled her kids. We will more than likely use her when the time comes. (dd1 is four, don't have to legally register her until six.)

honkytonk_kid · July 2013

(Not applicable yet, obviously)

Texas has almost zero regulations on homeschooling, but if I had to chose I would probably go with #2, as high stakes standardized testing is a huge part of why I want to homeschool. Can it be any teacher, or is it someone sent by the school district?

tinkerfly81 · July 2013

Well, I am doing the portfolio this coming year. My sister (I hs-ed her daughter last yr) opted to do the testing. She did great with it. I have heard of ppl getting a practice test or taking the real one to see where their children are at but still submit the portfolio for the state requirements.

BTW- is that picture at Kingwood center?

calimama2007 · July 2013

Fortunately, we don't have any of those requirements. If you choose to go the independent private school route (in CA), you basically file an affidavit saying you will meet state minimum requirements for hours and subjectmatter.

I would probably go with the testing, since I personally would not want to deal with teachers reviewing my work. JMO.

momofmanyinthemitten · August 2013

We don't have regulations in MI, but I would go with option 2.

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