Standardized Testing for Homeschooling [COMPREHENSIVE HOMESCHOOL ASSESSMENTS GUIDE]

Need standardized testing for homeschooling or looking for home school standard test prep for your state? We have a comprehensive guide to homeschool testing, assessment, and evaluation for homeschoolers, including choosing standardized exams for your state. We’ve even covered valid homeschool test alternatives to measure learning and reporting requirements for home educators (that have nothing to do with timed testing!).

 

BEST GUIDE FOR STANDARDIZED TESTING FOR HOMESCHOOLING

Before we get to details on homeschool testing and evaluation for kids…

Do homeschoolers have to take standardized tests?

Whether or not you have to take homeschool standardized tests will depend on where you live and the homeschool testing requirements for your area. State laws (and country laws, if you live outside of the United States) govern whether or not your homeschooler needs to be assessed on a regular basis. There are some relaxed homeschooling states that do no require homeschool testing of any kind, while other states require regular assessments or testing of homeschooled students (generally on a periodic or annual basis).

So, if you’re wondering, “Do homeschooled students have to take state tests?” the answer will depend on the laws for your area. If you’re unclear about your state standardized testing requirements or are new to homeschooling, check your state laws and requirements.

 

Why standardized testing is important in the homeschool environment?

Standardized testing and homeschooling assessment tests may or may not be important in the homeschool environment. The importance of standardized testing in homeschooling depends on:

• Homeschool state laws where the child resides
• Reporting requirements of the homeschool state
• The method and curriculum a homeschool family uses
• What the child intends to do after home school, goals, and the requirements of that path (college, trade school, etc.)
• Whether or not you are following alternative ways to measure homeschooler’s learning levels.

 

Looking for kindergarten assessment test homeschool? READ THIS FIRST

 

About Homeschool Standardized Testing

(Don’t miss the burning question, SHOULD homeschoolers take standardized tests? later in the post!)

 

What Is Standardized Testing?

Standardized tests are uniform examinations given to a group of students. Theses tests provide the same questions (or exam questions that are considered similar), in the same format (generally multiple choice) to the entire group. Then, all tests are graded and scored in the same way, generally by computer programs to eliminate subjective bias.

 

What’s the Purpose of Standardized Testing?

The purpose of standardized tests is to provide a comparison of information for a particular student group, generally by grade or level, that acts as both an internal and external measurement tool to ensure the school is meeting their objectives as well as state educational standards. Standard tests also allow schools and government agencies to compare test scores across counties (districts) and states. Schools may receive funding based on standardized test scores.

According to the United Federation of Teachers (UTF), “Standardized tests are ‘summative,’ designed to see if students reached a specific performance level on a specific body of knowledge at the end of a course or year. Like on a licensing exam or an entrance test, the test taker is either over the bar or under it on a predetermined scale.”

UTF went on to report:

“Standardized tests are not designed to measure growth. They can do a decent job of it, said [Scott Marion, the executive director for the National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment], if the tests are closely matched over two years and if there is enough data — student scores — to reduce measurement error. But inferring a growth score has risks…Often tests don’t offer enough data to make valid judgments and some scores are ‘imputed,’ meaning statistically guessed at. “

 

Standardized Testing History

Why the heck do we even test like this?

And, who created the first standardized test?

Also, when did standardized testing begin, anyway?

Before you use homeschool standardized testing, I think it’s important that you understand the history behind why standardized tests were created.

(Don’t worry, it will be painless. But, it’s super, super eye-opening and may even change the way you see testing! If you want to get straight to the homeschooling assessments info, just skip this section.)

Don’t just take someone’s word for it when they say testing is the only way to measure your homeschooler. Take time to understand why these tests were created (and for whom) because  I think it will be REALLY surprising for you!

 

RESOURCE RECOMMENDATION:The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education

 

Here’s a quick overview of standardized testing history.

(It’s kind of  shocking why we still take standardized exams today…)

[If you want to review the full timeline, click through the SOURCE links below.]

You may be surprised to learn that the ideas for standardized testing first started in 1838.

(Whoa. I mean, who knew?)

According to the National Education Association (NEA), in the years between 1840 to 1875 schools and educators began to replace the standard oral examination process with written exams.

In 1914, Frederick J. Kelly [a life-long educator] invented the multiple-choice test.

He was addressing a national crisis where students the nation needed to process students quickly and efficiently so they could meet the needs of the country and the influx of immigrants during that time.

 

Get this:

Frederick’s tests were designed to meet the needs of the Machine Age where people were trained exactly the same to work in factories in the exact same way.

 

(You know, not to think for themselves or vary from the norm or be different because that’s how it worked better for a group performing the same tasks.)

Whoa.

Over the years, the idea of written testing changed and grew until 1926, when the first SAT was administered, but still used the same multiple choice format created by Kelly.

In 1929, Iowa was the first state to administer a state-wide school test for high school.

By the 1930s, the Iowa state test was used in other states.

Today, some students still take a version of Frederick J. Kelly’s first multiple choice test that was created in 1914.

You guys, a version of that same 1914 test is still used to measure our kids!

(Let that sink in for a moment… )

[source] [source]

 

Frederick J. Kelly: A Closer Look at Who Invented Standardized Testing (and Why)

Like we mentioned, Frederick J. Kelly is considered the inventor of standardized testing.

He made it so that each test was taken and administered the exact same way every time:

“The exercise tells us to draw a line around the word cow. No other answer is right. Even if a line is drawn under the word cow, the exercise is wrong, and nothing counts. . . . Stop at once when time is called. Do not open the papers until told, so that all may begin at the same time.”

Cathy Davidson, author of The Future of Thinking:  Learning Institutions for a Digital Age writes:

“Here are the roots of today’s standards-based education reform, solidly preparing youth for the machine age. No one could deny the test’s efficiency, and efficiency was important in the first decades of the twentieth century, when public schools exploded demographically, increasing from about five hundred in 1880 to ten thousand by 1910, and when the number of students in secondary education increased more than tenfold.”

“[The multiple-choice test] was called objective, not because it was an accurate measure of what a child knew but because there was no subjective element in the grading.”

[source]

 

OK, one more thing I want to cover real quick.

You still with me? OK.

It’s a controversial Act that had unintended consequences on achievement testing.

 

[IF YOU’RE NOT INTERESTED IN CONTINUING THE HISTORY OF TEST STANDARDIZATION, JUST KEEP SCROLLING TO THE NEXT SECTION. No worries!]

 

Effects of No Child Left Behind

Not to get into too much blah-blah-blah, eye-glazing background, but this discussion wouldn’t be complete without taking a look at how the No Child Left Behind Act affected standardized testing.

Many believe that standardized tests really started taking a turn for the worse with the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001.

The Act was created to help ensure that all children in U.S. public schools meet standards, specifically those in reading and math.

The Act also mandated annual, standardized testing starting in third grade and going through eighth grade.

The UFT weighs in on NCLB and its effects on standardized tests:

The 2002 No Child Left Behind law, which mandated annual testing in grades 3–8, was riddled with unintended consequences. The major one allowed what were essentially low-quality, off-the-shelf commercial tests to drive instruction in U.S. public schools.

A consensus is emerging across the country that testing has skidded off the rails. Using these limited instruments, good schools have been labeled failing, skilled teachers have been called ineffective, and millions of students have been subject to scoring metrics that fluctuate wildly and inexplicably.

 

OK, now that we’ve covered the background, let’s get to one of questions you’ve probably been wondering…

Should Homeschoolers Take Standardized Tests?

Standardized Testing Pros and Cons

Just like anything, there are good things and bad things… and standardized testing is no different in the great standardized testing debate.

You will, of course, have some people give you many reasons why standardized testing is important.

And, you’ll find others who talk about the many problems with “teaching to test” and how standardized testing damages education.

Let’s take a look at common standardized testing benefits, as well as some downfalls of exams:

 

Standardized Testing Cons

Disadvantages of standardized testing include:

• Puts undo stress on children.
• Puts undo stress on educators who are judged by test scores.
• Does not account for differences.
• Assumes all students are starting from a common point.
• Disrupts learning with the “prepare for test at all costs” or “teach to test” mentality of some schools.
• Affects curriculum and what is taught in the classroom, with a heavier focus on math and reading over other subjects and topics.
• Classroom time is used mainly for test preparation instead of learning.
• Stores a database of children’s information for unknown uses later.
• Does not take into account that children learn differently, including how they take tests.
• Used to make broad generalized decisions (like firing teachers) based on test scores.
• Doesn’t provide enough data to make sweeping decisions that being made for students, educators, and schools.
• Does not instill a natural love of learning into children.

 

Standardized Testing Benefits

There are many supporters for why standardized testing is good.

Standardized testing benefits include:

• Quantifiable and measurable results help track things like graduations rates and college preparedness.
• Helps keep educators accountable.
• Ensures schools are meeting necessary educational standards.
• Helps improve the quality of teaching and services.
• Identifies areas of issues that need more focus.
• Implements state standards of education.
• Allows for standard and equal learning methods/services for all students.
• Provides funding for schools.
• Taxpayers can see how schools are using their funding via the benchmarked standards.

 

Do Standardized Tests Do More Harm Than Good? [VIDEO]

 

Standardized Testing Statistics

• Educational testing in the U.S. is over 150 years old. [source]
• Tests after No Child Left Behind reported that “African-American students performed about 30 percentage points lower than white students.” [source]
• 70%  of educators say “state assessments are not developmentally appropriate.” [source]
• Only 13% of educators say “NCLB-required state standardized test their students took met that standard.” [source]
• 77% of elementary school teachers, 75% of middle school teachers, and 58% of high school teachers say that state standardized tests are not appropriate. [source]
• A Center on Education Policy reported that since 2001, 44% of school districts reduced the time spent on science, social studies and the arts by an average of 145 minutes per week in order to focus on reading and math [for testing]. [source]
• In late 2018, as many as 1,000 accredited, bachelor-degree granting institutions changed their mandated requirements for ACT/SATs, many changing the requirement to “test optional.” [source]
• “75% of four-year colleges and universities will not require SAT or ACT scores for the 2021-22 admissions cycle” [source]
• According to a 2015 study by the Council of the Great City Schools, “The average U.S. student in a big-city public school will take 112 mandatory standardized exams between pre-K and high school graduation, which breaks down to roughly eight tests per year — many of them redundant — taking a total 20 and 25 hours.” [source]
• $1.7 billion is spent by states each year on standardized testing. [source]
• The first standardized test was created in 1914. Some students are still taking a version of that test today. [source]

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT ABOUT SCHOOL AND TESTING: Prince Ea on Schooling [VIDEO]

 

Understanding Homeschool Standardized Testing

The type of standardized test your homeschooler needs depends on the requirements from your state. Your state will then guide you on how and when to take the test and your child can often take an achievement test online (standardized tests online).

(There may or may not be a fee to take the test, depending on your state.)

 

Is there such a thing as free standardized testing for homeschoolers?

There are many homeschooling placement tests available from private companies. However, most of this standardized testing for homeschoolers have fees associated with them. If you are involved with a homeschool co-op, they may offer some free tests as part of their cooperative costs.

A2ZHomeschooling.com has a fantastic, comprehensive list of standardized testing companies for the United States and Canada. (Check out the list here.) 

Or, search online for homeschooling testing services near me (or homeschool state testing for [your state]).

Also, if you use an online curriculum, many of them have free placement tests that you can take so you know what level to start your homeschooler.

 

And, of course the old, “Are kids that are homeschooled smarter?” question. The same answer that I give to that question is the same answer I give to, “Do homeschoolers do better on standardized tests?”

Do homeschoolers do better on standardized tests?

It depends. Homeschooled kids are not some magical rainbow unicorn species that excel at all things over all other children. Homeschoolers are just like kids in other school settings — some will test really well and some will find that standardized testing is not their “thing” (just like any other kids).

 

You may also be wondering yearly testing for homeschoolers in your state…

What states require standardized testing for homeschoolers?

Standardized tests, also called homeschool assessments or pass test for homeschoolers, are sometimes required by states. There are only a handful of states in America that require homeschooling standardized tests or homeschool evaluation tests. (However, there may be other requirements, like submitting a portfolio of work or having your homeschool curriculum approved.)

State testing for homeschoolers are required in:

• Vermont
• West Virginia
• Hawaii
• New York
• Rhode Island 
• Oregon
• Maine 
• Pennsylvania
• South Dakota

*As of the writing of this post and may change. Check with your specific state.

Some states may have a homeschool evaluator, that reviews your child’s work. (You can search homeschool evaluator near me to find one, if required.)

 

What is the best standardized test for homeschoolers?

Although there are many options for standardized tests for homeschoolers, many believe that the high school Stanford Achievement Test is one of the best because it’s a nationally-recognized and top-rated test. This test is made to measure gaps in learning and should not be confused with the SAT reasoning test, which is for some college admission requirements. The Iowa standardized test is another top-rated assessment used by homeschoolers.

TIP: search for nationally standardized achievement test to find a test for your family

 

Is there online standardized testing for homeschoolers?

More and more, online standardized testing for homeschoolers and testing evaluation is becoming available. For example, the California Achievement Test (CAT test) is one way for families to take homeschool standard tests online. There are also other online homeschool assessments like Stanford achievement test homeschool online, Iowa standardized test for homeschoolers (check them out through BJU Press), and Abeka standardized testing.

TIP: Search the internet for homeschool testing online or list of standardized tests in the United States

You may also find that if you are using an online curriculum, it may automatically provide standardized assessments (many run in the background while your student completes online courses).

 

Do homeschooled students have to take the SAT?

While we’re talking about standardized examinations, let’s cover SATs real quick:

What is the SAT?

The SAT is a standardized entrance exam used by colleges for admission. It is a multiple choice, “pencil-and-paper” exam administered in person. However, in 2024, the SAT can be taken digitally for US-based students. It is not a required examination for homeschoolers. But, SAT exam scores may be required for some college admissions.

There are specific SAT registration dates and SAT testing dates each year.

 

What does SAT test stand for?

When it was first created, SAT meant Scholastic Aptitude test. The standardized exam was later expanded and often referred to as “Scholastic Assessment Test.” Today, it is just referred to as SAT I, measuring verbal and math skills, and SAT II to measure specific subjects like English, literature, history, and more. The SAT II was formerly the “College Board Achievement Tests.”

 

Should Homeschoolers Take the SAT?

If your homeschooler takes the SAT, there are SAT prep classes and you can often find an SAT practice test (YES! Even for sat reading practice and sat practice questions for math!) to help you out. Homeschooled students will take the SAT exam if it is required by a college or other institute requires it for admission.

There are even PSAT, or Pre-SAT exams, to help your student prepare for the SAT.

BUT…

Many colleges now are dropping standardized testing admission requirements.

So, check the school requirements!

Your homeschooled student may not even need to take an SAT exam to be admitted to their school of choice!

(READ ON TO FIND SOME CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO STANDARDIZED TESTS!)

 

IMPORTANT HOMESCHOOL TIP:

The homeschool high school code (CEEB) for the SAT Subject Tests is 970000.

 

 

 

Are There Alternatives to Standardized Testing for Homeschoolers?

Some parents look for a homeschool placement test as a way to assess the learning of students. Other times, parents may look for exams like a free online math placement test or English placement test practice so they know a baseline on where to start studies. (Choosing standardized tests for homeschoolers will depend on your needs and the state requirements.)

However, is this the best way to assess your child (especially if a homeschool placement test is not required for homeschooling by your state)?

READING RECOMMENDATION: Beyond Testing: Seven Assessments of Students and Schools More Effective Than Standardized Tests

 

Before you move forward with homeschool standardized testing, ask yourself:

Why do I need a homeschool placement test?

• Are you looking for end of grade testing for homeschoolers?
• Is it for your own curiosity?
• Is it to prove how awesome you are?
• Do you want to know how much smarter your kid is than others? (Sorry, but let’s be honest here…)
• Is it to understand how your student compares to other students nationally?
• Is it for peace of mind to prove to yourself that what you’re doing is working?
• Is it required for your student’s next steps (college, etc.)?
• Are you doing it to reassess your homeschool because it’s not working?
• Or, do you need it for state reporting (or other purposes) / meet homeschool testing requirements?

Having your child take (an often stressful) standardized test may not always be the best way to assess learning or determine placement, especially if it’s not required by your state or for admission to a program (or college). Ask yourself: Do I really need a kids evaluation for school if I homeschool?

 

Creative Alternatives To Standardized Testing

So, if we don’t use homeschooling evaluation, what can we do instead of standardized testing?

Standardized Testing Alternative 1: Create a portfolio of their work.

Think of a homeschool portfolio like a snapshot of  your homeschooler’s school work.

You can create a portfolio by:

• Reviewing their school work, research, writing, and online reports every few months
• Recognizing advancement or areas where you need to focus more
• Getting their work and comparing it to earlier work throughout the year (for example, download online test schools, see which books they’re reading vs. books from earlier, etc.)
• Make a digital portfolio if they do a lot of work online
• Include extra-curricular activities, pertinent life skills projects, fields trips, etc.

This is also a great method of homeschool assessment for unschooling and relaxed homeschooling methods. You can then use this information to create a CV (like a resume) for your child’s college admission (instead of conventional standard tests).

 

Standardized Testing Alternative 2: Let digital assessment tools do the work.

If you are using an online curriculum or even playing learning games, many of these programs have built-in reporting tools that will allow you to see how your child is progressing.

If you are just beginning or switching to an online homeschool curriculum, ask the organization how testing and assessments work, if that is important to you.

 

Standardized Testing Alternative 3: Create personal goals and development plans.

Teaching your kids how to set goals and create a learning plan is one of the most important planning tools you can equip your kids with that they will continue to use throughout their lives.

Sit down and ask your child what they want to learn! (Talk to your kids! GASP! Novel idea!)

Then, help them create a vision board of what they want to accomplish and the steps to accomplish it. As they work through each process on the vision board, you’ll be able to easily see their progress!

Or, create a simple homeschool check lists that they can check off after each completion step.

 

Standardized Testing Alternative 4: Use game-based assessments.

There are so many fun, online learning games out there that your child won’t even realize how much they are learning! For example, the Prodigy Math Game constantly runs an assessment in the background of the learning game play. As your child struggles with problems, the game will add more of those and advance them on the math topics they’ve mastered.

Again, most of these games have assessments where you can review what your child is learning.

 

Standardized Testing Alternative 5: Debrief.

Debriefing is a great method to use for projects, especially if you have multiple children or do group studies like co-op.

Debriefing is simply having kids provide feedback to each other on their work.

You can debrief with your child in a one-on-one process simply by:

• Asking them to explain their process/how they solved a problem
• What they could’ve done better
• How was time used
• Could planning be better

This is a reflective process that helps you understand what your child is learning while also allowing the child to review their process and practice critical thinking.

 

Standardized Testing Alternative 6: Use show and tell.

Remember how much fun show and tell was as a kid?

It was one of my favorite days in school or just in our friend group.

Why not use the same fun method to assess your child’s learning!

Have them do a show and tell session on a project or anything they’ve been working on.

Sometimes, the child will get a kick out of having the role reversed where they get to be the “leader” or “teacher.”

This method works really well for younger students.

 

Standardized Testing Alternative 7: Do project-based learning.

Working the way through a project is a great method to assess a child’s learning.

You can see where they are at specific steps, how long it’s taking them, how they’re using organizational skills, critical thinking, creativity, and more!

(Learn more on UNIT STUDIES, sometimes called project-based learning.)

 

Standardized Testing Alternative 8: Observe your child.

It sounds like an easy answer, but this is one of the biggest things you can do to naturally observe your child’s progress.

Talk to them.

Have them explain what they learned.

Read with them.

Cook with them.

Do other activities where they will naturally use skills they’ve learned.

It will quickly become apparent where your child needs more help.

(And it doesn’t even take a placement test to know!)

 

Testing & evaluation is a lot, but it doesn’t need to be stressful!

We’ve given you a comprehensive look at homeschooling tests and evaluation and helping you decide whether standardized homeschool tests are for your family.

Let us know your questions!

We hope this helps you better understand standardized testing for homeschooling.