Monongalia Homeschoolers Association

West Virginia homeschoolers are required by law to provide an academic assessment of their child(ren) to their school board office by June 30th of each year. All children that are of mandatory school age (age six by September 1st of that school year to age 16) must be assessed. You have the following options:
      Standardized testing
      Compile a portfolio of your child's work
      Provide an alternative evaluation, approved in advance

Standardized tests that can be used for homeschooling assessments include the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS), the California Achievement Test, the Stanford Achievement Test, the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, or an individual standardized achievement test that is nationally normed and provides statistical results. Under WV law, your child's average of the tests' scores must be above the 40th percentile. If it is not, you have two years to remediate, and then if the scores are still below the 40th, you would be asked to place your child in school. (Keep in mind you can opt for the portfolio evaluation if your child has problems with testing.) Some testing options:

Testing in the public schools: Homeschoolers have the option of obtaining annual assessment through the county school testing program at no cost. Testing will be conducted in the child's local school of attendance. In Monongalia County, testing will be conducted for everyone in grades 1-11 in March or early April, 1999. The schools will be using the new Stanford 9 Achievement Test. Testing with the school system will take four mornings. To register for this option please call Jane Murphy 292-2075 by January 31, 1999.

Testing privately:You may arrange private testing. You may not test your own child.

Testing with a homeschooling group through the WV Home Educators Association (WVHEA): The WVHEA organizes testing centers throughout West Virginia each spring. The Monongalia Homeschoolers, under the auspices of WVHEA, conducts testing at the Morgantown Library and Public Safety Building in late March or early April. Chris Garbutt (292-1261) is the person to contact in order to register with our group. We will be using the new version of the CTBS called Terra Nova. We will be using the Survey edition of the test, which is shorter than the Complete Battery, and will probably take two mornings. The test covers reading, language arts, math, science and social studies. The tests are administered by other home schooling parents who have participated in a test administration workshop within the past five years. Homeschoolers cannot test their own children.

Test Preparation: Practice tests can help prepare children for the standarized testing experience by giving them an idea of what to expect. American School Publishers (1-800-843-8855) have a practice-test series called Scoring High. Be sure to specify the new CTBS Terra Nova practice tests. The tests cost about $5.00 each and teachers' guides are about $9.00 each. Also available from the Backyard Scientist, P.O. Box 16966, Irvine, CA 92713 (714-551-2392) is What Your Child Needs to Know. This book covers grades 1-8 and is organized by subject and grade level.

Costs and Deadlines: Basic cost of the test for members of WVHEA is $20.00 per child with a fee of $5.00 per family. Non-WVHEA members need to add an extra $5.00. Order and pay before December 31 and receive a $3.00 discount. Order during January and pay the full amount. Register after January 31 and add an extra $10.00 per child late fee. All tests must be ordered and paid for before February 28, with no exceptions.

Choosing Test Level: You are able to determine which test level you need for your child. Usually the test closest to the mid-grade level at which your child is working is the one you need. Locator tests are available early in the year if you think you need one to determine your child's functional level. These tests cost $5.00 and can be administered by the parent.