Homeschool Testing for Oregon Homeschoolers
What does Oregon law require of homeschoolers in regard to testing?
Oregon state law requires all homeschoolers to take standardized tests in reading comprehension/sentence structure, and mathematics, at the end of the 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 10th grades.
***NOTE: If your family is brand new to homeschooling this year, or your child is disabled, your requirements are different - so see information further down this page.
The local Douglas County Education Service District (ESD) is requiring test results for those grades to be turned into their office for some students. If you receive a letter in the mail from the Douglas ESD, you will be given a deadline by which to turn in your child's testing results to their office. It is much better to have followed the law and had your child tested in the appropriate year and have those test results on hand in case the ESD requests them from you - than to not have them available and have to suddenly pay extra money to hire private testing to be done.
***NOTE: If your family is brand new to homeschooling this year, or your child is disabled, your requirements are different - so see information further down this page.
The local Douglas County Education Service District (ESD) is requiring test results for those grades to be turned into their office for some students. If you receive a letter in the mail from the Douglas ESD, you will be given a deadline by which to turn in your child's testing results to their office. It is much better to have followed the law and had your child tested in the appropriate year and have those test results on hand in case the ESD requests them from you - than to not have them available and have to suddenly pay extra money to hire private testing to be done.
When do the tests need to be administered?
If your child has never attended public or private school, your child must be tested before August 15 following the end of grade 3, 5, 8, and 10. This test can take place any time between September 1st and August 15th to help accommodate year-round homeschooling that some families choose to do.
If your child was withdrawn from public or private school this year, the first test is not required in the first 18 months of home schooling even if your child is in grade 3, 5, 8, or 10.
For example, if a student completed grade 4 in a public school and was then withdrawn to be home schooled, the student would not be required to be tested at grade 5 because grade 5 is within the 18 month period. The child would not be required to be tested until August 15th following grade 8.
If your child desires to participate in interscholastic public school sports, he or she will have to take an annual achievement test each spring to maintain eligibility for the next school year.
If your child falls below the 15th percentile after being tested, he or she will need to take an annual approved standardized test as long as the score keeps falling.
For example, if a student completed grade 4 in a public school and was then withdrawn to be home schooled, the student would not be required to be tested at grade 5 because grade 5 is within the 18 month period. The child would not be required to be tested until August 15th following grade 8.
If your child desires to participate in interscholastic public school sports, he or she will have to take an annual achievement test each spring to maintain eligibility for the next school year.
If your child falls below the 15th percentile after being tested, he or she will need to take an annual approved standardized test as long as the score keeps falling.
What is the legal “cut off point” for homeschooled students' scores?
As long as your child scores at or above the 15th percentile on the total test battery, you are free to home educate. He may score below the 15th percentile on any of the individual tests in the battery (group of sub-tests), and that is still okay.
Homeschooling progress is determined by the score of all the sub-tests combined - the total test battery score. The 15th percentile is, of course, not our goal as home educators. Many home educated students score well above average on these achievement tests, generally scoring between the 70th and 80th percentiles. (The test average is the 50th percentile.) Below the 15th percentile is the score that has been set to indicate that some remediation for the homeschool student will need to occur.
Homeschooling progress is determined by the score of all the sub-tests combined - the total test battery score. The 15th percentile is, of course, not our goal as home educators. Many home educated students score well above average on these achievement tests, generally scoring between the 70th and 80th percentiles. (The test average is the 50th percentile.) Below the 15th percentile is the score that has been set to indicate that some remediation for the homeschool student will need to occur.
Isn't 15% an "F"?
A percentile (%tile) is not the same as percent (%) correct on a test. A percentile is the student's standing in comparison to the “norming” group, a statistical sampling of students who are in the same grade and have taken the same test. It compares how well your child has done on this test to a statistical group of 99 other students and ranks him 0 to 99. A 15th percentile score means that the student has scored better than 15 of those 100 students and worse than 84 of them.
What happens if my child falls below the 15th percentile?
Children scoring on the low end of the achievement test scale are the ones who need the one-on-one attention homeschooling provides. Recognizing this, the legislature and the governor's office placed into this homeschool law a two-year process for remediation of the situation. If a child scores below the 15th percentile on the test in 3rd, 5th, 8th or 10th grade, he may continue to homeschool, but he must take a standardized achievement test again within one year. This is an opportunity for the parent and child to work together to bring the test score up.
If, on this second test, the child scores below his score on the first test, the superintendent of the Educational Service District can require that the homeschool be supervised by a state licensed teacher of the parents' choice and at the parents' expense. There is no set number of hours or number of visits required in the rules. The goal is to provide some help for the family to improve the child's learning and, hence, his test score. The Superintendent may also let the family continue to homeschool without teacher supervision. With either of these choices, a student is required to take a third test within one year.
However, if the student scores the same or better on the second test, he reverts back to testing during the target grades (grades 3, 5, 8, and 10).
If on the third test, the student scores below the score of the second test, the Superintendent has three options. He may:
1) allow the child to continue under the educational supervision of a licensed teacher and require a test again in one year
2) allow the child to be taught by a parent or legal guardian and require a test again in one year
3) order the parent or guardian to send the child to school for a period not to exceed 12 consecutive months. There is nothing in the statute which requires the school to be a public school.
The goal for this “safety net” is twofold: to provide extra assistance for those struggling, and to catch those that might be “falling through the cracks.” If your child is truly struggling to be above the 15th percentile, you may consider having him placed under a “privately developed plan” (PDP), for children with recognized disabilities. See below.
If, on this second test, the child scores below his score on the first test, the superintendent of the Educational Service District can require that the homeschool be supervised by a state licensed teacher of the parents' choice and at the parents' expense. There is no set number of hours or number of visits required in the rules. The goal is to provide some help for the family to improve the child's learning and, hence, his test score. The Superintendent may also let the family continue to homeschool without teacher supervision. With either of these choices, a student is required to take a third test within one year.
However, if the student scores the same or better on the second test, he reverts back to testing during the target grades (grades 3, 5, 8, and 10).
If on the third test, the student scores below the score of the second test, the Superintendent has three options. He may:
1) allow the child to continue under the educational supervision of a licensed teacher and require a test again in one year
2) allow the child to be taught by a parent or legal guardian and require a test again in one year
3) order the parent or guardian to send the child to school for a period not to exceed 12 consecutive months. There is nothing in the statute which requires the school to be a public school.
The goal for this “safety net” is twofold: to provide extra assistance for those struggling, and to catch those that might be “falling through the cracks.” If your child is truly struggling to be above the 15th percentile, you may consider having him placed under a “privately developed plan” (PDP), for children with recognized disabilities. See below.
What if I suspect my child has some disabilities?
Homeschooled students can always be tested using a standardized achievement test. If you want to avoid the standardized achievement test and use a privately developed plan (PDP) for your child, or you want your child to receive special education services at the public school, you should follow the rules for children with disabilities.
Can I follow these rules if I suspect my child is disabled?
Your child has to qualify as disabled to follow these rules. You would need a diagnosis from a doctor, a learning specialist, or the public school. If your child is unable to pass the standardized achievement tests, there is a good chance he has a disability and you will need to get him evaluated.
Which children qualify as children with disabilities?
This administrative rule addresses two groups of children with disabilities.
The first group includes children who are identified through the school district as having one of the disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This includes children with:
The child’s disability in the above areas must be to the extent that they cannot learn in a regular classroom without special help. The schools would write an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for these children if in public school. Parents of these children who choose to homeschool have three options for evaluation:
1) nationally normed standardized achievement tests with other home educated students;
2) an IEP through the public school, or
3) a PDP with the help of a service provider of the parents’ choice at the parents’ expense.
The second group of children who may qualify under these rules are those who have a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (which includes learning). These children are considered disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. According to the Department of Education, “Parents who believe that their child is disabled under Section 504 may be required to provide documentation of disability upon request by the ESD.” This might include a diagnosis of ADHD/ADD from your family physician or a diagnostic evaluation from a special education teacher. The rules do not require that you must be able to provide the diagnosis of a Section 504 disability to the ESD. That is, however, the interpretation of the Department of Education.
Children disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may homeschool under a privately developed plan (PDP). The schools are not required to provide an IEP and related services for these children. Previously, these children had no option but to take the achievement test with other home educated students. Now, using the PDP, the service provider and parent may choose a more appropriate evaluation tool to measure “satisfactory educational progress.” Read more about homeschooling children with disabilities.
Can I follow these rules if I suspect my child is disabled?
Your child has to qualify as disabled to follow these rules. You would need a diagnosis from a doctor, a learning specialist, or the public school. If your child is unable to pass the standardized achievement tests, there is a good chance he has a disability and you will need to get him evaluated.
Which children qualify as children with disabilities?
This administrative rule addresses two groups of children with disabilities.
The first group includes children who are identified through the school district as having one of the disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This includes children with:
- an autism spectrum disorder
- a communication disorder
- deafblindness
- an emotional disturbance
- a hearing impairment
- mental retardation
- an orthopedic impairment
- another health impairment
- a specific learning disability
- a traumatic brain injury
- a vision impairment
The child’s disability in the above areas must be to the extent that they cannot learn in a regular classroom without special help. The schools would write an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for these children if in public school. Parents of these children who choose to homeschool have three options for evaluation:
1) nationally normed standardized achievement tests with other home educated students;
2) an IEP through the public school, or
3) a PDP with the help of a service provider of the parents’ choice at the parents’ expense.
The second group of children who may qualify under these rules are those who have a mental or physical impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities (which includes learning). These children are considered disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. According to the Department of Education, “Parents who believe that their child is disabled under Section 504 may be required to provide documentation of disability upon request by the ESD.” This might include a diagnosis of ADHD/ADD from your family physician or a diagnostic evaluation from a special education teacher. The rules do not require that you must be able to provide the diagnosis of a Section 504 disability to the ESD. That is, however, the interpretation of the Department of Education.
Children disabled under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act may homeschool under a privately developed plan (PDP). The schools are not required to provide an IEP and related services for these children. Previously, these children had no option but to take the achievement test with other home educated students. Now, using the PDP, the service provider and parent may choose a more appropriate evaluation tool to measure “satisfactory educational progress.” Read more about homeschooling children with disabilities.
Which tests may be used?
For evaluation, students may take one of the following standardized tests:
- California Achievement Test
- Terra Nova II or III
- Iowa Test of Basic Skills
- Iowa Test of Achievement and Proficiency
- Metropolitan Achievement Battery
- Stanford Achievement Battery
The two most recent versions of any of the above tests are approved for use for homeschool evaluators. The most recent versions of those tests would be:
- Terra Nova CTBS II & III
- Iowa Test Forms A & B
- Metropolitan MAT 7 & MAT 8
- Stanford Achievement St 9 & St 10
Click HERE to read about the differences between the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Terra Nova Test.
Why is standardized testing required for those students who desire to attend college?
In order for homeschooled high school graduates to apply to most colleges, the 10th grade test results must be turned in to the ESD so that the student can apply to any state school in Oregon and be eligible to receive state scholarships (deadline is usually mid-February of the student's senior year of high school to apply for state scholarships).
Whom do you recommend as a homeschool tester?
We have two local testers whom we recommend. Testing will be conducted by homeschool parents who also have Oregon teaching credentials (teaching credentials are required by the state of Oregon). These testers are currently homeschooling their own children or have homeschooled their children in the past.
Click HERE to read about the differences between the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the Terra Nova Test.
Michaél (pronounced "Michelle") offers the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), language and math sections, (grades 3-8) and will test privately or in groups of up to 10-15 students, depending on the grade levels. The 2018 tests for grades 3-10 this year are taking place at Covenant Life Fellowship, 1553 NE Vine Street, in Roseburg on Friday, June 8, 2018. The test will run from 9:00-1:00, costing $35 for each student. Contact Michaél regarding testing high school students to arrange a date and time. Please pre-register for the test by emailing Michaél or calling 541.677.0572.
In an attempt to keep prices low, she has chosen not to provide snacks for testing, so if your child would like a snack/beverage, please send those with your child.
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills tends to be more specific in some of the areas tested. For example, in the spelling section, there is a separate section that asks the students to find the word spelled correctly or incorrectly, as opposed to a more general language section found in the Terra Nova. The math section contains one part that is short in duration and is testing how well students can mentally come up with a variety of answers. There are additional language and math subtests that make up the student's complete math/language test. Practice ITBS testing HERE.
Testing is completed in a group setting, typically in the months of May and June, unless you are interested in paying an extra fee to have your child tested privately. Private testing can also be arranged for other times of the year.
In an attempt to keep prices low, she has chosen not to provide snacks for testing, so if your child would like a snack/beverage, please send those with your child.
The Iowa Test of Basic Skills tends to be more specific in some of the areas tested. For example, in the spelling section, there is a separate section that asks the students to find the word spelled correctly or incorrectly, as opposed to a more general language section found in the Terra Nova. The math section contains one part that is short in duration and is testing how well students can mentally come up with a variety of answers. There are additional language and math subtests that make up the student's complete math/language test. Practice ITBS testing HERE.
Testing is completed in a group setting, typically in the months of May and June, unless you are interested in paying an extra fee to have your child tested privately. Private testing can also be arranged for other times of the year.
Diane offers the Terra Nova test several times each year in a group format (up to 50 students) or in private or small group testing. Testing is offered for $45, which includes a snack (typically includes juice, water, granola bar, piece of fruit). Math and language sections are required, and an additional fee is necessary if you want your child to take additional tests (science, etc.). Questions? Call Diane at 541-430-2560. Practice Terra Nova testing HERE.
For 2018, the spring/summer dates for group testing with Diane will be on Friday, May 11th and Friday, June 15th at Roseburg Christian Fellowship.
Pre-registration is required before testing so she will have enough test booklets on hand for students. Register here. You should receive a confirmation email after registering. If you do not receive that email, please call Diane at 541-430-2560 to confirm your registration. Students cannot be tested without having their registration received ahead of time.
How do I prepare my child for standardized tests?
Standardized tests will have questions ranging from below the testing grade level to well above grade level, so it is important for your child to understand that you do not expect him to know all the answers. Otherwise, he may panic when he encounters material with which he is not familiar.
As parents, we must remember that if and when we test our children in everyday studies, we do it to check that they have learned all the material presented and we expect (hope for?) a score of 100. Consequently, it is critical that the child understands that we don’t expect him to know all the answers on this test, but we simply want to find out how many he does know, that some of them are—deliberately—too hard for him, and he should just do his best. Test preparation materials and practice tests are available.
(Also see links, above, for test preparation for the specific two standardized tests offered in Douglas County.)
Local homeschooling families have used a variety of methods to prepare their children for standardized testing. Some families choose to purchase test preparation materials and use them a bit each week during the school year to prepare their children. Other families purchase materials or have their children practice online for a week or a few weeks before the testing date. And believe it or not, there are some families whose children didn't know it was "testing day" until their parents woke them up that morning and told them! (By the way, those children scored very well on the standardized test with no test preparation at all.) ☺
How your family chooses to approach standardized testing is up to you. Standardized test results are just a small snippet of information about the learning of your child. In most cases, you will already know your child's strengths and weaknesses, and test results will confirm that. (The author of this webpage has chosen the latter method of test preparation - none - and her children always tested well above 15% in their scores. Our family chose to treat standardized test scores just for what they are, a very small picture of our children, and to not stress our children out about the whole process. The "no stress" method worked well for us - but keep in mind that our children weren't playing out in the back 40 acres all day long, every day. While active play and exploration was important, they were continuing to learn by working through curriculum and other educational studies at least 4 days per week.)
In addition, keep in mind that standardized tests are designed to coordinate with public school curriculum, meaning that if long division is taught in 3rd grade in public schools, your child may see long division questions on the math section of the standardized test, even if his math curriculum doesn't teach that skill until 4th grade. There is no need to worry about this! It will not cause your child to score below the 15% just because your math curriculum you're using follows a different scope and sequence. By the 8th grade test, it all evens out. ☺
The only reason homeschool test scores have any purpose is to merely jump through the government hoop to remain a "legal" homeschooler in the state of Oregon. Even in the public schools, not much at all is done with the test results of students. Typically, those students with low scores will be screened for special education testing (sometimes), and those with very high scores will possibly be placed into a Talented & Gifted (TAG) program, should funding for that exist in a school district. (Most often, it does not.)
If you feel that test preparation is important, it would be far better (especially in the junior high and high school years) to begin studying for the PSAT and the SAT. Those test scores really do matter! High PSAT scores can result in your child receiving a partial or full academic scholarship to college, and the PSAT is taken in October of the teen's Junior year of high school. The PSAT and the SAT are logic tests, not knowledge tests, so they will require a different type of preparation than traditional standardized testing. We have had Douglas County homeschool graduates score extremely high on the PSAT and the SAT, so it is possible to score well on those two important tests, although it often will require many hours of preparation.
As parents, we must remember that if and when we test our children in everyday studies, we do it to check that they have learned all the material presented and we expect (hope for?) a score of 100. Consequently, it is critical that the child understands that we don’t expect him to know all the answers on this test, but we simply want to find out how many he does know, that some of them are—deliberately—too hard for him, and he should just do his best. Test preparation materials and practice tests are available.
(Also see links, above, for test preparation for the specific two standardized tests offered in Douglas County.)
Local homeschooling families have used a variety of methods to prepare their children for standardized testing. Some families choose to purchase test preparation materials and use them a bit each week during the school year to prepare their children. Other families purchase materials or have their children practice online for a week or a few weeks before the testing date. And believe it or not, there are some families whose children didn't know it was "testing day" until their parents woke them up that morning and told them! (By the way, those children scored very well on the standardized test with no test preparation at all.) ☺
How your family chooses to approach standardized testing is up to you. Standardized test results are just a small snippet of information about the learning of your child. In most cases, you will already know your child's strengths and weaknesses, and test results will confirm that. (The author of this webpage has chosen the latter method of test preparation - none - and her children always tested well above 15% in their scores. Our family chose to treat standardized test scores just for what they are, a very small picture of our children, and to not stress our children out about the whole process. The "no stress" method worked well for us - but keep in mind that our children weren't playing out in the back 40 acres all day long, every day. While active play and exploration was important, they were continuing to learn by working through curriculum and other educational studies at least 4 days per week.)
In addition, keep in mind that standardized tests are designed to coordinate with public school curriculum, meaning that if long division is taught in 3rd grade in public schools, your child may see long division questions on the math section of the standardized test, even if his math curriculum doesn't teach that skill until 4th grade. There is no need to worry about this! It will not cause your child to score below the 15% just because your math curriculum you're using follows a different scope and sequence. By the 8th grade test, it all evens out. ☺
The only reason homeschool test scores have any purpose is to merely jump through the government hoop to remain a "legal" homeschooler in the state of Oregon. Even in the public schools, not much at all is done with the test results of students. Typically, those students with low scores will be screened for special education testing (sometimes), and those with very high scores will possibly be placed into a Talented & Gifted (TAG) program, should funding for that exist in a school district. (Most often, it does not.)
If you feel that test preparation is important, it would be far better (especially in the junior high and high school years) to begin studying for the PSAT and the SAT. Those test scores really do matter! High PSAT scores can result in your child receiving a partial or full academic scholarship to college, and the PSAT is taken in October of the teen's Junior year of high school. The PSAT and the SAT are logic tests, not knowledge tests, so they will require a different type of preparation than traditional standardized testing. We have had Douglas County homeschool graduates score extremely high on the PSAT and the SAT, so it is possible to score well on those two important tests, although it often will require many hours of preparation.
Can my child take one of these standardized tests as a kindergartner or first grader?
This is a great question! On occasion, parents will want their kindergartners or first graders tested, to see how they are doing. Unless your child can pick up the newspaper or any book not previously read or heard read aloud and can quickly and easily read paragraphs from that book without any help, you will most likely end up with either a child who is frustrated, or you will be disappointed in your child's scores. We recommend that you wait until at least the end of 2nd grade before having your child tested. Spring of 2nd grade is a good time to have your child take a standardized test, so he or she can practice taking it, figure out how it all works, and be in a better frame of mind when he or she takes it "for real" at the end of the 3rd grade, when the state of Oregon requires it.
However, if your child has the personality type to become extremely frustrated, anxious, or nervous during any form of testing (even at home), you may want to consider waiting until the end of the 3rd grade to see if that personality trait can be calmed down a bit. This will be your call, as the parent.
Remember, also, that if you have registered your child for homeschooling when they are age 6 or 7 with the Douglas ESD, the grade level the ESD has written down for your child will most likely be behind the grade level that your child may be. For example, if you register your child at age 6 with the ESD, and that child has never attended public or private school, the ESD may classify your 9-year-old as a 2nd grader, not a 3rd grader. (They place 6-year-old homeschooled students as kindergartners, not as first graders, unless you tell them otherwise.) This gives you an additional year of leeway before you need to have your child tested.
However, if your child has the personality type to become extremely frustrated, anxious, or nervous during any form of testing (even at home), you may want to consider waiting until the end of the 3rd grade to see if that personality trait can be calmed down a bit. This will be your call, as the parent.
Remember, also, that if you have registered your child for homeschooling when they are age 6 or 7 with the Douglas ESD, the grade level the ESD has written down for your child will most likely be behind the grade level that your child may be. For example, if you register your child at age 6 with the ESD, and that child has never attended public or private school, the ESD may classify your 9-year-old as a 2nd grader, not a 3rd grader. (They place 6-year-old homeschooled students as kindergartners, not as first graders, unless you tell them otherwise.) This gives you an additional year of leeway before you need to have your child tested.
Can my child use a calculator on some sections of the math test?
Yes, some math test sections will allow your child or teen to use a calculator, depending on the test. This may change from time to time, so please check with Michaél or Diane to see what is allowed at the time of testing.
What should my child bring with him/her to the standardized testing?
Your child, regardless of the grade level, will want to bring the following items to the testing location:
- Two #2 pencils
- eraser
- calculator (in case it is allowed). Keep in mind that a cell phone calculator app is not allowed; only a handheld calculator will be allowed at the testing site.
- a book or magazine to read, or scratch paper to doodle or draw on, should he or she finish a test section early and not want to just sit there with nothing to do
- a snack and water or beverage (if your child is tested by Michaél, or if your child is tested by Diane but has food allergies or his or her own preference of snacks. Diane offers a piece of fruit, a granola bar, and a CapriSun or bottled water.)
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