Standardized Testing Options
According to the Research, Homeschoolers Excel!
Is Testing Right for Your Child?
Standardized achievement testing is one method of annual assessment that fulfills the assessment obligation under Maine homeschool law.
Standardized testing isn't the best way to measure progress for every child. However, research shows that most homeschooled students do very well with standardized testing. Testing not only evaluates how your child is progressing in various subjects, but also measures how effectively your teaching methods are working.
Use standardized test results to adjust your curriculum and teaching style, or to evaluate your child’s individual needs. If you find your child is not well suited to the testing experience, give yourself plenty of time to choose another method of annual assessment.
Any nationally normed standardized achievement test is acceptable, even if not all subjects required by Maine law are covered in the test. Because not all subjects are covered, be sure to keep a portfolio of work for your student that shows progress in all areas for your records.
Below are some standarized testing options.
* Are you a vendor? Your ad and a link to your website could be included here! Use this simple form to sign up.
Testing for Annual Assessment Purposes
If you have chosen to use standardized testing as your method of annual assessment for your child, be sure to consider whether you want to submit the actual test results. Many parents do not want their child's testing data collected and filed with the Maine Department of Education.
Instead of submitting test results to officials to be stored in a database, many parents choose to have the test results reviewed by a Maine certified teacher. A signed teacher review letter, confirming progress and verifying that legal requirements have been met, can then be submitted instead of the actual results. More about this option is provided when you register for a HOME portfolio review.
If a review letter from a Maine certified teacher is not possible, it is necessary to submit the test results themselves, not merely the cover letter showing that the test has been administered.
Testing Services
* Achievable Test Prep Services
Achievable offers affordable, self-paced ACT, SAT, and CLT prep built for homeschool students, combining clear explanations, adaptive practice, and proven results to help your teen test with confidence and unlock college opportunities. Visit Achievable to try our courses for free.
* Hewitt Learning offers the PASS test.
The P.A.S.S. Test, or Personalized Achievement Summary System, is a non-timed, standardized test designed to help homeschooling families assess their children's academic strengths and weaknesses in three key subjects: Reading, Math, and Language.
One of the key benefits of the P.A.S.S. Test is its personalized approach. Because not all students are at the same level in any particular grade, it incorporates a pretest to determine the most appropriate level test to administer in each subject. And, because the test is untimed, it reduces or eliminates the test anxiety often arising around standardized testing.
To learn more about how it works and how it can benefit your homeschooling journey, visit http://mypasstest.org/.