Superintendent's
Memo #38 -- Home Instructed
Students and the Virginia State
Assessment Program (VSAP)
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Questions for
Testers and Evaluators
Are
you a home schooler? If not, are you pro home
schooling?
How long have you been
administering tests and/or doing evaluations?
What are your credentials?
What are your fees?
Could I talk with a couple of
families that have used your services?
May I be in the room when you
test and/or evaluate my child?
How long does it take to get
the test results or the evaluation back?
Will you go over the test
results or evaluation with me if I have
questions?
Questions for
Testers
Which tests do
you offer?
Do you offer
both group and individual testing?
How structured
are you? If my child finishes early do we have to
wait the full time to move on to the next section
of testing?
What if my
child does not pass tge test? What are my
options?
Questions for
Evaluators
Is the
evaluation based on the Standards of Learning set
by the state of Virginia?
Will the
evaluation be based on a portfolio of my child's
work?
If so, what do
you want included in the portfolio?
If I do not
have a portfolio what are my options in having my
child evaluated?
How detailed
will the evaluation be?
Questions for
Group Testing Situations
Who will be
administering the test?
How many
students are tested at one time?
What if my
child is sick on the days you test?
If at a
Private School
Are you
teachers accepting of home schoolers?
How long have
you offered this service to home schoolers?
Where to
get the Tests
Don’t be confused! This is
the time of year when school divisions mail testing
reminders to ALL homeschoolers who have sent in a Notice
of Intent. Superintendents offer to provide Stanford 9
testing and some may include convenient forms to return
indicating your desire to participate or seek approval
for other options.
The only test administered BY THE LOCAL SCHOOL DIVISION
will be the Stanford 9. It is free and the test results
will be sent directly to the school division. If you plan
to test with the public schools, you will want to respond
to the superintendent’s letter for scheduling
purposes. The Department of Education requires
superintendents to send this notice.
However, the law allows other forms of evaluation. You
may choose a standardized achievement test, an
independent evaluation, or to submit a portfolio. The law
DOES NOT require prior approval or notification. Results
of your child's evaluation or assessment must be sent to
the division superintendent by August 1 of each year.
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TESTING RESOURCES
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON TESTING, VISIT http://www.heav.org/TestingandEvaluations.htm
Debra Bell’s Home School Resource Center www.hsrc.com
1-800-937-6311
Bob Jones University Press Practice Tests, from BJUP,
Greenville, South Carolina 29614. www.bju.edu
The following two resources are available from www.amazon.com:
The Essential Guide to Test Taking For Kids by James
Gruber.
How to Get Better Test Scores on Elementary School
Standardized Tests, published by Random House. It
contains many helpful suggestions and practical ideas. It
also includes practice tests.
SOURCES FOR TESTS:
CALIFORNIA ACHIEVEMENT TEST (CAT)
Bayside School Services www.BaysideSchoolServices.com orders@BaysideSchoolServices.com
137 Clipper Court, P.O. Box 250
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
800-723-3057
GRADE LEVELS: Complete battery for K-12th grade
QUALIFICATIONS: No special qualifications needed to order
the tests.
COST: $36 if ordered by April 1, and test no later than
May 19-23. $46 between June and February ($22 for TCS).
Complete Basic skills or Survey, for grades 1-12.
TIME: Tests vary from 2 to 5.5 hours
SUBJECTS COVERED: Language Arts and Math only. Survey for
grades 2-12. Complete battery, but quicker. Test of
Cognitive Skills (tests academic aptitude).
TO ORDER: Call 800-723-3057
NORM DATE: 1991
Christian Liberty Academy www.homeschools.org
502 W. Euclid Avenue
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
847-259-4444
GRADE LEVELS: Available for 2nd-12th grade
QUALIFICATIONS: No special qualifications needed to order
the test.
COST: $20 per student
TIME: 2.5-3 hours to complete test
DIFFICULTY: Easier than some other tests. Percentage
scores may show higher when compared with other tests.
SUBJECTS COVERED: Reading: vocabulary and comprehension;
Mathematics: computations, concepts and problems;
Language: mechanics, usage, structure, and spelling.
TO ORDER: Call Christian Liberty to request their testing
service form to order the test.
NORM DATE: 1970s
Family Learning Organization www.familylearning.org homeschool@familylearning.org
P.O. Box 7247
Spokane, WA 99207-0247
800-405-TEST or 509-467-2552
COST: For CAT $35 per student, for MAT $29 per student.
Also available from Family Learning: the Metropolitan
Achievement Test.
NORM DATE: 1992
Seton Home Study School www.Setonhome.org
1350 Progress Drive
Front Royal, VA 22630
540-636-9990
GRADE LEVELS: Available for K-12th grade
QUALIFICATIONS: No special qualifications needed to order
the tests.
COST: $20 per student
TIME: 2.5-3.5 hours
TO ORDER: Send a check with a note stating grade level
needed, or call and order by phone.
NORM DATE: 1988
COMPREHENSIVE TEST OF BASIC SKILLS (CTBS)
Bayside School Service www.BaysideSchoolServices.com orders@BaysideSchoolServices.com
137 Clipper Court, P.O. Box 250
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
800-723-3057
GRADE LEVELS: Complete battery for K-12th grade
QUALIFICATIONS: No special qualifications needed to order
the tests.
COST: $36 if ordered by April 1, and test no later than
May 19-23. $46 between June and February ($22 for TCS).
Complete Basic skills or Survey, for grades 1-12.
TIME: Tests vary from 2 to 5.5 hours
SUBJECTS COVERED: Language Arts and Math only. Survey for
grades 2-12. Complete battery, but quicker. Test of
Cognitive Skills (tests academic aptitude).
TO ORDER: Call 800-723-3057
NORM DATE: 1996
Sycamore Tree www.SycamoreTree.com
2179 Meyer Place
Costa Mesa, California 92627
949-650-4466 or 800-779-6750
GRADE LEVELS: Available for grades K-12. Offers the most
up-to-date Terra Nova Version of the CTBS.
SUBJECTS COVERED: Math and language arts plus science,
social science, and reference skills. With the CTBS
scores, you will receive a professional critique.
COST: $50
NORM DATE: 1996
IOWA TEST OF BASIC SKILLS
Bob Jones University Press www.bjup.com
Greenville, SC 29614
800-845-5731
GRADE LEVELS: Available for K-12th grade
QUALIFICATIONS: Anyone can place an order for the tests,
but materials will only be shipped to a qualified tester
who must administer the test and return for scoring. The
test scores will be returned to the person who initially
ordered the test. Test administrator must have four-year
degree, or be a certified teacher, or be a working
teacher in a conventional school.
TIME: Depends on age of student and testing conditions
SUBJECTS COVERED: May vary according to grade level.
Reading: vocabulary, word analysis skills, and
comprehension; Mathematics: concepts and computation;
Language: spelling, capitalization, and punctuation; Word
study skills: map reading, graphs, tables, knowledge, and
use of reference materials.
COST: Depends on tests ordered. Call Bob Jones to order
their testing booklet, which includes information on the
tests and order forms, along with qualifications needed
to order.
Also available from BJU Press: the Test of Achievement
and Proficiency (TAP), and the Stanford Achievement Test.
NORM DATE: 1995
*Must provide proof of home schooling. Form available on
their website.
Summit Christian Academy www.SCAHomeschool.com info@SCA.com
P.O. Box 2769
Cedar Hill, TX 75106
800-362-9180
GRADE LEVELS: Complete battery for grades 3-12
COST: $45 (non-members)
No special qualifications required to order test. Tests
in March on Iowa Basic.
NORM DATE: 1995
METROPOLITAN ACHIEVEMENT TEST (MAT)
Family Learning Organization www.familylearning.org homeschool@familylearning.org
P.O. Box 7247
Spokane, WA 99207-0247
800-405-TEST or 509-467-2552
COST: For MAT $29 per student. Also available from Family
Learning: the Metropolitan Achievement Test.
NORM DATE: 1993
STANFORD ACHIEVEMENT TEST (SAT)
Bob Jones University Press www.bjup.com
Greenville, SC 29614
800-845-5731
See information above.
NORM DATE: 1996
McGuffey Academy McGuffey2@juno.com
P.O. Box 109
Lakemont, GA 30552
706-782-7709
GRADE LEVELS: Available for 1st-12th grade
QUALIFICATIONS: No special qualifications needed to order
the tests from McGuffey.
COST: $35 per student
TIME: 4 to 6 hours
SUBJECTS COVERED: Reading: comprehension; Mathematics:
concepts, computations, and applications; Vocabulary:
word study skills; Plus, English, spelling, science and
social studies. Some subjects are optional and others may
vary according to grade level.
TO ORDER: Call McGuffey to get their testing booklet to
order the test.
NORM DATE: K-3, 1997; 4-12, 1982 (The company is in the
process of upgrading their materials.)
PERSONALIZED ASSESSMENT SUMMARY SYSTEM (PASS)
Hewitt Research Foundation www.hewitthomeschooling.com
Hewitt Research Foundation offers a special standardized
test, which is accepted in some areas. (Check with your
county superintendent to see if is acceptable before
ordering). The test fee pays for a placement test to
determine which test level is needed, the actual PASS
exam, scoring, and a detailed analysis and suggestions
for dealing with areas of difficulty.
GRADE LEVELS: Available only for 3rd-8th grade
QUALIFICATIONS: No special qualifications are required to
order or administer this exam.
COST: $24 per student
TO ORDER: Call Hewitt at 800-348-1750 or 360-835-8708 for
more information or to place an order. Fax: 360-835-8397.
TEST OF ACHIEVEMENT AND PROFICIENCY (TAP)
(This is the high school version of the Iowa Test of
Basic Skills.)
Bob Jones University Press www.bjup.com
Greenville, SC 29614
800-845-5731
See information above.
SUBJECTS COVERED: Covers math, language arts, science,
and social studies.
NORM DATE: 1995
*Must provide proof of home schooling. Form available on
their website.
QUALIFIED EVALUATORS AND PRIVATE TESTERS
Local support groups are the best source for information
about evaluators and testers in your area. For a listing
of support groups, visit www.heav.org,
or call HEAV at 804-288-1608.
OTHER ASSESSMENT OPTIONS
There are other ways to show educational growth and
progress besides using a standardized achievement test.
Parents may choose to put together a portfolio of their
student's work, or have their child evaluated. For more
information on other options, visit www.heav.org.
[List compiled by Sarah Olbris for HEAV. Updated November
2002.]
