Question about bumping a grade in VA

[Guest inoubliable]

I've tried googling and all I can find is some information about "skipping" a Kindergarten year and filing your NOI with noting your five year old as a first grader instead. My DS8 is officially in 2nd grade right now, but he's finished up all of his 2nd grade work and is almost at the halfway point for the 3rd grade stuff that I have. DH and I have been trying to figure out what to do with him for the rest of the year. Do we let him finish up the 3rd grade stuff and give him books to read for the rest of the year? If we do this, can we tell the state that he is now in fourth grade when we send in our NOI for next year? Do we have him stop doing all workbook/textbook type stuff and instead read and play around on Khan Academy for the rest of the year so that he can be in 3rd grade next year? If we do that, he'd still be working with mostly fourth grade material next year anyway. Is there a reason to tell the state that's in third grade and let him continue to work ahead of grade level anyway?

[Reflections]

I live in Va and I would *not* tell the state you are bumping him up a grade. I am assuming that last year when you sent in your NOI that you stated "...and I will be teaching him at the 2nd grade level using the following materials..." or some such thing, so this August I would just say "...blah blah blah 3rd..." I am also assuming that you test him instead of doing the eval. So, my thinking is this: the test and the NOI are simply hoops and formalities and the state/county has no real interest in your dc beyond that they are progressing along in their education. AND isn't nice for him to be ahead of the curve and you don't have to worry about what might be on the test, you know he'll breeze through it.

 

And the grade level he is at now and the tests you give him also have no bearing on when you might graduate him (when the time comes) and also doesn't matter to the schools in Va if you decide to in enroll him one day - my understanding about the schools in Va is that if you enroll him prior to high school they'll test him and place him at grade level but if you decide to enroll him into high school, you must do it at the 9th grade level, as Va high schools will not accept any homeschool credits or outside class credits and will place him as a 9th grader even if he goes in at 17!

 

HTH!!

[catz]

Is there a reason to bump him ahead? My child went to kindergarten and 1st grade. When he went to school there were kids that didn't know letters, to kids that could read involved chapter books at 5 and 6. Being midway through 3rd grade work as a 2nd grader would not likely be enough to bump a child in PS, at least where we are. My son in PS in 1st grade was doing 2nd to 4th grade level work (but he was still mostly bored). Are you using an online program or something, or are you designing your own curriculum?

 

Both my kids are well ahead, but I call them grade level. Grade level makes sense for them for extra curriculars and it makes more sense for them to eventually be competing with the brightest kids their own age and not kids developmentally a year or 2 or 3 or 5 ahead of them even if they are there some ways academically. If at some point it seems to make sense to bump them, I will. But I'd need to see that they would be ready for a college environment independently early with great success and they don't want to throw their high school years into an extracurricular, etc, don't spend a year or 2 in a hormonal stupor, etc.

 

I guess I wouldn't bump a homeschooled kid on paper that early without a need to do so, if you have the ability to meet them at their level. I'd look at deeper and wider curriculum options. Boxed programs often don't work very well for bright kids that need more input but maybe aren't ready for a high level of output. I'd keep on with your curriculum maybe if you have something that's going ok, but add more. Find the relevant videos, reading, projects, and field trips to whatever you're doing. Mix it up a bit!

 

I do think skipping is meaningful for some kids in B&M schools early on. But I also know a few people locally that regretted skipping once their child reached about 8th grade.

[Ellie]

You're not required to tell the state what grade level your dc is. The rule of thumb is never to supply any information not required by law. Just teach your dc at his ability; when you have to hang a grade-level label on your ds, use the one that reflects the grade he would be in if he were in school, which is based on his date of birth and the cut-off in VA (Sept. 1); it has nothing to do with his academic ability or achievement.

[Reflections]

You're not required to tell the state what grade level your dc is. The rule of thumb is never to supply any information not required by law. Just teach your dc at his ability; when you have to hang a grade-level label on your ds, use the one that reflects the grade he would be in if he were in school, which is based on his date of birth and the cut-off in VA (Sept. 1); it has nothing to do with his academic ability or achievement.

 

 

It's something like you have to provide a birth date or a grade level but not both?? .

[Arboreal TJ]

I live in VA, I just reread the law again. I don't see that you need to provide anything except the name of the child. I did not provide birthdate or grade on my NOI this year. I'm sure they figured it out because I did say my children would not be 6 by the testing cutoff date and therefore I would not be submitting test results by 1 August. Less is best.

 

I see no reason to "officially" grade skip as a homeschooler, I honestly see no reason for assigning a grade level at all. If family is asking then assess the amount of ego stoking the family member needs and go from there. Grandma might like to hear that little Johnny, age 6, is doing 7th grade work but Aunt Matilda, with 6 yr old cousin Suzie, might prefer to hear that Johnny is simply succeeding in Kindergarten. Both replies can be truthful and everyone gets to hear what they want!

[G5052]

I wouldn't bother. For one thing, they probably spend no more than a minute looking at your list of subjects (remember it is a list of subjects). And the law doesn't require anything more than that (from VA Homeschoolers):

 

 

Regardless of which option you file under, you must provide a “description of curriculum†with your NOI. Please note that this does not mean that you have to use a “formal†curriculum or program of study. Effective July 1, 2012, a description of curriculum is limited to “a list of subjects to be studied during the upcoming year.â€

 

And they can't even approve/disapprove (same source as above):

 

According to VDOE’s Superintendents Memo No. 124, the superintendent has no authority to judge or reject the program of study submitted under this option although he or she is responsible for determining that what a parent submits is indeed a curriculum description and not simply a statement of educational philosophy.

 

So don't spend a lot of time and effort on this. Just get your list (Literature, Writing, Math, History, etc.), and you can even reuse the paperwork from year-to-year if you save the files. I know the local gal who processes these, and they truly don't spend much time with them at all. She told me that she can process a complete one in 10 minutes or less from pulling the file to putting the approval letter in an envelope.

 

And by keeping them with their age-mates, you have flexibility. You might have a year with a big medical crises where you'll be glad that you could tread water a bit (this has happened to friends of mine). If you later want to graduate them at 16, it isn't a big deal to do that (you just notify them that they graduated and stop filing a NOI).

[5wolfcubs]

I'm in VA. I wouldn't change what grade level you report to the state.

 

The first year I filled out an NOI, and maybe the 2nd also, I put grade & birthday. This past year I just put birthday. My oldest dd graduated a year early and is now at the CC. When I didn't send in the test results & put her on my NOI, I got a letter from the district asking me to provide her homeschool info or info on the school she was attending. I sent back a letter saying she had graduated and was going to CC, and that was the end of it. My 2nd dd will either graduate 1 or 2 years early...and I'll probably get the same letter, but maybe not.

 

As for what you do for the rest of the year, totally up to you! If buying new texts and starting now makes you all happy, go for it! If being library/internet schoolers until "next year" makes you all happy, go for it!

[Tess in the Burbs]

Don't. When younger I tested my son ahead of his grade. But now I do on grade level. No one questioned our test levels in that switch. He still works a grade level ahead. But there is no advantage to bump them and the state doesn't care about test levels, they just want something turned in. You could be several grades ahead at home and still grade level on the test to turn in. No need to confuse them lol

[Chris in VA]

Agreeing with everyone--less is more.

 

Dd was advanced in reading and math. We just kept going, not even worrying about grade level. She did attend ps in 3rd grade. They tested her out the wazoo even tho I provided ITBS results for first and second grade, and had a list of what she had read (and told the school what math she had done, brought in her history notebook with narrations she wrote, etc.). In essence, they didn't really believe me and just put her in with age mates, although she did qualify for gifted resources (waste.of.time.).

 

 

my understanding about the schools in Va is that if you enroll him prior to high school they'll test him and place him at grade level but if you decide to enroll him into high school, you must do it at the 9th grade level, as Va high schools will not accept any homeschool credits or outside class credits and will place him as a 9th grader even if he goes in at 17!

 

I am not sure this is correct--do you have a link? Ds homeschooled high school (graduated a semester early); I hadn't heard this at all.

[kiana]

I really agree that I wouldn't do it. Neither would I hold him back so that he's only doing "third grade level" curriculum next year.

 

Unlike public school, the grade level attached to your child does not determine the level of curriculum that he receives. Certainly, give him what he needs, intellectually. But if he's just a little ahead, he's in a good position to be taking advanced classes in high school, and he also has a little slack in case he slows down later.

[G5052]

FWIW -- in Virginia, transferring in to public high school from homeschooling with a transfer of credits, is "open to intrepretation." Here's a good summary: http://vahomeschoolers.org/guide/return-to-school/. For K-8th, they do testing and that is that.

 

What I've heard locally is that getting credit is tough. They like outside validation (paid classes, particularly from an accrediated provider), but will sometimes consider a portfolio with outstanding standardized test scores. Everyone I've heard of who did this was disappointed though, and I know several who ended up deciding not to enroll after they saw how little was accepted from homeschooling.

 

Bottom line -- when you are in 8th grade it is best to decide what you're going to do and stick with it.

[Dmmetler]

Another reason to potentially not grade skip-I have a grade skipped (in PS, before bringing her home) 8 yr old who is 2nd grade by age, but is registered as a 3rd grader officially (and is not doing ANYTHING at the 3rd grade level).

 

She took her first test for Talent Search this past weekend, and whether she qualifies will be compared with 3rd graders-not kids her age. And while she's easily in the top 5% of 3rd graders, I'm not sure she'll be in the top % of that 5% needed for additional programs. A year makes a difference in that kind of narrow band. The same is true in other competitions. She competes as a 3rd grader-and while she was head and shoulders above the other kids in her old PS, which was why they grade skipped her, she's competitive as a 3rd grader-but maybe not as competitive as she'd been if she were at the older end of the age range instead of the youngest kid there. It doesn't matter NOW-but I do see that when you get to the more highly competitive activities done at the high school level, it might well make a difference.

 

She needed the grade skip to give her even a chance of staying busy in PS (and even then it wasn't enough)-but she doesn't need it for that purpose in HS.

 

I do understand wanting to skip to 4th for outside classes-this year, we've hit a lot of "That class is for 4th-6th graders", when my DD has either DONE all of the 1st-3rd units already, or is just plain bored with the 1st-3rd content. Having said that, having seen the 6th graders, I'm not sure I want my DD with them, even next year when she'll officially be an 8 yr old 4th grader. There's just a big difference between being 8 and being 12.

[nukeswife]

I agree with those that say just don't put it on there. It's not required so don't volunteer information you're not required by law to provide.

 

I had an issue last year because I turned in K level test results for my youngest son who'd also been K level the year before. After starting that first year of K we realized he wasn't fully ready for starting school at all so we did K over. When they questioned me, I reminded them that I'm not required to provide then With a grade level and because we as parents felt he needed to repeat the grade that's what we did. That was the end of it.

 

I see the testing as hoop jumping, so I wouldn't test ahead, I would just have him take the test for the grade he'd be in if he was in PS, and send that in.

[Guest inoubliable]

Thank you so much, everyone! So much that I didn't consider when thinking this over with DH. We won't be bumping him (officially/on paper anyway) and we'll just keep plugging along. One quick question, then. The past couple of years my NOI has used language like "DS12 will be doing sixth grade coursework in the following subjects:....". With this next year, I should keep it more simple with just their names, subjects, and the "..we will include projects, field trips, independent study, textbooks, etc.". Right? We use Seton to test and send those results in so the school would get a "grade level" and progression out of that. That should be enough to show progression from one year to the next, formally?

[nukeswife]

My letter simply lists the kids and then a generic list of subjects. Such as: Everett will be studying Grammar, spelling, writing, literature, math, history, science, art, and music. They've never questioned me on it. They will get the grade level on the test, so as long as each year that goes up or you send an explanation of why you felt the same level was needed that should be fine.

 

if you want a sample of my NOI, just PM me your email and I'll send you a copy of what I send in.

[Ellie]

Thank you so much, everyone! So much that I didn't consider when thinking this over with DH. We won't be bumping him (officially/on paper anyway) and we'll just keep plugging along. One quick question, then. The past couple of years my NOI has used language like "DS12 will be doing sixth grade coursework in the following subjects:....". With this next year, I should keep it more simple with just their names, subjects, and the "..we will include projects, field trips, independent study, textbooks, etc.". Right? We use Seton to test and send those results in so the school would get a "grade level" and progression out of that. That should be enough to show progression from one year to the next, formally?

 

 

I don't think it's necessary to specify the grade level of any course work. So, yes, your new plan looks good. The school doesn't need to know grade level, only that progress is made; I know that it will be listed on the test results, but I'm trying to nudge you into not thinking about grade level, lol.

[Guest inoubliable]

LOL. I'm good with not thinking about it on my end. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the possibility that the local school board won't care! I thought they HAD to have that information, you know? I never considered before that they...don't care. And don't need it.

 

Woo! It's sort of liberating! LOL

[Reflections]

 

I am not sure this is correct--do you have a link? Ds homeschooled high school (graduated a semester early); I hadn't heard this at all.

 

 

I belong to two groups on yahoo and they are full of people talking about how they can't get their local school districts to accept credit for what they did in their homeschools. Here in town I personally know of 3 people who tried to enroll their dc into high school in the 10th and 11th grades and were sorely disappointed and wound up dual enrolling them in the local cc.

 

I do not have a link other than these: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VAEclecticHS/message/23975 and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brfun/msearch?query=enroll+high+school&pos=30&cnt=10

 

You'll have to sign up for these groups in order to read the discussions.

[G5052]

LOL. I'm good with not thinking about it on my end. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the possibility that the local school board won't care! I thought they HAD to have that information, you know? I never considered before that they...don't care. And don't need it.

 

Woo! It's sort of liberating! LOL

 

Unless you get someone who is a jerk with time on their hands, most school districts look at it as a rule they have to comply with, not something that is their primary mission.

 

The lady that handles our county's NOI documents also tracks the homebound students, students in jail, truancy cases, and other "special" cases. The homeschooling issues are only a fraction of her duties. So how could she possibly have time to give the forms more than a quick glance?

[Ellie]

 

I am not sure this is correct--do you have a link? Ds homeschooled high school (graduated a semester early); I hadn't heard this at all.

 

 

Whether or not there is an actual written policy, it is pretty common in all states for public (and private) high schools not to accept high school credits that were earned at home. It is why many of us advise parents to be pretty darn sure they're going to plan to graduate their children at home instead of enrolling them in school at some point.

 

There are always exceptions, of course, but in general, it's wise to either enroll the dc at 9th grade or plan to go all the way at home.

[Ellie]

LOL. I'm good with not thinking about it on my end. I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the possibility that the local school board won't care! I thought they HAD to have that information, you know? I never considered before that they...don't care. And don't need it.

 

Woo! It's sort of liberating! LOL

 

 

Yes, it is liberating. :party:

 

Always, always, always read the law carefully, in minute detail. If it doesn't say you have to provide specific information, don't do it. Yes, there may be people in the office who think they need that info, but they aren't entitled to it if the law doesn't say they can have it. :-)

[dbmamaz]

I've been told many, many times by ppl in virginia not to push up the grade level. you can graduate him early when the time comes, so leaving the grade level where it is is easier - usually this is in regards to whether to register at age 5 or age 6, but its the same thing.

 

and yes, some high schools will let kids 'transfer' in, but the point is you need a certain number of 'verified' credits to graduate - which means classes you have passed the SOLs for. i have no idea how some districts get around that