Talk to me about Testing in Va and NC

[macmacmoo]

We will be moving to VA or NC next summer. They both appear to require annual testing. Eldest just turned 7 this past August. We school Jan to December so will would be starting second grade this coming Jan. Since we are moving in the summer, I assume we wont have to turn in scores until the following year. I'd like to get him use to the idea and give him a test before we move. Which test would you recommend using? Which grade level should I give him this year?

 

 

 

[deerforest]

NC laws are pretty straight forward. See here for details:

 

http://www.ncdnpe.org/hhh103.aspx

 

Since your son is already 7, you'll need to send in your letter of intent when you move here, after July 1. It doesn't really matter if you won't school him until January. The law requires your letter of intent based on the child's age and the "statistical year" as they define it from July 1 to June 30.

 

Here are details about testing:

http://www.ncdnpe.org/FAQs/hhh114s.aspx

 

Most people I know use CAT or PASS on their own or Woodcock Johnson with a tester. You have to use a nationally standardized achievement test that covers grammar, reading, math, spelling. You have to keep the records for one year. They say that you should be prepared to share them if requested. No one has ever requested to see ours.

 

 

[Ellie]

We will be moving to VA or NC next summer. They both appear to require annual testing. Eldest just turned 7 this past August. We school Jan to December so will would be starting second grade this coming Jan. Since we are moving in the summer, I assume we wont have to turn in scores until the following year. I'd like to get him use to the idea and give him a test before we move. Which test would you recommend using? Which grade level should I give him this year?

 

You only have to submit test scores if you are specifically asked to do so. It is not automatic.

 

NC doesn't care what your school year is. :-) Although the law does not specify when to turn in your notice of intent, it won't hurt to follow DNPE's suggestion to turn it in by July 1 for the 2016-17 school year (I assume that's when you're moving, summer 2016?). But you can wait until August if July is too busy for you. There's no deadline.

 

For the 2015-16 school year, in most states your ds would be in second grade, and so in the spring of 2016, give him the second grade test.  It is one of those weird things we who school year found have to deal with. It doesn't matter how your ds does on the test.

 

Also, you do not have to use the form on DNPE's web site. I cannot read it right now (apparently you can only read it during office hours??), but typically, the DNPE form asks for more than is required by law. You only have to notify the DNPE of your intent to operate and include the school’s name and address, owner, and chief administrator--no children's names or grade levels or even how many children.

[73349]

We live in NC and have used the Iowa test at home. You do not send the scores in, just keep them on file (along with your record of instructional days and the child's vaccination record) in the very unlikely event that someone accuses you of not following the law.

Register when you arrive if it's after July 1, or you have until the beginning of September. (The law specifies that you must be conducting school "regularly" September through May, so I wouldn't wait later than that; but you can promote a child whenever you want.)

 

If you want to do a practice test now, you can give him the first-grade one. I have been happy ordering from here.

[Butter]

In VA, assign him the grade he'd be if he were in school (so second grade currently).  Because his birthday is in August you probably could get away with assigning him one grade level back which could be useful since because of when the scores are due he's have to be tested when he's in the middle of his school year  They'd probably be very confused trying to explain an alternative school schedule and, well, test scores are due something like August 1st no matter how your school year goes.  VA only cares about language arts and math scores, so get the CAT-E Survey from Seton Testing (it's around $25).  You are correct that you won't have to test him until the spring of the 2016-17 school year since you won't have been in the state for a full school year until then.

[Tess in the Burbs]

Lived in VA 10 years.  They require annual NOI and testing scores by a certain date.  You could just do the CAT test.  It is scored by fall or spring norms.  If you move to VA this school year and send in a NOI then your scores are due in summer of 2016.  Taking a test in spring would grade on spring norms, but your child only be halfway through school year.  But here is the thing:  CAT test is really easy.  Even the Iowa has overlap.  My kids are back to back grades and half my son's (older) test was the same material as half my daughter's test this last year.  You could test at a lower grade just to be sure though.  I found that they don't look at the scores sent in.  We did a higher grade for years, then changed test and did a grade we had previously tested, never an issue.  They want a minimum (really low) and see progress.  But I don't think they really look at them.  I never knew anyone who had been called/spoken to b/c of low test scores. 

 

You can do an evaluation with an independent person in VA.  That might be your best bet this first year if you are concerned about standard testing.  But we have found the standard tests to be below grade level and easier than expected.  

[Butter]

In addition to the CAT-E Survey being ridiculously easy, you also only need a score in the 24th percentile or higher.

[Ellie]

 

Register when you arrive if it's after July 1, or you have until the beginning of September. (The law specifies that you must be conducting school "regularly" September through May, so I wouldn't wait later than that; but you can promote a child whenever you want.)

 

 

The law says nine calendar months; it does not specify which months those must be.

[deerforest]

The law says nine calendar months; it does not specify which months those must be.

Not true. Nothing in the law says anything about how long. The recommendation is 180 days, but that is not the law.

 

OP--i highly recommend that you read the info from the state directly: http://www.ncdnpe.org/hhh103.aspx

[73349]

Hmmm. This page says any nine calendar months. The law says

Attendance by a child at any school to which this Part relates and which complies with this Part shall satisfy the requirements of compulsory school attendance so long as the school operates on a regular schedule, excluding reasonable holidays and vacations, during at least nine calendar months of the year. Each school shall be subject to reasonable fire, health and safety inspections by State, county and municipal authorities as required by law.

 

 

I retract my Sept.-May comment, though I'm sure it was something put out by the DNPE that said that. Public schools here run August - May.

 

DNPE does not accept notices of intent in June, though, and for their purposes, you have to show (in the rare event that you're asked) that you taught during 9 months between July 1 and June 30 and administered a nationally normed standardized test.

[Alice]

I am in VA. You actually have four options here: 

 

Register under the religious option. If you do that you are then done, with no further requirements. I don't use that option but I believe you don't even have to file yearly once you have done that the first time. 

 

 If you don't file under the religious option you have to provide a NOI by August 15th each year. It just states that you will homeschool and gives a brief description of your curriculum (saying something like "Johnny will study math at a 4th grade level" is adequate, you don't have to list what books you use). You then have to provide "proof of progress" each year by August 1st. You can do this by: 
 

-Taking a standardized test. They only care about the reading and math scores. You have to score better than the fourth stanine (which is fairly low). 

 

-Using a independent evaluator who will write a letter stating that your child has shown progress. The evaluator does not have to someone approved by the state. It can be anyone with a master's degree in an academic subject or who has a valid teacher's certificate and who has some knowledge of your child's academic progress. Depending on where you are in the state there are likely to be many people offering this as a service. In the larger metropolitan areas there are a lot of homeschoolers and a lot of people who will do the evaluations for a fee. 

 

-The district superintendent can accept other forms to show progress (for example a portfolio or a transcript from community college). I know people who have used that option and have had no problem having their portfolio accepted. 

 

This is our 7th year homeschooling (not counting K or preschool since the requirements are different). We have only used the standardized test option twice. Once because I thought it would be good to have my oldest practice taking a standardized test, that was his 4th grade year. And the other time was when he was taking a test to qualify for a different program and I just used the scores for the proof of progress. My middle son who is in 4th grade has never taken a standardized test, we might do it this year. All the other years we've used an outside evaluator, usually one of two women at our church who are teachers. They come over, look at our stuff and write a letter. 

[AdventuresinHomeschooling]

In VA, you can take any test you prefer. The law only states a recognized standardized test. We did the CAT test online, but you can choose whatever test or format works best for you. Some have practice tests. You can also find a teacher to do a portfolio assessment for you if you prefer, but the required scores are low. I highly recommend looking at www.heav.org for sample forms for NOI and any other state questions.