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Home School Testing Information

Parents are free to teach their child at any grade level, however for testing purposes the ESD will assign the student a grade level and test-due year calculated by the child's chronological age, per OAR 581-021-0026(6). The law specifies, "Testing for grade levels 3, 5, 8, and 10 shall occur in the third, fifth, eighth, and tenth year ending August 15". If the ESD-assigned grade and test-due year do not correspond with your calculations, please feel free to contact us for clarification. Parents may have their child tested at the ESD-assigned grade or higher, but must have the child tested in the requested year.

• Tests approved for assessment of home school students are:
• Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (TerraNova)
• IOWA Tests of Basic Skills / Tests of Achievement and Proficiency (ITBS forms
  A and B)
• Metropolitan Achievement Battery (MAT 7 and MAT 8)
• Stanford Achievement Test Battery (Stanford 9 and Stanford 10)
  
  

Achievement Test Levels Coinciding with Grade Levels

Tests must be given by a qualified and neutral person as defined in OAR 581-021-0026(1)(e)(i). A test may be given by anyone who is qualified and neutral, but LBL does provide a list of local testers as a service to you. If you use a tester not registered with Oregon Department of Education or LBL, then please include a copy of the examiner's qualifications with the test results.

Testing must include the "basic battery" which typically includes Reading, Language and Math. The composite national percentile score is reported to LBL. Some testers may offer the "complete battery" which may include social studies, science, and other subjects but these are optional tests, not required to be reported as part of the student's 'composite score'.

Standardized achievement test results reported to the LBL must include the following essential information:

• The student's name and birth date
• The test name, grade, and level; date test was administered; and the composite basic battery percentile score/national percentile rank.
• The tester's name, contact information, and qualification statement

Testers often have their own test score report form, but if not scores may be reported using this achievement test scores form. If any of essential test information is incomplete or unclear to the LBL Home School Program staff, the parents or tester will be contacted and requested to provide further information. Test results will not be accepted until all required information is clearly provided.

For information on what material is covered by a specific test, parents may want to do an internet search with the test name + "scope and sequence", ask their tester, or visit the test publisher's website. The Oregon Department of Education provides sample tests to demonstrate the types of questions students might encounter on the Oregon Statewide Assessment. This is not the same test a home school student would take, but may have similar structure and could be used to introduce a student to standardized testing.

Students with Disabilities

Oregon law provides that children with disabilities be evaluated for "satisfactory educational progress" according to the recommendations of a current individualized education plan (IEP) or privately developed plan (PDP). Under OAR 581-021-0029(b) "Child with a disability" means a child between the ages of 7 and 18 whose parent or guardian seeks exemption from compulsory school attendance under ORS 339.030(1)(c) or (1)(d) [registered for home school through ESD] and who meets eligibility criteria for a specific disability category under OAR 581-015-0051. Therefore, if you believe that your child has a disability, and you want to have your student assessed according to a current IEP or PDP in lieu of standardized testing, your child must have had an evaluation by his/her resident school and now have a current Statement of Eligibility for special education.

For more information about assessment of home school students with disabilities, please see the enclosed document, call our office, or visit Oregon Department of Education's website.

High School Level Students

A home school student who pursues a GED or Diploma is not released from regular home school testing requirements until LBL receives written verification that the student has been awarded the certificate. Under ORS 339.030b, a home schooled student can be released from home school if they prove that they have acquired equivalent knowledge to that acquired in the courses of study taught in grades 1 through 12 in public school. As proof of equivalent knowledge, LBL will accept a copy of:

• A GED
• An Adult High School diploma from local community college
• A diploma or certificate of high school completion from a school or program accredited by the National Association of Schools and Colleges and any of its regional affiliates.

For more information visit our home school release completion web page, or contact our office:

Phone: (541) 812-2687
Email: homeschool@lblesd.k12.or.us
Fax: 541-926-6047