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Methods
of Evaluation
The
Charles court recognized that
certain factors may be considered by the superintendent or school
committee in determining whether or not to approve a homeschool
proposal. One of these factors is a form of periodic evaluation
of the children to ensure educational progress and the attainment
of minimum standards. Charles says that school officials
and parents should agree on a method of evaluation that may include
one of the following approaches: standardized testing, periodic
progress report, or dated work samples. Home visits may not be
required as a condition of approval.
Parents
in Massachusetts who prefer testing can choose from a variety
of standardized tests. Some are administered by parents (ex: California
Achievement Test), some by school officials (ex: CTBS), and some
by a third party (ex: Stanford).
Dated
work samples mean just that: a few samples of work with dates
on them. You do not have to compile an extensive portfolio with
narration to submit to the school although you might like to keep
such records for your own use.
Narrative
progress reports can double as your plan for the coming year if
you include information about how current learning will be extended
into the coming year, and what new areas will be added. While
Charles does not specify that a homeschooling plan needs
to be submitted annually, many towns expect annual plans. If you
live in a town that stipulates your approval is valid for only
one year, you might also add pertinent information such as length
of homeschool year, qualifications of parents, along with the
fact that you plan to submit one such report a year. There
are links at left to sample progress reports that have been accepted
in various towns in Massachusetts.
It is
important to include in your education plan what form of evaluation
you plan to use. That way if the school later asks you for a form
of evaluation that you'd prefer not to use, you can refer them
to your approved education plan in which you stated that you would
submit your preferred evaluation, be it test scores, a progress
report, or work samples.
Adding
a line such as, "An annual progress report/dated work sample/standardized
test results (parents pick one) will be submitted upon request"
is a good idea if you aren't sure whether or not they'll ask for
anything; if they don't ask, you don't need to submit anything.
If you know your town consistently requires people to report,
then it's somewhat pointless to stipulate "upon request"
since you know they'll ask and it just creates more work for them
to have to.
Data
from the most recent AHEM policy and practice database summary
about what form and frequency of assessment Massachusetts homeschoolers
provide is interesting:
•
Fifty-four percent of respondents write a progress report. Some
people who write progress reports indicate that the schools expect
them to also submit work samples (a report combined with work
samples is commonly referred to as a portfolio). Please note
that Charles requires homeschoolers to submit only one
form of evaluation. A report alone should suffice, or work samples
without any written narrative, should suffice. While a portfolio
is nice to have as a record for your own use, there is no need
to give that much information to school officials.
• Fourteen percent of respondents choose to test. Tests used
include the California Achievement Test (CAT), the Personalized
Achievement Summary System Test (PASS), the Wide Range Assessment
test (WRAT), the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS), the
Iowa Test of Basic Skills, the Stanford Test and others.
• Twelve percent of respondents submit no evaluation at all.
• Ten percent of respondents submit work samples.
• Six percent of respondents indicated their evaluation method
varies; parents choose from year to year.
• One percent of respondents indicated use of a form of evaluation
other than testing, progress reports, or work samples.
Eighty-eight
percent of homeschoolers who indicated frequency submit evaluation
once a year, ten percent submit twice a year, two percent submit
four times a year.
Collecting
this data is an ongoing project. If you would like to contribute,
or read the report in its entirety, click
here.
Back
to Tips for Writing Your
Educational Plan.
The
information on this website does not constitute legal advice;
it is provided for informational purposes only.
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