Start Homeschooling: Testing and Grades

How are kids tested and how do you and the state know how the kids are doing and when they've passed a grade?  

First....you will need to find out the testing requirements for your state. HSLDA has information of state laws for homeschooling.

Second... whether testing is required by your state or not, you can still administer standardized tests.  The best site to get these tests is Seton Testing

Third... a good resource for information by grade is Core Knowledge.  I do not use their curriculum, but do have all their books: What Your _____ Needs to Know.  I use these books as a guide and give them to my kids as free reads.  These books were a help to me when my kids were in school and when we first started homeschooling.

Fourth...Grades?   Your child needs to have a set grade for testing purposes.  According to our school system, my daughter is 2nd grade.  Recently, someone asked her what grade she was in.  She responded, "I don't know I'm homeschooled."   

I recommend not worrying about grade levels. There are different ways to homeschool.  Some families use boxed curriculum with a grade labeled to it.  Our first year, my son was in 2nd grade.  So I bought Saxon 2nd grade math. His older sister was completing 3rd grade Saxon Math.  It took about 2 weeks for me to realize that the 2nd grade math was a waste of time.  I grouped the two together on their math lessons.  He has now surpassed her and is half way through Algebra I.  (He is 13)

Your child may be at grade level in math, at a much higher level at reading and a lower level in spelling. That is the beauty of homeschooling.  You can give your child a personalized education!

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