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Getting Started with Homeschooling in Pennsylvania Before you can begin homeschooling in Pennsylvania you must submit a notarized affadavit to your local school district. In addition to other requirements, families must also have their 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade children take standardized achievement tests. Use the links below for more information on Pennsylvania compliance issues. General Information PA Department of Education Your first source for homeschool information, including sample affadavits you can use. Pennsylvania Home Education Network A statewide association for homeschoolers. The Excelsior Academy An evaluation service provider for Pennsylvania families. Testing Requirement Families may choose from any one of the 10 approved standardized tests listed below in order to meet their testing requirement in 3rd, 5th and 8th grades. Results from reading/language arts and mathematics subtests must be included in your portfolio of records. Please note that the law specifically states that a parent may not administer the test to their own child. As an alternative to paying for private testing, families may also select to have their child take the Pennsylvania state standardized achievement test, PSSA, at their local public school. California Achievement Test Comprehensive Testing Program Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills Iowa Test of Basic Skills Metropolitan Achievement Test Peabody Individual Test Stanford Achievement Test Terra Nova Wide Range Achievement Test Woodcock Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement While many families opt for an inexpensive group test, such as the CAT, CTBS or ITBS, some families prefer to use an invidiualized test, such as the Wookcock Johnson. The two biggest benefits for selecting the WJ test is time and value. First, the math and reading portions of the WJ take 45 - 60 minutes to administer per child, unlike the hours needed to complete a group achievement test. Second, the WJ provides parents with useful information regarding strengths and weaknesses within each subject. Unlike group tests, which only measure the quantity of content a child knows for one specific grade level, the WJ allows a child to test as low or as high as they can reach. In other words, tests like the CAT and ITBS will only tell you if your child has mastered the 3rd grade curriculum. The WJ will let you know if your child has mastered 3rd, 4th, or even 5th grade material - regardless of how old they are. Read more about Hand In Hand's testing services. Contact Hand In Hand today to schedule your achievement testing or to find out how you can qualify for free testing services for your family when you become a test coordinator for your Pennyslvania homeschool district in Adams, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Philadelphia, and York counties. Individualized achievement testing - it's less expensive than you think! Families who opt for group achievement testing may find the following books helpful in preparing for the test. Spectrum Test Prep, Grade 3 Spectrum Test Prep, Grade 4 Spectrum Test Prep, Grade 5 Spectrum Test Prep, Grade 6 Spectrum Test Prep, Grade 7 Spectrum Test Prep, Grade 8 Scoring Higher Iowa Tests of Basic Skills Grade 5: A Test Prep Program Scoring Higher Iowa Tests of Basic Skills Grade 8: A Test Prep Program Building Thinking Skills, Book 2: Critical Thinking Skills for Reading, Writing, Math, and Science

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