Q. What grade level should I have my child tested at?
A. With an individually adminstered achievement test, each child tests as high or as low as they can possibly score. You don't need
to worry about selecting a grade level to test at with a test like the WJ-III.
Should you choose to use a group achievement test, most parents select the grade level that corresponds with
their child's chronologic age. For example, a 10 year old would normally take a 5th grade test.
[Return to Top]
Q. Can you test my child even though she doesn't sit still for long?
A. As a homeschool parent herself, Alessa Giampaolo Keener, M.Ed. is sensitive to the unique needs that homeschoolers present
in more formal educational settings. Every effort will be made to make your child comfortable and confident in their testing
experience, including building in additional breaks, if necessary. Ultimately, the goal of any educational test effort should be
to maximize the integrity of the testing session while preserving the child's self-esteem and to obtain valid results that can help you
design the best educational opportunities for your child. Please contact Hand In Hand if you have specific concerns, particularly
when signing up a child for a group test.
[Return to Top]
Reasons for Testing
Q. Am I legally required to have my homeschooled child tested?
A. Maryland regulations do NOT require families to participate in annual achievement testing. Pennyslvania families are required
by law to submit testing results in 3rd, 5th and 8th grades.
[Return to Top]
Q. My child will be going to school next year. Should I have her tested now?
A. Children entering into the public school system after a period of homeschooling may be assessed by their local school officials to determine
appropriate grade placement. Generally, though, the K-8 guidance counselor will ask to see work samples and ask to review your curriculum.
Having your child tested privately will help you know if your child is considered "on grade level" according to national standards for learning.
Your child's results may also reveal if there are any gaps in particular subject areas that you may wish to address prior to his/her
entering traditional school.
Students who may be moving from homeschooling to private school can expect to take the Independent School Entrance Exam. The ISEE is a lot
like the ITBS. You can get additional information about that test at ISEE's website.
[Return to Top]
Q. I think my child may have a learning disability. Will testing help?
A. An individualized educational assessment is one way to begin to determine if a child has a learning disability. However, Hand In Hand
recognizes that underachievement is not always caused by a learning disability. Sometimes a mismatch between learning styles and instructional
styles cause a roadblock to learning, therefore we look at the whole child, including family dynamics, that may help explain why a child is
experiencing difficulty in learning.
[Return to Top]
Q. My child is really bright. Will testing help us know what to do with her?
A. Hand In Hand specializes in the needs of the highly and profoundly gifted student. While an individualized educational assessment may
qualify your gifted child for certain programs, such as Stanford's EPGY distance learning program and
the Davidson Institute's Talent Development Young Scholars program; full evaluation results will help
a family understand just how advanced their child may be and what alternative educational opportunities may exist, including early college.
[Return to Top]
Differences Between Types of Testing
Q. How is testing with Hand In Hand different than what I get from the local public school?
A. Hand In Hand Home School works closely with parents to understand the whole child as well as the family dynamics that affect
homeschooling. In addition to score reports that indicate percentile ranks and recommended instructional levels, families receive a
comprehensive report explaining their child's strengths and weaknesses while also examining learning style preferences.
Reports are tailored to the family's homeschool
philosophy so they receive recommendations that comfortably fit their educational model. Hand In Hand works with families to
empower them to best meet their child's educational needs.
[Return to Top]
Q. Do you offer IQ testing?
A. At this time Hand In Hand does not offer IQ testing; however, appropriate referrals are made to qualified professionals
in the Maryland area.
[Return to Top]
Q. Can't I give my child the Iowa Test of Basic Skills at home?
A. Some organizations will "rent" standardized tests to homeschool families and allow them to give the test to their child in
the comforts of their own home. While this appears to save significant money, the scores from such test sessions do not give a
family meaningful information since most kids underperform when they test at home. In addition, test publishers
actually consider these results invalid due to the lack of standardized test environment. Should you decide to go with a group
achievement test, please make sure that your child is tested by a qualified proctor in an environment free from distractions.
[Return to Top]
Q. What are the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and the California Achievement Tests?
A. The ITBS and CAT are group administered achievement tests. These commonly used tests examine to see if a student has mastered
academic material commonly taught at a specific grade level. For example, if your child takes the 3rd grade ITBS and scores at the
95+% level - you will know that your child scored better than 95% of all the other 3rd grade children who took that test
nationally. With this score in hand you can rather confidently say that your child has mastered 3rd grade curriculum material.
However, it is impossible to know just how far ahead, if at all, your child may be from 3rd grade material, unless you go back and
have your child take a higher grade level ITBS.
At the same time, if your child is in the 20% or lower rank on a group achievement test, then it's clearly probable that your child
has not mastered the academic content for that grade level. Again, you won't know how far behind the child is because the test
has only measured knowledge for one grade level.
Keep in mind, that group tests have their flaws and some children score low on them,
not because they don't know the content but because they're hungry, bored, restless (these tests can take up to 6 hours), not interested
in taking the test, or because they're coming down with the flu. With individualized testing, a well-trained educational tester will look for outside factors
that may negatively influence a test session. Should it appear that a child is hungry, overly anxious, or too tired to continue. At that point, the
test session should be rescheduled for another date at no cost to the parent.
[Return to Top]
Q. How is the WJ-III different from group achievement tests like the ITBS?
A. As an individually administered achievement test, the WJ-III allows each child to test as high or as low as they can score in
the areas of Broad Reading, Broad Math, and Broad Writing. Not only will you see if a child is "on grade level" but you will also
see if there are clear strengths or weaknesses in specific areas. For example, a child may have superior reading fluency skills but
poor reading comprehension. The WJ-III will indicate just how wide that gap is between those two areas within the reading domain.
Perhaps the range may be between an 8th grade reading level but a 4th grade comprehension level. With an additional miscue analysis,
you can also begin to understand what factors may be contributing to this discrepancy in skills.
In this case, if the child took the 7th grade ITBS you will only know that the child reads better than most other 7th graders but you
won't know just how poorly their reading comprehension lags behind their age peers.
[Return to Top]
Concerns About Testing
Q. Should I have my child tested in the Spring or the Fall?
A. The time of year you choose to have your child tested is a personal preference. Some families prefer to conduct testing in the Fall, just prior
to starting their newest homeschool year. Doing so gives them an idea of what type of "fresh slate" they are working with, in terms of
learning retention their kids have experienced over the summer. Testing in the Spring, on the other, gives the family plenty of time over
the summer to create a new plan for how the family wants to remediate any weaknesses discovered during the testing process. Some families choose
winter testing, in order to conduct an evaluation as soon as they begin to see a problem that may suggest a learning difference that needs
intervention.
Whatever time of year you choose to participate in testing, scores are adjusted to reflect the amount a child has spent in a specific grade
level learning new material. For example, 5th grade students who test in October are scored and ranked in relation to other 5th grade students across
the country who also took the test in the Fall. Children are never penalized in their scores for taking an achievement test before the traditional
school year has come to a close.
[Return to Top]
Q. How long does testing take?
A. Depending on which test your child is taking, individuaized educational testing can take anywhere from 60 minutes to five hours. A complete
battery of group achievement tests takes around 6 hours.
Assessments that take multiple hours are usually conducted over the course of a couple of days.
[Return to Top]
Q. Will there be breaks in between the tests?
A. If testing is scheduled to last more than 90 minutes than a break is scheduled into the test session. Otherwise, children are encouraged to stretch
in between sub-tests. Bathroom breaks are always granted at the end of any sub-test. With individualized testing, additional breaks can be
worked into the testing seesion should a child exhibit stress related behaviors.
[Return to Top]
Q. Can my child eat during the test?
A. Eating, drinking or gum chewing is not allowed during the actual test administration. However, children are encouraged to eat a healthy
snack during their stretch break, if they have brought one. Soda, fruit punches and candy are discouraged as snacks.
[Return to Top]
Q. What can I do to prepare my child to take an achievement test?
A. An achievement test is an opportunity to see what a child knows in the areas of math, reading and writing at a given point in time in their
academic career. You can't study for an achievement test.
The best way to prepare your child for any educational testing is to explain to them that the test is just one way that you'll get to see
just how well they've learned throughout their homeschooling. Let your child know that they can't fail the test. Having your child get a good night's sleep
and eating a health meal prior to testing will also help your child do their best during the test session.
[Return to Top]
Q. Can I stay with my child until they are comfortable in the test room?
A. While it is not encouraged, parents can stay in the testing room for the administration of the first sub-test with individualized testing.
Parents are expected to remain silent
throughout the testing period and to not help or prompt their child in answering any questions. Our office space is set up so that you can wait
comfortably outside our testing room. Breaks can be built into the test session to help a nervous child "check-in" with their parent, if
necessary.
[Return to Top]
Q. How will my unschooler perform on an achievement test?
A. Many unschoolers have successfully taken individualized achievement tests, the SAT, as well as gone on to college,
demonstrating that this method of homeschooling successfully teaches a child a wealth of information. Keep in mind that
unschooling can sometimes cause gaps of knowledge to occur. Educational testing will help to identify those gaps, as well as identify a
child's strengths and weaknesses; helping a parent to determine how best to adjust homeschooling to fully meet their child's
needs.
[Return to Top]
Q. My child is not yet an independent reader, should I have her tested?
A. Non-fluent readers can be tested with an individualized achievement test; however parents must keep in mind that score results will be limited as
some sub-tests cannot be scored if the child is not able to read the questions independently. Independent reading is an essential skill for a group achievement
test.
[Return to Top]
Q. My child can't write, yet. Can he still be tested?
A. With an individually administered achievement test, children do need to be able to hold a pencil to write numbers for the math portions and circle
answers for one section of the reading portion. Some portions of the writing section can still be administered to pre-writers.
[Return to Top]
Questions About Scoring
Q. If I test through Hand In Hand, who will see the test scores?
A. Test scores and reports are only sent to the family who has paid for testing services. Test scores are never handled or in the possession
of testing coordinators, support groups, or umbrella groups that may sponsor group test sessions. Hand In Hand will send test records
to outside parties only if a parent submits a signed letter authorizing release.
[Return to Top]
Q. Do I have to report my child's test scores to the county school board or state department of education?
A. Parents in Maryland are not required to test their homeschooled children. If you choose educational testing for your child, you are under
no obligation to share those results with your local school board. If you do choose to share the results, you are not required to leave a
copy in your family's file held at the school board office.
Pennsylvania families are required by law to submit copies of test results with their portfolio in 3rd, 5th, and 8th grades.
[Return to Top]
Q. What are percentile ranks?
A. A percentile rank tells you how well your child did on a particular test, compared to other children of the same age taking that same grade
level test. A child who scores at the 50th percentile can be said to be "on grade level" because that child scored better than half of the
sample of children who first took the test. A 75th percentile rank would be considered "above grade level". This child has scored better
than 75 out of 100 other students of the same age taking that particular test.
[Return to Top]
Q. What happens if my child "fails" the achievement test?
A. No one can fail an achievement test. Your child's test scores may be affected by any number of reasons, including lack of
sleep, being hungry, nervousness, undiagnosed learning disabilities, and medical conditions. Should your child's test scores
come back unusually low, a special telephone conference will be arranged to discuss concerns.
[Return to Top]
Q. My child scored poorly on her achievement score. Should I put her back in school?
A. Educational testing is a snapshot of a child on a random day in the child's life. Many factors contribute to a high or low score.
Obviously, content knowledge plays a big part in whether a student does well on the test, but other factors
can come into play, also, such as fear, fatigue and famine. If your child's scores come back lower than you expect, remember you
are not a failure as a homeschool parent. While a full report analyzing achievement test results can begin to explain what may be
happening academically with your child, only you as the parent have the right to make educational decisions for your child.
[Return to Top]
Other Questions
Q. Can you test my child if I live in another state?
A. A qualified educational tester can assist families in any state.
[Return to Top]
Q. How much does testing cost?
A. Test fees are determined by the amount of time it takes to do the testing and the type of report that is prepared for the parent. Individualized test fees begin at $225. A sliding fee scale is available for families meeting income guidelines. Proof of income will be required. Payment is required at the time of testing.
[Return to Top]
Q. Won't a public school test my child for free?
A. Federal law requires public schools to provide homeschool families with a free initial educational evaluation
if a parent requests one in writing due to a suspected learning disability. Parents will be required to attend a follow-up meeting to determine if the child is eligible for special education services. At this point, Maryland public schools are not legally required to provide any additional services to a homeschool family, unless the family enrolls their child in school.
[Return to Top]
Q. Would you be willing to test in my home?
A. While Hand In Hand will not administer educational testing within a private home, you can save yourself time and
travel costs by arranging to host a day of testing for your support group. Visit our Group Discount Page for more information.
[Return to Top]
Alessa Giampaolo Keener, M.Ed. has homeschooled her two boys from kindergarten to college.
Alessa holds a Masters degree in Education from Johns Hopkins University, where she was trained to do educational testing.
Alessa also works as a curriculum developer creating non-traditional learning programs for non-profits and museums.
Contact Alessa today to schedule your testing appointment.
