Janelle Esker I don’t know about you but testing is expensive in my neck of the woods. You have to first find a place or group that provides standardized testing, as well as commit to their schedule. All of these issues have been problematic for me over the years. I present to you The Best Homeschool Online Testing.
I like to have my children tested with a standardized test for two reasons.
1. I like to see the specifics as to where my children are lacking in their academics. It helps me plan for the new year and I can see clearly the areas they need to improve.
2. In Ohio where I live, we are only allowed two forms of evaluation. Standardized Testing or Portfolio Evaluation. I prefer standardized testing because as a teacher I can learn more from it and it is by far much easier than the portfolio option.
In my search for the CHEAPEST and MOST EFFECTIVE standardized test, I stumbled upon Christian Liberty Press’s option for testing online using the California Achievement Test.
Well, It was LOVE at first sight!
Christian Liberty Press Online Testing
Why do you ask am I taken with this option?
Let me count the ways…
1. It is cost-effective! ONLY $25.00!!
2. It is the only test available that has not been “dumbed down”.
3. It is convenient! Your child takes it online in the comfort of your own home.
Here are the DETAILS…
Grades 2–12*
The online CAT Testing Service is for entering grades 2 through 12 and costs $25 per student. The Curriculum Recommendation Service fee is $18 per student. Scores are reported in grade equivalent, stanine, and percentile format. You get test results as soon as you finish the test.
Why does Christian Liberty use the 1970 edition of the California Achievement Test?
Reason #1
We still use the older version of this nationally normed achievement test because the newer editions reflect a lower academic standard. Most educators will acknowledge the fact that our nation’s educational standards, as far as student achievement in the basic skills is concerned, have dropped considerably since the early 1970s. It is our professional opinion that the more recent versions of achievement tests simply do not demand as high a standard of achievement because too many of today’s students are ill-equipped to handle the level of evaluation that was common in the early 1970s.
Reason #2
We are convinced that the older achievement tests reflect a standard much more in keeping with the academic level of our curriculum.
Reason #3
The older achievement tests permit us to compare our students on a national level with students in the public and private schools who were tested prior to the period of the steady decline in student achievement in the government schools during the 1980s and early 1990s.
Reason #4
The older versions of the CAT still accurately measure the basic skill development of students in the time-honored subjects of Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, Grammar and Composition, Spelling, and Mathematics skills. Therefore, state officials who insist that private homeschool students be tested to determine whether they are making satisfactory progress in the basic skills can still rely upon the 1970 CAT. After all, the supposed purpose of state-mandated achievement testing is simply to determine whether children are receiving an education that will permit them to be functionally literate and, therefore, not a burden to themselves or society. The simple fact is that the basic skills have not changed much since the 1970s. In large measure, reading, writing, and arithmetic are still the same as far as the basics are concerned.
Reason #5
To the best of our knowledge, there is no distributor of achievement test materials that will allow any homeschooler to use the latest editions of their tests. Most providers of current achievement tests must approve test administrators before shipping their tests. Suppliers of the achievement test materials most often utilized by homeschoolers and homeschool organizations will usually not permit their tests to be used without a government-licensed individual being directly involved in the testing process. In such cases, parents are often unable to oversee the testing themselves; they may be required to use proctors to administer the tests. We view this stipulation as an unnecessary intrusion into the privacy and sanctity of Christian home schools in general, and our testing service in particular. In conclusion, while we are not inherently opposed to using newer tests, we are not in favor of using more recent achievement tests that would be an inadequate evaluation of our customers’ students or require proctoring by individuals who are state-sanctioned or licensed.
YOUR TURN…
Now, what do you think about that?
Blessings,
I’ll have to check into that. I’m not sure if Faith would perform better online or on paper — she’s used to paper. And that’s a good price. Is the service fee a mandatory part of the testing? We have always used Seton Home Study School Testing. They offer the CAT test as well as many others and I can administer it myself. It’s $39 for the test and results.
I am familiar with Seton Home Testing…they are great. There is no service fee. with Christian Liberty Press I like it also because I get the results immediately.
Can I just say–finally! Someone else who doesn’t hate standardized tests!! All I see all over FB is how everyone hates them, and I actually want to work in a public school as the standardized test person (who evaluates the scores, works with teachers to help them improve, etc). No, standardized tests aren’t everything, but they are incredibly valuable when used appropriately!
Brittany…I am in agreement with you! There are not the all in all but when used appropriately they can really help the teacher! Thanks for stopping by and I really appreciate your comment!