ESD requested you turn in your test results?

Hello home schoolers,

Just a brief email to let you know that some home schoolers are being requested to turn in test results this year. There are three things to know and three things you can do. Administrative rules below are italicized and in smaller print.  

What you need to know:

First, even if you test annually, you are only required to submit test results for grades 3, 5, 8, and 10. 

(3) Children being taught as provided in subsection (2) of this section shall be examined at grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 in accordance with the following procedures: 

However, if your student is playing sports or involved in an OSAA activity, annual testing is required. 

Second, you are only required to submit test results if requested by your ESD. If you aren’t asked, you aren’t required to disclose them. 

(d) Upon request of the superintendent of the education service district, the parent or legal guardian shall submit the results of the examination to the education service district.

Third, the score deemed as passing is a composite percentile score of 15 or higher based on national norms. 

(4)(a) If the composite test score of the child places the child below the 15th percentile based on national norms, the child shall be given an additional examination within one year of when the first examination was administered.

The word composite as used here means the total score percentile rank of reading, language, and math. The passing standard of 15 does not refer to single subject percentile score. 

What you can do if your student’s total percentile rank is below 15: 

First, you can simply submit the score and test again next year using the next level test up.

(4)(a) If the composite test score of the child places the child below the 15th percentile based on national norms, the child shall be given an additional examination within one year of when the first examination was administered.

Second, because your test results are confidential, you could work with your student over the summer and schedule a re-test when you think your child has acquired the requisite skills to pass the test. Keep in mind that the deadline to test is August 15^th. 

Third, because the assumed grade level of a six year old at the time of notification is kindergarten and not first grade, you could revisit the notification paper you filed with the ESD and find you actually have another year of instruction before your student is required to take an end of the year third grade test.   

(b) “Child” means a person between ages 6 and 18 whose parent or parents seek exemption from compulsory school attendance under ORS 339.030(1)(e). A child is considered to be six years of age if the sixth birthday of the child occurred on or before September 1 immediately preceding the beginning of the current school term. A six-year-old is assumed to be a kindergartner, unless the parent wishes to place the child in a higher grade.

More related articles to come in the future. 

Thanks for reading!

Curt Bumcrot, MRE