Feeling Like Oregon’s Testing Rules are Oppressive?

Compared to what we had years ago, they are very reasonable.

In the 1980’s, the rules regulating home schooling were simultaneously clear and fuzzy. The first rule was clear: parents had to ask and get permission from the superintendent to home school. If granted, students were placed on a list. Then, at the superintendent’s discretion, the student could be called in for testing at any time during the year.      

The chosen test was at the superintendent’s discretion.

The day testing would take place was at the superintendent’s whim. 

A passing score was what the superintendent said it was.

A failing score was also determined by the superintendent.

The power of remanding back to public school was in his hand.     

It’s understandable why home schoolers during this time were reluctant to comply. I would put the percentage of families I was working with then to be around 10 to 20 percent. The other 80% were schooling “underground,” that is illegally. Not an ideal situation- looking over their shoulder, worrying about nosy neighbors turning them in, and keeping their children indoors from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm lest they get reported as truant.    

And then the rules changed. Parents were empowered.

Asking permission to home school became notification.

Parents now chose the test and when their student would take it. 

A passing score was now objective and no longer at someone’s opinion.   

Students not achieving a passing score were allowed to home school the following year in an attempt to show satisfactory progress.

Following the changes to the rules governing home schooling, the Oregon Department of Education began requesting and tracking test results. The results supported what we knew all along: that home schoolers were doing well enough to be left alone. Testing provided the necessary evidence to support that conclusion.

Thanks for reading!

Curt Bumcrot, MRE

Do you still need to schedule testing? It’s not too late. Available test dates are August 8, 13, and 15. Registration deadlines apply so sign up as soon as possible. 

Click here to register:  https://basicskills.net/remote-group-testing/