Nationally Standardized Testing Requirement

Home Schools

In accordance with G.S. 115C-564, the home school chief administrator is required to administer a nationally standardized test or other nationally standardized equivalent measurement to each enrolled student on an annual basis.

Test Qualifications:

• Nationally standardized reporting scores as at least GE/AE, National Percentile rank
• Measure achievement
• Cover: English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics.

The chief administrator is responsible for obtaining and/or scheduling the nationally standardized test at some time during the school year. DNPE, nor the public school provide the test or funding for the tests.

Some tests may be administered within the home and others require a certified administrator; consult the requirements of the selected test and their vendor for specific information.

The test results must be kept on file at the home school for at least one year thereafter. Failure to retain test results may jeopardize your child's proper grade placement when seeking enrollment in a conventional school. The test results must also be made available for inspection upon request by the Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE).

It is highly recommended that ALL test scores be retained for future reference in the student’s personal file within the home school. DNPE recommends to NEVER discard test scores. These test scores are an objective means of substantiating both legal compliance and progress to outside agencies if necessary.

Machined-scored assessments are not required nor is there a minimum score requirement on any nationally standardized test for any home school student. North Carolina public school End-of-Grade tests are also not required and typically cannot be administered to home school students

Administrators should not mail test scores to the DNPE unless specifically requested to do so. However, in the interest of self-accountability, a place is provided in the online home school record for Administrators to record the date of annual testing. No scores are reported in this log, only the date testing was conducted and the type of test used is recorded. This is not a requirement; however, this action does create a dated log entry for further documentation of legal compliance.

Below are tests home schools in North Carolina use most often; however, there are many others available to choose. It is the responsibility of the parent to confirm that a test meets the state requirements.

CAT
ACT w/essay
BASI
CLT 10
CLT 8
IOWA (ITBS)
MAP
PASS
Stanford
Terra Nova
Test Point
WIAT
Woodcock Johnson
WRAT

While there are other Standardized testing options available, this is just a comprehensive list of the nationally known test.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the SAT/ACT/PreSAT meet the testing requirements?

The developers of the SAT has eliminated the essay (writing) component of the exam. As a result, the SAT does not meet the requirements according to NC statutes for non-public schools that require national standardized tests to assess spelling. The ACT meets the testing requirements only if the writing portion is administered.  The PreSAT does not meet the testing requirements.

My student is older than 16, do I need to administer an achievement test?

Yes, every enrolled home school student should be tested each school year regardless of age.

I started home school in January, do I need to test before the end of the school year?

There are two laws which reference achievement testing:

§ 115C-549. Standardized testing requirements.
(which pertains to private schools part 1 and 2)
Each private church school or school of religious charter shall administer, at least once in each school year, a nationally standardized test or other nationally standardized equivalent measurement selected by the chief administrative officer of such school, to all students enrolled or regularly attending grades three, six and nine (the grades of testing are limited to grades 3, 6 and 9 in private schools)

§ 115C-564. Qualifications and requirements. (home schools are private schools are part 3 of Article 39 of G.S. 115C)
A home school shall make the election to operate under the qualifications of either Part 1 or Part 2 of this Article and shall meet the requirements of the Part elected, ……and except that testing requirements in G.S. 115C-549 and G.S. 115C-557 shall be on an annual basis taken together these two statutes indicate that home school students should be tested each school year, meaning annually rather than only in certain grades. It does NOT matter what month of the school year the test is administered.

Do I mail my test scores to DNPE each year?

No  – you only need to mail test scores if you are requested to do so. Otherwise we advise you keep ALL test scores in your home school files forever. These scores indicate to outside agencies that you were complying with the home school law and mark student progress.

What is the purpose of that part of the home school record that asks me to list the test we gave? This is optional and there is no penalty for not entering tests administered. To help home school parents, a field is provided in the record to record the test given and the month and year administered. This creates a log in the home school record signifying the Chief Administrator is complying with legal requirements and creates a record of compliance. Test scores are NEVER recorded into the school record.

Which tests are recommended for home schools?

There is no particular test required. A list of commonly used test is provided below, but this may not be an exhaustive list. Chief Administrators are responsible for ensuring that the test meets the requirements: nationally normed and standardized in administration, includes subtests in reading, grammar, spelling and mathematics.

My student has learning differences, do I need to test?

Yes  – All students enrolled must be tested. For students with significant academic delays we recommend using a specialize test such as the Brigance or other achievement tests may be more suitable for these students. Several vendors provide these options. If students are not capable of testing, a doctor’s note must be kept on file showing that the child is not physically/mentally capable to test.

What testing accommodations can be made for my student with learning differences?

Accomodations are alterations in the way tasks are presented and responses are given which allow students with disabilities to complete the same test as regular students. Accomodations are NOT alterations in the material or information and they should not provide an unfair advantage. The individual test publishers and venders generally can provide information on what type of accommodations are acceptable. Any accommodations should be noted on the test record.

Is machine scoring required?

Tests do not need to be machine scored.

Can parents administer the achievement test to their own children?

North Carolina does not prevent parents to administer tests to their own students so long as the test publisher allows this practice. Some tests must be given by administrators with specific credentials.

What is the purpose of giving an achievement test each year?

Annual testing allows parents to track their student’s progress and to identify areas of strength and weakness. Students do not pass from one grade to another based on achievement test scores. There are many factors which can be used to determine if a student should move on to a higher grade-level work. Achievement test scores may be used for grade placement if parents seek to enroll their students into a conventional private or public school. Principals generally require recent achievement tests for students returning to traditional school from home school.

The DNPE does not evaluate student progress through test scores and there is no minimal score which must be attained.

Nationally Standardized Achievement Test Vendors

Listed below are some sources from which you may purchase nationally standardized achievement testing services. 
 
This list is provided solely for your convenience in satisfying the North Carolina General Statutes' testing requirement for Non-Public school students.  The information below (along with related links from it) does not constitute a recommendation or an endorsement by the Division for any one of these vendors or their other related services.