Testing—The Outside Perspective

In May 1985, BJU Press began offering a unique service to home schools: the Testing and Evaluation Service, an achievement and cognitive abilities testing program. Since that time, tests have been sent out to parents who are concerned that their children receive the best home school education that they can. Why do they decide to use achievement tests?

Though they vary widely, home schools all share at least one characteristic: a small school population. Because the parent/teacher has contact with only a few children all during the school years, he may gain a misconception of true academic progress. It is difficult, for example, to determine whether an eight-year-old's reading level is advanced or remedial without an outside perspective—a valid, reliable measure of educational performance. That is exactly what TES is. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (grades 1-8), the Tests of Achievement and Proficiency (grades 9-12), and the Cognitive Abilities Test (grades 3-12) have been made available to home schools through an agreement with Riverside Publishing Company. BJU Press distributes, scores, and interprets the tests solely for home schools.

Because these are nationally administered tests, Riverside Publishing Company has established certain qualifications for those administering the tests. A parent giving the test must be a certified teacher, a currently employed teacher, or a graduate of a four-year bachelor's degree program. Of course, a parent can choose anyone who fits one of these qualifications to administer the tests to his child. Meeting this requirement helps to insure test validity among scores reported from conventional schools all over the nation. In essence, this requirement gives the testing the same standing as achievement tests give in conventional schools.

Another advantage of this testing program is confidentiality. Because BJU Press does the scoring, the test results are sent only to the parents. They can then adjust their teaching strategies as they see fit. BJU Press retains a copy of the scores only for replacement purposes.

If a home school child enters a conventional school, previous achievement testing can only be an advantage. Although most high schools give entrance tests to new students, it is possible that some high schools will waive some tests on the basis of achievement test scores earned during home schooling. If entrance tests are not waived, the child at least has the advantage of being familiar with achievement tests.

Although some states require home schools to report achievement test scores, the reason home schools use achievement tests runs far deeper than state requirement. Christians who both parent and educate their own children have a double accountability to God. Part of fulfilling that responsibility is maximizing the child's achievement—making sure that their first-grader can do everything he needs to be able to do. Achievement tests help a child "stay on track" with his education. Through the Testing and Evaluation Service, the home school child can have the same advantage.

Reprinted from Home School Helper. Used with permission of BJU Press. Please write hshelper@bjupress.com for permission to reproduce this article. All other correspondence (subscription requests, change of address, etc.) should be sent to bjupinfo@bjupress.com.