Homeschooling in West Virginia: Assessment Options

by Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger

28 Apr 2008 06:26 AM

This is not legal advice. As someone who lives in a state that is highly regulated, I cannot emphasize enough the need for you to advocate for yourself and make a point to know your state laws. While the school district will most likely provide you with a printed copy of the laws and regulations for home schooling, a local home schooling group can be a valuable asset when it comes to navigating your way through the system.

Generally, I try to write about one state in one blog. However, West Virginia has a lengthy list of assessment requirements and options and so I thought it best to look at them separately. Make sure to check out the other West Virginia blogs for the entire picture of the law. These four assessment options cover what's required under the "notice" provision.

Standardized Testing Option

Parents may use a nationally-normed, standardized test that is no more than 10 years old. The test must be administered according to the instructions of the test publisher. It must cover reading, language, mathematics, science and social studies. Parents are not allowed to administer the test.

If the child is part of the public school's regular testing program, then the public school must cover the cost of testing. Otherwise, the parents are responsible to cover the cost of the test.

Children must show "acceptable progress." This is defined as scoring in the 50th percentile or higher OR as improvement over last year's results.

Portfolio Option

A certified teacher must include samples of a child's work. The certified teacher must provide a narrative. The narrative must include a statement about the child's progress in the areas of reading, language, math, science and social studies. The narrative must note if any of those areas show need for improvement or remediation. The narrative must also indicate whether or not the progress shown through the work is consistent with his/her academic abilities.

State Testing Program

A child may participate in the "testing program currently in use in the state's public schools." The test must be administered at a local public school and "acceptable progress" is based on the current guidelines of that school.

Alternative Assessment

With the permission of the superintendent, a child may complete any alternative academic assessment of proficiency. The superintendent and parents will have to come to agreement on what is defined as acceptable progress.

If "acceptable progress" isn't made:

The country must notify the parents in writing of services available to assess eligibility for special education services. The person(s) providing home instruction must initiate a remedial program to foster acceptable progress. If acceptable progress is not shown for a second consecutive year, the person(s) providing home instruction must submit to superintendent "additional evidence" that appropriate instruction is being provided. The superintendent may ask the court to intervene by seeking an order to stop homeschooling, but the superintendent must show clear evidence that instruction is not being provided.

Valorie Delp shares recipes and kitchen tips in the food blog, solves breastfeeding problems, shares parenting tips, and current research in the baby blog, and insight, resources and ideas as a regular guest blogger in the homeschooling blog. To read more articles by Valorie Delp, click here.

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Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line.

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