June Newsletter - Evaluations and Standardized Tests

Dear friends,

Congratulations to those of you who have officially finished your school year! I am in the thick of evaluation season right now, so this will be short and sweet. Please expect a longer letter in July!

A few reflections so far, as I evaluate many new families...

You are doing great! I have seen so much variety, ingenuity, perseverance, and dedication in your homeschools. This has been a hard year in so many ways, but you made it. 

Many families homeschooled during the pandemic because their school district offered a less than acceptable option for virtual school, or the back and forth of in-person, hybrid, and virtual school was dizzying. I have heard from several families that they are glad they chose to homeschool, but they plan to send their kids back to school next year. Others say they have found a new way of life and plan to continue homeschooling! And still, others say that they always wanted to try homeschooling, and the pandemic allowed them to try it. Even if they send their kids back to school, they know they have options and could homeschool again in the future. Witnessing this kind of personal empowerment really encourages me to keep on supporting home educators like you.

On a practical note, I have received the following question from a few of you, so let me address it.

Q: I heard that public school kids are allowed to opt-out of standardized tests this year. Can my homeschooled kids opt-out? 

A: I contacted someone at HSLDA and posed the question. I am a member there, so they are my legal counsel. I was informed that this option to opt-out is accurate for public schooled students; however, no changes have been made to the homeschool law. I know the subject is being debated within homeschooling circles, so you might hear various opinions. If you'd like to have me do your evaluation, I will go with the legal counsel I received and ask to see your standardized testing results for any 3rd, 5th, or 8th-grade student. An exception to this is if your school district superintendent (or their representative) provides a statement in writing that you do not have to have it with your evaluation, I won't ask for it either.

I look forward to seeing many more of you in June. Have a wonderful summer!

Linda Cerynik