We will be moving to NC at some point and I am so glad to hear that NC will not shut down your homeschool due to test scores. From what I read, VA will and I was so stressed out about that. NC seems to be a great place to homeschool.
This is a great video. We pulled out our autistic son from public school half way through his 1st grade. We’ve used abc mouse to prepare him for a repeat first grade for physical homecoming starting this summer when he turns 7 and we establish the home school.
What a wonderful thing you are doing for your son! Can I challenge you to take it even a step further? Don't be confined by the concept of "grade level." That's an artificial social construct made to manage age levels in schools. It doesn't reflect ability, intelligence, or maturity. There doesn't need to be any repeating of first grade because there no longer needs to be any such thing as first grade. Meet your son where he is, fill gaps where they need to be filled, and just enjoy moving forward finding his unique abilities and intelligences. I guarantee he has gifts schools wouldn't know what to do with
May I ask how things are going for you? My son is autistic and I want to homeschool but I got the concept of how establishing the school what I'm lost in is the "curriculum" and the testing since my son is Autistic
So helpful! I started homeschooling March this year so I don't have to test until next year but this was so helpful and answered all my questions. Thank you!!!
This video was so helpful and makes me so sad. I sent my child back to public school this feb because I was so overwhelmed when I couldn’t find information about standardized testing for him. I didn’t know if he HAD to have it and I couldn’t figure it out so I just threw him back in there. He was doing so great academically here at home. He’s very smart and I feel like his potential is not being met in public school
I"m so sorry things did not work out for you last year, but everything happens for a reason. I'm sure there is a silver lining there somehwere. But if you ever have the chance, it's never too late to homeschool again! And if you've registered once in NC, you don't have to do that step again. Feel free to get in touch if there's anything I can do to help if you find yourself on that path again.
@@PorscheRoxy You don't submit it again, but you do need to login to your portal and reopen your homeschool. (You should have logged in and closed it once you sent your child back to school, so if you haven't done that, it's a good thing to do now for continuity of records.)
We are potentially relocating to NC. I’m trying to figure out, what does this look like if you have a child with special needs who isn’t able to directly answer test questions or take any conventional assessments? (Thanks! Love your channel :))
Hi Melissa! As the school administrator, you can make accommodations for your students' needs. I would suggest contacting a Woodcock Johnson test administrator, too, for a gentler, special-needs-friendly test that meets the state's requirements. There are some recommendations on my site at trianglehomeschoolresources.com/getting-started/standardized-testing/ Good luck with your move!
Thank you. You’re right, I’ve been totally stressed about this. My son fell through the cracks in school and was behind about three grades when I did my own placement test when we started with the homeschool journey. SOMEHOW, he did fine in his standardized tests in public school, which is very fishy. I’m afraid he might not meet the same standard ‘he’ met with the testing in public school. I know he had to be, at the very least, coached during his public tests. What if his score doesn’t show improvement from the sham tests he’s been taking in public school? I know he’s doing way better and we’ve worked very hard this last year and improved his grade by about two grade levels. I’m very proud of him. Will his CAT scores cause us problems from the state?
Hi there! So sorry for the delayed reply. Are you in NC? If so, then no. The CAT scores don't matter at all. The only thing that matters is that you do the testing. YOU don't even need to look at the score if you don't want to. Lean into the knowledge that your son is no longer falling through the cracks! His education is now totally tailored to HIM. Continuing to move forward is the only benchmark that matters now.
From what I gathered, state testing is just a bench mark to see where your child is at academy correct? So does NC require homeschool children to take the OGT too? Is there a website that answers most of the questions listed on here? Is there a centralized place where parents can exchange information with each other for each state? Thanks for the help, God bless and stay safe everyone 🥰🌻💕🦋🌈
Well, in NC, we have to do a nationally normed standardized test, not a state-specific one. They are not the same as the EOGs public schools give. And the results of standardized testing are for the parents' information only. Some tests are better than others at showing you where your child is at academically, and some of them are really only useful for being able to say you did the test and met that state requirement. As for where parents exchange info, local support groups and Facebook groups seem to be the best way!
So in NC the California achievement test does cover all required subjects for annual required testing? My son 3rd grade and it being end of tr needs take the 4th grade test?
Yes, the CAT meets the requirement. Check with the test vendor to be sure you’re getting the correct level, but if you’re purchasing from AcademicExcellence, then yes, get the 4th grade.
The CAT includes a section on spelling! I definitely know that because it's my kids' lowest scores every year. Lol! We're just not great spellers here. I get my test from AcademicExcellence.com and their battery definitely includes spelling.
Hi there, great video! One question though. How long does the CAT take? I have a soon to be 3rd grader with ADHD and I wonder how to plan the day and if we will need to break it you. Thank so much!
Hello! You should definitely break up the testing. You don't have to complete it in a day, or even a week. The sections for that age probably don't get longer than 25 minutes each. So you can do a section or two a day and be done in less than a week.
Is it possible to see the test before hand. I just want to see what my soon to be 3 rd grader should be learning. so that I can make sure I teach that in our homeschool
Hi Kristen! The tests cover a really wide range of skills. They're made to be below, at, AND above the grade level so that almost every kid taking their grade level is going to find things on the test they definitely know, things that are new, and things that are beyond what they've learned. All that is to say, the beauty of homeschooling is that we don't have to teach to the test. No one is grading your child or your homeschool based on their performance on the annual standardized test. There are books out there called "What Your ___ Grader Needs to Know" that some parents use as a guideline, but it's not a hard and fast rule, for sure. Academic Excellence does sell sample tests, but they're geared more toward learning how the test process works and not the test content itself. Keep your kids moving forward and making progress and you'll be surprised at how well they do on the standardized tests!
Can all testing be done online? We are planning on moving to Mexico for 6 months. But want to homeschool. So that my son doesn’t fall to far behind. Then put him back in school in January 2023.
Hi! Assuming that you are based in North Carolina while you live abroad and are following the laws in this state, then yes, testing can be completed online. The CAT test is probably the best way to do that.
So my twins do not turn 7 until December, but we have already been homeschooling. When would we need to submit a letter of intent? This is confusing lol
Hello, I did have to do the notice of intent for my (6 yo) daughter because she was previously enrolled in public school (pulled out due to covid but I was told she had to do the noi) , but she is not 7 nor will be 7 until the beginning of next school year will she still be required to do the standardized testing for this year?
Hello, Amber! Well, technically, even though she was in public school, you did not need to open a homeschool to withdraw her at that age. If the school said so, they were misinformed. I would recommend closing your homeschool for the remainder of the year and reopening at her 7th birthday because, yes, of she is enrolled, then all rules including attendance and testing need to be followed.
Hi Renee! The easiest is the online CAT. You can order it from AcademicExcellence.com. It's easy to follow and complete and you have results in your inbox in minutes.
@@trianglehomeschoolresources Thanks so much! I have another question but I know it isn't on topic. My sons father isn't to open about homeschooling. I know he wants them to have a graduation ceremony...is there a site to register my kids for a ceremony of graduation in the triad area... Greensboro, Durham etc?
Hi Tiphanie! If your child is not yet 7, then in NC, you don't need to register a homeschool, and therefore don't need to do standardized testing. Once your child is 7, if still in K or 1st grade, I would reach out to the testing provider to see what level they recommend.
"testing is just a box to check" makes me very uncomfortable when there are already so few requirements for homeschools to report anything to the state that could ensure that children are receiving an adequate education
I understand why you might feel that way, but I would encourage you to research homeschooling outcomes historically and the correlation to oversight and testing. NHERI is a good place to start. In summary: "Degree of state control and regulation of homeschooling is not related to academic achievement." www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/ Consider the flip side of this as well: Even in the public school system, testing is now understood as a poor indicator of true educational success: www.ascd.org/el/articles/why-standardized-tests-dont-measure-educational-quality Despite the mountains of EOGs, nationally standardized tests, and test prep that schools do today, kids still slip through the cracks there as well. There is no perfect system. But whether homeschooled or public-schooled, parent involvement is the highest indicator of success. You can Google pages and pages of research on this, but here's a good article from Purdue: www.purdue.edu/hhs/hdfs/fii/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/fia_brchapter_20c02.pdf Thank you, though, for sharing your perspective. We do want our kids to succeed, for sure! I just don't agree that testing tells us much about it.
Hello I'm on my journey trying to decide whether we want to homeschool or keep our kids in public school. I'm in Charlotte and wanted to know the discount code for the testing .Thanks
Hi there! As of now, the best discount code for the CAT from AcademicExcellence is FIRSTCAT. However, you have lots of time before yours need to do that if you haven't even withdrawn then from school yet. Check back at the end of the school year for updates.
Hi I started my homeschool last September I wanted to see when should I test my son what test do you suggest and who do I contact to test him I hear about the pass test but I don't know where to get it
Hi! P.A.S.S is a great test! You can order it at hewittlearning.org/pass/ You'll have to do it before September (or the first anniversary of your homeschool registration), but other than that, it's up to you :)
My child just turned 5 this March, is it possible to homeschool her for Kindergarten so she can start first grade next year. I would like her to start school next year but in first grade.
Hi there! The only way to know would be for you to have a conversation with the principal of the school she would be going into next year. Placement of incoming students is up to each individual principal in NC, so there is no universal way of handling it.
I have a question my daughter is senoir highschool being homeschooled doing dual classess for credits at her community college. Will she still need to take s.a.t?? Someone told her she didnt need to take it because the college doesnt require it. im confused
Hi! To bed honest, there's no easy answer. The only way to know it's to reach out to schools she'll be applying to (or the CC if she's continuing on there) sand ask if they will want to see SAT or ACT scores
We will be moving to NC at some point and I am so glad to hear that NC will not shut down your homeschool due to test scores. From what I read, VA will and I was so stressed out about that. NC seems to be a great place to homeschool.
This is a great video. We pulled out our autistic son from public school half way through his 1st grade. We’ve used abc mouse to prepare him for a repeat first grade for physical homecoming starting this summer when he turns 7 and we establish the home school.
What a wonderful thing you are doing for your son! Can I challenge you to take it even a step further? Don't be confined by the concept of "grade level." That's an artificial social construct made to manage age levels in schools. It doesn't reflect ability, intelligence, or maturity. There doesn't need to be any repeating of first grade because there no longer needs to be any such thing as first grade. Meet your son where he is, fill gaps where they need to be filled, and just enjoy moving forward finding his unique abilities and intelligences. I guarantee he has gifts schools wouldn't know what to do with
May I ask how things are going for you?
My son is autistic and I want to homeschool but I got the concept of how establishing the school what I'm lost in is the "curriculum" and the testing since my son is Autistic
This was such a great videos. I've been stressing out about testing. Thanks for all the info
Thank you for watching! So glad it helped!
So helpful! I started homeschooling March this year so I don't have to test until next year but this was so helpful and answered all my questions. Thank you!!!
I'm so glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad I watched this.
This video was so helpful and makes me so sad. I sent my child back to public school this feb because I was so overwhelmed when I couldn’t find information about standardized testing for him. I didn’t know if he HAD to have it and I couldn’t figure it out so I just threw him back in there. He was doing so great academically here at home. He’s very smart and I feel like his potential is not being met in public school
I"m so sorry things did not work out for you last year, but everything happens for a reason. I'm sure there is a silver lining there somehwere. But if you ever have the chance, it's never too late to homeschool again! And if you've registered once in NC, you don't have to do that step again. Feel free to get in touch if there's anything I can do to help if you find yourself on that path again.
So I don’t have to send the NOI again?
@@PorscheRoxy You don't submit it again, but you do need to login to your portal and reopen your homeschool. (You should have logged in and closed it once you sent your child back to school, so if you haven't done that, it's a good thing to do now for continuity of records.)
Should I close it even though we will be starting again soon?
@@PorscheRoxy if you're starting homeschool again, probably not 👍
We are potentially relocating to NC. I’m trying to figure out, what does this look like if you have a child with special needs who isn’t able to directly answer test questions or take any conventional assessments? (Thanks! Love your channel :))
Hi Melissa! As the school administrator, you can make accommodations for your students' needs. I would suggest contacting a Woodcock Johnson test administrator, too, for a gentler, special-needs-friendly test that meets the state's requirements. There are some recommendations on my site at trianglehomeschoolresources.com/getting-started/standardized-testing/
Good luck with your move!
Thank you. You’re right, I’ve been totally stressed about this. My son fell through the cracks in school and was behind about three grades when I did my own placement test when we started with the homeschool journey. SOMEHOW, he did fine in his standardized tests in public school, which is very fishy. I’m afraid he might not meet the same standard ‘he’ met with the testing in public school. I know he had to be, at the very least, coached during his public tests. What if his score doesn’t show improvement from the sham tests he’s been taking in public school? I know he’s doing way better and we’ve worked very hard this last year and improved his grade by about two grade levels. I’m very proud of him. Will his CAT scores cause us problems from the state?
Hi there! So sorry for the delayed reply. Are you in NC? If so, then no. The CAT scores don't matter at all. The only thing that matters is that you do the testing. YOU don't even need to look at the score if you don't want to. Lean into the knowledge that your son is no longer falling through the cracks! His education is now totally tailored to HIM. Continuing to move forward is the only benchmark that matters now.
@@trianglehomeschoolresources Thank you so much. Yes, we’re in North Carolina. And thank you for easing my anxiety in this issue.
From what I gathered, state testing is just a bench mark to see where your child is at academy correct? So does NC require homeschool children to take the OGT too? Is there a website that answers most of the questions listed on here?
Is there a centralized place where parents can exchange information with each other for each state? Thanks for the help, God bless and stay safe everyone 🥰🌻💕🦋🌈
Well, in NC, we have to do a nationally normed standardized test, not a state-specific one. They are not the same as the EOGs public schools give. And the results of standardized testing are for the parents' information only. Some tests are better than others at showing you where your child is at academically, and some of them are really only useful for being able to say you did the test and met that state requirement. As for where parents exchange info, local support groups and Facebook groups seem to be the best way!
@@trianglehomeschoolresources Thank you so much for your help and time. Stay safe and God bless 🥰🦋🌻💕🌈
So in NC the California achievement test does cover all required subjects for annual required testing? My son 3rd grade and it being end of tr needs take the 4th grade test?
Yes, the CAT meets the requirement. Check with the test vendor to be sure you’re getting the correct level, but if you’re purchasing from AcademicExcellence, then yes, get the 4th grade.
@@trianglehomeschoolresources I ordered from Christian liberty. But it did ask what grade and I selected 4th so I hope it is the right thing!!
@@leahrodriquez1349 yes! That’s correct for that vendor as well.
I may look stupid, especially since I used to teach. But, what if I didnt know I had to give him a eoc, a special standardized test?
so the CAT is a good annual test? but what about the spelling part, i thought that NC required spelling test?
The CAT includes a section on spelling! I definitely know that because it's my kids' lowest scores every year. Lol! We're just not great spellers here. I get my test from AcademicExcellence.com and their battery definitely includes spelling.
Hi there, great video! One question though. How long does the CAT take? I have a soon to be 3rd grader with ADHD and I wonder how to plan the day and if we will need to break it you. Thank so much!
Hello! You should definitely break up the testing. You don't have to complete it in a day, or even a week. The sections for that age probably don't get longer than 25 minutes each. So you can do a section or two a day and be done in less than a week.
Is it possible to see the test before hand. I just want to see what my soon to be 3 rd grader should be learning. so that I can make sure I teach that in our homeschool
Hi Kristen! The tests cover a really wide range of skills. They're made to be below, at, AND above the grade level so that almost every kid taking their grade level is going to find things on the test they definitely know, things that are new, and things that are beyond what they've learned. All that is to say, the beauty of homeschooling is that we don't have to teach to the test. No one is grading your child or your homeschool based on their performance on the annual standardized test. There are books out there called "What Your ___ Grader Needs to Know" that some parents use as a guideline, but it's not a hard and fast rule, for sure. Academic Excellence does sell sample tests, but they're geared more toward learning how the test process works and not the test content itself. Keep your kids moving forward and making progress and you'll be surprised at how well they do on the standardized tests!
Can all testing be done online? We are planning on moving to Mexico for 6 months. But want to homeschool. So that my son doesn’t fall to far behind. Then put him back in school in January 2023.
Hi! Assuming that you are based in North Carolina while you live abroad and are following the laws in this state, then yes, testing can be completed online. The CAT test is probably the best way to do that.
@@trianglehomeschoolresources THANK YOU
Thank You so much for the information very much appreciated.
So my twins do not turn 7 until December, but we have already been homeschooling. When would we need to submit a letter of intent? This is confusing lol
Thank you for this video.
Hello, I did have to do the notice of intent for my (6 yo) daughter because she was previously enrolled in public school (pulled out due to covid but I was told she had to do the noi) , but she is not 7 nor will be 7 until the beginning of next school year will she still be required to do the standardized testing for this year?
Hello, Amber! Well, technically, even though she was in public school, you did not need to open a homeschool to withdraw her at that age. If the school said so, they were misinformed. I would recommend closing your homeschool for the remainder of the year and reopening at her 7th birthday because, yes, of she is enrolled, then all rules including attendance and testing need to be followed.
So what simple self administered test can I give my 11 and 12th grader? We are in NC.
Hi Renee! The easiest is the online CAT. You can order it from AcademicExcellence.com. It's easy to follow and complete and you have results in your inbox in minutes.
@@trianglehomeschoolresources Thanks so much!
I have another question but I know it isn't on topic. My sons father isn't to open about homeschooling. I know he wants them to have a graduation ceremony...is there a site to register my kids for a ceremony of graduation in the triad area... Greensboro, Durham etc?
@@reneec3186 Yes! There is a huge graduation in Winston-Salem at the NCHE Thrive! Convention!
Check it out: www.nche.com/thrive/graduation/
What do you do for standardized testing for the first few years? ie Kindergarten or First grade?
Hi Tiphanie! If your child is not yet 7, then in NC, you don't need to register a homeschool, and therefore don't need to do standardized testing. Once your child is 7, if still in K or 1st grade, I would reach out to the testing provider to see what level they recommend.
"testing is just a box to check" makes me very uncomfortable when there are already so few requirements for homeschools to report anything to the state that could ensure that children are receiving an adequate education
I understand why you might feel that way, but I would encourage you to research homeschooling outcomes historically and the correlation to oversight and testing. NHERI is a good place to start. In summary: "Degree of state control and regulation of homeschooling is not related to academic achievement." www.nheri.org/research-facts-on-homeschooling/
Consider the flip side of this as well: Even in the public school system, testing is now understood as a poor indicator of true educational success: www.ascd.org/el/articles/why-standardized-tests-dont-measure-educational-quality
Despite the mountains of EOGs, nationally standardized tests, and test prep that schools do today, kids still slip through the cracks there as well.
There is no perfect system. But whether homeschooled or public-schooled, parent involvement is the highest indicator of success. You can Google pages and pages of research on this, but here's a good article from Purdue: www.purdue.edu/hhs/hdfs/fii/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/fia_brchapter_20c02.pdf
Thank you, though, for sharing your perspective. We do want our kids to succeed, for sure! I just don't agree that testing tells us much about it.
Hello I'm on my journey trying to decide whether we want to homeschool or keep our kids in public school. I'm in Charlotte and wanted to know the discount code for the testing .Thanks
Hi there! As of now, the best discount code for the CAT from AcademicExcellence is FIRSTCAT. However, you have lots of time before yours need to do that if you haven't even withdrawn then from school yet. Check back at the end of the school year for updates.
@@trianglehomeschoolresources Thanks
Hi I started my homeschool last September I wanted to see when should I test my son what test do you suggest and who do I contact to test him I hear about the pass test but I don't know where to get it
Hi! P.A.S.S is a great test! You can order it at hewittlearning.org/pass/
You'll have to do it before September (or the first anniversary of your homeschool registration), but other than that, it's up to you :)
My child just turned 5 this March, is it possible to homeschool her for Kindergarten so she can start first grade next year. I would like her to start school next year but in first grade.
Hi there! The only way to know would be for you to have a conversation with the principal of the school she would be going into next year. Placement of incoming students is up to each individual principal in NC, so there is no universal way of handling it.
I have a question my daughter is senoir highschool being homeschooled doing dual classess for credits at her community college. Will she still need to take s.a.t?? Someone told her she didnt need to take it because the college doesnt require it. im confused
Hi! To bed honest, there's no easy answer. The only way to know it's to reach out to schools she'll be applying to (or the CC if she's continuing on there) sand ask if they will want to see SAT or ACT scores