Ohio
Public School Proficiency Testing
At this time of year, many school districts send letters to local home schoolers, advising that proficiency testing is taking place in the public school. These letters often indicate that without passing the proficiency test, a student may not receive a diploma from the public school. In addition, some letters imply that home schoolers are required to take these proficiency tests.
Proficiency testing is not mandatory for home educated students. Therefore, there is no need or reason for parents to respond to such letters, and certainly no requirement to schedule proficiency testing for a home schooled student. However, testing is one of several options from which parents can choose for their child’s required end-of year evaluation. If parents select this testing option, their child is required to take the nationally normed standardized tests given at the end of the school year.
Regarding the issue of passing the proficiency test in order to receive a diploma from the public school—since home schoolers do not receive diplomas from the public school under any circumstances, proficiency testing is unnecessary. Even if a home schooler decided to take the proficiency test, he still would not be eligible to receive a diploma from the public school because he is not enrolled in the public school.
Home schoolers graduate from their home education program with transcripts and diplomas provided either by the parent or the satellite school program in which they are enrolled. If you are home schooling a high schooler who may be college bound, ask Home School Legal Defense Association for our packet on planning a high school program and preparing transcripts. Don’t leave preparation of high school transcripts until the twelfth grade. Planning should begin at ninth grade.
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Beautiful Ohio
by
Ballard MacDonald
special lyrics by
Wilbert B. McBride
“. . . Cities rising high, silhouette the sky. Freedom is supreme in this majestic land . . .”
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