Pennsylvania
Attempts to Impose Unauthorized Tests
On March 21, 2000, the Wyoming Area School District assistant superintendent informed the principals under his authority that all students in home education programs were required to participate in district-approved standardized achievement tests. Students in grades 1–7 were to be required to take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills, and students in grades 5, 8, and 11 were to be required to take the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA).
Home School Legal Defense Association responded on behalf of member families receiving the memorandum and informed the assistant superintendent that state law governing home education programs in Pennsylvania does not require students to participate in any district-approved tests. Subsection (e)(1) of § 13-1327.1 of Pennsylvania Statutes Annotated requires standardized achievement tests in reading/language arts and mathematics or the results of statewide tests in grades 3, 5, and 8. If the parent does not choose the statewide tests, the parent must select a test from a list established by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. After receiving this information from HSLDA, the assistant superintendent made no further attempts to compel the unauthorized testing. — Dewitt T. Black
