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Home School Heartbeat in Oregon
Baker City
|
KANL
|
90.7
|
FM
|
Coos Bay
|
KYTT
|
98.7
|
FM
|
Grants Pass
|
KAPK
|
91.1
|
FM
|
Portland
|
KPDQ
|
800
|
AM
|
Portland
|
KPDQ
|
93.9
|
FM
|
Salem
|
KCCS
|
1220
|
AM
|
Winston
|
KGRV
|
700
|
AM
|
|
Oregon
ESD sets own test administrator requirements
In a letter sent to homeschooling families this past May, the Malheur Education Service District Region 14 advised them that standardized achievement tests must be administered by an Oregon certified teacher or someone specifically approved by the Oregon State Department of Education. In fact, Oregon Administrative Rule 581 021 0026(1)(i) defines a qualified person as an individual who (1) holds a current personnel service license or teaching license from the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission; (2) has been licensed by the Oregon Board of Psychologist Examiners; (3) has met the publisher's qualifications for purchase and has purchased at least one test from the list of approved tests; (4) provides evidence of satisfactory completion of a graduate course in which test administration and interpretation is included in the objective; or (5) has previously qualified as a tester and has during the previous year administered at least one test from the list of approved tests. Additionally, according to OAR 581 021 0026 (5)(a), the person administering the tests must be a "neutral person," i.e., someone selected by the parent or guardian of the child being taught at home who has no relationship by bloodline or marriage to the child.
The Oregon State Department of Education has nothing to do with selecting or approving test administrators but is required to make available a list of persons qualified to administer tests. A person is eligible to be on the department's list by meeting the definition of a "qualified person," not obtaining approval of department officials. Further, a person who meets the requirements of being "qualified" and "neutral" does not have to be on the department's list in order to legally administer standardized tests.
Home School Legal Defense Association contacted the director of curriculum and instruction at Malheur ESD Region 14 and pointed out that the information being provided to homeschooling families was inaccurate. Any families being told by public school officials that the requirements for test administrators are different from those described above should contact HSLDA for assistance. — Dewitt T. Black
