It's been said that standardized testing is the most controversial issue in homeschooling. Today on Home School Heartbeat, HSLDA president Mike Smith tells you why.
Mike Smith:
Homeschoolers tend to have mixed feelings about standardized testing. Standardized test results show only how students compare to a standardized education. And standardization in education is something that most homeschooling parents reject.
Parents who object to standardized testing cite a number of reasons. Some feel that the testing is not reliable. Or, that in order for the children to do well on these tests, parents must teach "to the test" rather than what they think their children should be focusing on.
For some homeschoolers the tests must be administered in an unfamiliar environment. Other children learn better by hearing than by reading and have difficulty with the written test format. Some children have learning disabilities that keep them from testing well or finishing the test within the allotted time.
Many parents feel that the tests just don't take into account the benefits of homeschooling. After all, they were designed for students who are learning in the classroom setting.
In spite of their potential and actual problems, many parents are comfortable using standardized tests to determine their children's educational progress. It means that the child did as well as or better than 68% of the other children who took the test. We'll continue this discussion tomorrow. I'm Mike Smith.
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