September 24, 2008
School Districts Mandate More Standardized Testing
In letters sent to home educators in their respective school districts at the beginning of the current school year, Tulpehocken Area School District in Bernville and Crestwood School District in Mountain Top notified parents that standardized testing was required at grade levels in addition to those specified by state law. Pennsylvania’s home education statute requires that the results of standardized tests be included in the student’s portfolio in grades 3, 5, and 8. However, Tulpehocken sought testing in grade 11 in addition to the grade levels actually required, while Crestwood insisted upon testing in grades 3 through 8 and 11.
In response to requests for assistance by Home School Legal Defense Association member families in these school districts, Senior Counsel Dewitt Black corresponded with school officials and informed them that state law only requires standardized testing in grades 3, 5, and 8. He pointed out that local school districts are without any authority to establish any policies or procedures which add to or contradict provisions of state law.
Any HSLDA member families being requested to submit test results beyond the grade levels required by state law should contact us for assistance.
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