Part 3: Standardized Testing Companies

If you haven't read Part 1 and Part 2 of Standardized Testing, please do so.

Part 1: Can Homeschool Parents Administer a Standardized Test to Their Child?

Part 2: Standardized Tests Homeschool Parents Can Administer

So from Part 2, I've decided to administer the Terra Nova, Second Edition, CAT/6. I know it will either be the Complete Battery Plus or the Survey Battery Plus. I'll probably choose the Survey Plus because it's a shorter test. Last year, I didn't realize the Survey Plus included Social Studies and Science, so I ordered the Complete Battery Plus, and it was pretty time consuming.

Now I'm looking at which testing company will best suit my needs. A few years ago, I used Seton Testing. Last year, I used Bayside School Services. Those are the two companies I'll be comparing. Take a look at what I've learned so far.

Cost:
Bayside has lowered their cost from $55 to $50 as of 2013.

Seton's test costs $45.

Ordering:
Both Bayside and Seton say you should order your testing materials at least 3 weeks before testing week.

Bayside says you will receive your testing materials on the Saturday before your requested test week. Also, just because you request a particular week to be your test week, they do not guarantee you will receive your materials prior to that week.

Seton says you will receive your testing materials 1-2 weeks before your testing date.

Returning Materials:
Bayside gives you exactly one week to complete the entire testing process. You must have your testing materials postmarked by the Saturday following your test week. If it is postmarked after that Saturday, late charges will apply.

Seton says you need to return testing materials immediately after testing and materials must be returned within 30 days of the test date.

Results:
Bayside says results are usually sent to you within 6 weeks but that it is typcal for that to take anywhere between 4-8 weeks.

Seton says they usually have results ready within 2 weeks.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Overall, it appears to me that Seton is more flexible. The main thing that strikes me is the fact that Bayside expects your testing materials to be returned and postmarked the Saturday after your designated testing week. This added a lot of pressure on me last year, so I really like that Seton doesn't state it has to be postmarked by a certain date. Although Seton wants you to return it "immediately after testing is completed," they give you a 30 day window or should I say, some breathing room. I also like that Seton will send you your testing materials 1 - 2 weeks prior to your test week, so you have plenty of time to look over the materials and prepare to administer the test. This also means you could start testing sooner if you wanted to; you're not locked into a particular week.

Although I think Bayside is an excellent choice and I'm so appreciative of their service to the homeschool community, personally, I'm going to use Seton this year. I've already created an account with Seton and signed their Administrator Agreement form. Which reminds me, by the way, if you sign this form electronically, your signature should look like this:

/s/(space)First Name(space)Last Name

/s/ Jane Doe

Happy Testing!

Part 2: Standardized Tests Homeschool Parents Can Administer

If you haven't read Part 1 of Standardized Testing, please do so.

Part 1: Can Homeschool Parents Administer a Standardized Test to Their Child?

So from Part 1, we've established that a (Georgia) homeschool parent can administer a standardized test to their child and that the HSLDA is recommending the complete battery form be used in order to evaluate Social Studies and Science as well as Reading, Language Arts and Math.

Here is how the HSLDA has it written in their 2012-2013 Legal Analysis of Georgia Homeschool Laws PDF. 

"Standardized Tests: Children must take a nationally standardized achievement test every three years beginning at the end of the third grade. The test must be administered in consultation with a person trained in the administration and interpretation of norm reference tests. Since science and social studies are required subjects and the testing is required to evaluate the student’s “educational progress,” HSLDA is of the opinion that the complete battery form of the standardized test should be used. Test scores must be retained but are not required to be submitted to public school authorities. Ga. Code Ann. § 20-2-690(c)(7)."

The options, for those of us who wish to test our own children, are the CAT, CAT/5 and the Terra Nova 2, CAT/6. Let's compare.

CAT:
The California Achievement Test, CAT E/Survey, Grades K-12, is a nationally normed standardized test that measures achievement in the areas of Reading, Language Arts and Math. It meets most states’ requirements for an annual assessment for homeschool and private school use. This is a Core Battery/Survey Edition and takes approximately 2½ hours to administer. NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIRED!

Again, HSLDA recommends Georgia homeschoolers test Reading, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science since those are the subjects we are required by law to teach, and the CAT does not test Social Studies or Science. Therefore, I'm scratching that one off my list.

CAT/5:
Although the CAT/5 does test Science and Social Studies, there is no longer publisher support for this product. I found this information on Bayside School Services website: 
"The California Achievement Tests, Fifth Edition, known as the CAT/5, has been discontinued and is no longer being supported by the publisher,  CTB McGraw-Hill. While some test providers are still offering the CAT/5, you should be aware that there is no publisher support for this product. The scoring reports are not at all like those provided by CTB. The most notable difference is the lack of the Skills Mastery information, perhaps the most useful data you receive with genuine reporting."

I'm scratching the CAT/5 off my list too. That leaves me with the Terra Nova...

Terra Nova, Second Edition, CAT/6: 
The TerraNova test is a nationally-recognized, norm-referenced, standardized achievement test that meets most states’ annual testing requirements. This edition was renormed in 2005, allowing homeschools and private schools the ability to purchase this test for the first time. It provides a series of tests that are easy to administer, stimulating to take, and most importantly, extremely accurate in their assessment of student achievement. NO BACHELOR’S DEGREE REQUIRED!

It appears to me that whether you use the Terra Nova Complete Battery Plus or the Terra Nova Survey Battery Plus, you will be testing Reading, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies and Science. Seton has provided a Terra Nova PDF for comparison. My understanding is that as long as you use one of the "Plus" tests, you will test all subject areas.

So after looking closely at these three tests, I've decided I'm definitely going to use the Terra Nova, Second Edition, CAT/6!

In another post, I'll share about testing companies.

Part 3: Standardized Testing Companies