I have a question. I pulled my children out of school about 1 month before school ended. They did the state required testing in school. We are going to be home schooling this year from the start and I need to submit the subsequent year form and on it it says to send in the annul assessment. What do I need to do? They were in school for the largest part of the year. We are in Maine.
If you're submitting the form for the 2008-2009 school year, why do they need the prior year assessments? I'd check the HSLDA website info for Maine. In VA, we only have to file test scores for years in which we filed a Notice of Intent. Did you file one for the one month at the end of the school year? If so, then I guess you need to file something. Do you have copies of the assessments they did at the school and do they meet the law? In VA, the SOL tests given at the public schools does NOT satisfy the HS laws (which require a nationally normed standardized test if you use the testing option). Hopefully a ME homeschooler will chime in here soon. I know homeschooler06 was in ME but is temporarily leaving outside of ME while her hubby is deployed. You could PM her. I'd definitely check out the ME HS support group sites and HSLDA.
If you determine that you need to test your kids quickly and cheaply with a nationally normed standardized test, contact Seton Home Study. They sell the CAT-E test for $25 and you can get results in less than 2 weeks (usually less). It just tests reading, math, and lang arts (which is all that's req'd here in VA...not sure about ME). www.setontesting.com
Are you sure they want assessments from the previous year? That doesn't make sense...especially since they took the test in school. Check your laws through HSLDA...and maybe call the office where you have to send the form just for clairification.
I would most certainly check the HSLDA's site to check for your requirements since every state is different. I know that for Colorado we only have to submit our assessment tests every odd year, starting in the 5th grade.
Do you know anyone who does portfolios? You can put together some school work from the year and put it together and have someone look it over. You can send that report along with your letter. Where in ME? Are you near the base? I know there is a group that meets during the school year at the local bookstore. There is a state yahoo group (they have a sister site to sell stuff) and there is HOME. I never told the state of ME that we moved so I am summited my info to them. I didn't have to tell them I moved but I didn't want to raise questions if I sent a new letter of intent when last year I did a continuing one. My current state don't even know we exist which is fine with me. I am counting the days until I am home again. I miss Maine very much.
Thank you for the information...There is a teacher up the road from me that does them I think. I am in bucksport.
