Testing

HSLDA now interprets the core total from ITBS as satisfying Colorado law for a composite score, so the extra tests to get a "composite" score from ITBS are not deemed necessary–cheaper and easier for all involved.

Basic Testing and Evaluation Information:

How do I test my child? Where do I find the test? Who can give it? What do I do with the test results. Is the C-SAP required or acceptable?  What other option is there besides testing?

Homeschoolers in Colorado are required to evaluate the academic progress of their children in the odd grades beginning in the third grade by using a nationally standardized test or by having an evaluation done by a qualified evaluator. Parents can administer these standardized tests on their own or have someone to do it for them. There are different requirements for the administration of each test. Here is a list of the most popular tests and their requirements:

Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) – 4-year degree required by the administrator; is timed; gives detailed report of test results; HSLDA now interprets the core total from ITBS as satisfying Colorado law for a composite score, so the extra tests to get a "composite" score from ITBS are not deemed necessary. Click here for a sample of the Performance Profile you will receive after completing the test.

Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) – 4 year degree required by the administrator; is untimed; gives detailed report of test rsults. As of late 2009, qualified parents or relatives are allowed to administer the SAT one-on-one to children in their own family.  (Please Note: this is not the SAT that high school students take for college admission. You can find information about the college admission SAT test below under High School Testing)

California Achievement Test (CAT) – No special requirements for the administrator; basic report of test results, online version available (When you see Catform, it is referring to a testing program, not a specific test).

The test or evaluation results are to be submitted to the school district that received the notice of intent or to an independent or parochial school within the state of Colorado that is willing to hold test scores.  If the test or evaluation results are submitted to an independent or parochial school, the name of the school shall be provided to the school district that received the notice of intent.

The CHEC Independent School is able to hold test scores for those families who have filed a notice of intent and are looking for a place to file the tests.  For a one time fee of $25.00 we will create a file for your family and add test scores as you submit them to us.  Please print and mail the Request Form, copy of test scorese and payment to CHEC Independent School, 10431 South Parker Rd., Parker, CO 80134.

Private and homeschooled students may take the C-SAP test at their own cost, although it is not mandatory, and does not meet the requirement of a nationally standardized test. Even if the homeschooled student is taking some classes at his or her local public school, he or she is not required to take the C-SAP test.

A child's academic progress may also be evaluated by a "qualified" person.  "Qualified person" means an individual who is a licensed teacher, a teacher who is employed by an independent or parochial school, a licensed psychologist, or a person with a graduate degree in education.  Evaluation results must show that the child is making sufficient academic progress according to the child's ability. If you are planning on doing an evaluation, please contact your chosen evaluator at the beginning of the school year to find out if they require a portfolio or record of the child's work.

FAQ answered by the Teaching Home: Testing part 1, Testing part 2.

Testers and Evaluators are listed below. To be listed on this page, please click here.

Self-administered Tests

Bob Jones University Press, Testing and Evaluation Service
800-845-5731
bjupress.com – BJ Testing and Evaluation Service
Tests available: Iowa Test of Basic Skills, Stanford Achievement Test, Metropolitan Achievement Test

Seton Homeschool Services
1-800-542-1066
http://www.setontesting.com/
California Achievement Test (CAT-E)

FACE
303-426-8484
faceschool.org
Julie@faceschool.org or Cindy@faceschool.org
Family Academy of Christian Education offers the PSATs to all students that would like to take it. It is especially beneficial for 11th graders as this is where National Merit Scholarship winners are found.
Also, any family that needs to test can obtain the CAT5, CAT6 or IOWA tests, at a discounted price, through FACE. All grades are on hand for immediate use.

Brewer Testing Services
BrewerTesting.com
East Bend, NC 27018
Pat Brewer
Testing questions:
336-699-3997
Ordering questions: dempsey@brewertesting.com

Catforms Testing Service
Elida OH
888-991-7918
2388 Cremean Rd
Elida OH 45807
Toll free phone & fax: 888-991-7918
info@catforms.com
www.catforms.com
Catforms Testing Service provides homeschool testing materials and scoring for the 1970 California Achievement Test. Some of the benefits the Catforms program offers are online ordering, affordable prices, flexible testing dates, and personal service. Student test results include color charts showing performance at a glance, a detailed analysis of specific strengths and weaknesses, and cumulative records from year to year. Sample test results can be found on the website. Parents can administer tests themselves and scoring times are prompt. Of special interest is a new section, www.catforms.com/pages/Testing-101.html , containing valuable information about achievement tests and tests in general.
Service: We provide the 1970 California Achievement Tests for home schools and private schools. We have been in business since 1994. Our web site, www.catforms.com, gives a complete description of our services and downloadable order forms.

Interpreting CAT results:

Several different numbers are listed on your California Achievement Test results sheet. Most of these are calculated based on a norm group (the original group of students tested on which the test is standardized). Results are listed by academic area. Below are basic definitions for these scores.

Raw Scores
Raw scores are the actual number of correct answers within a given
test section, and are used to calculate the Grade Equivalent,
Percentile, and Stanine results. They should not be used for any kind
of comparison or statistical calculation since each test section
varies in the difficulty and number of questions.

Grade Equivalent Scores
Grade equivalent scores represent the grade level (year and month
separated by a decimal point) of a student's ability compared to the
median score of students at the same academic level.

Scores that are above a student's grade level do not by themselves
indicate proficiency to skip to the next grade level in the particular
academic areas. These scores more likely show an understanding of only
some of the concepts of that higher grade. Conversely, scores below a
student's grade level may indicate a gap of understanding in those
academic areas. Scores equal to a student's grade level are considered
the minimum for grade level ability.

Percentile Scores
Percentile scores are equivalent to the percentage of students from
the norm group who received lower scores than the student. For
example: a student with a percentile score of 73 means that the
student did better than approximately 73 percent of the students in
the norm group. Percentile scores do not represent the number of
questions answered correctly.

Percentiles are useful for comparing a student's performance over
several sections on the test. However, because they are not measured
on an equal scale of units, they are not suitable for most statistical
calculations.

Stanine Scores
Derived from the term STAndard score from a NINE-unit scale,
stanines are based on the mean of the norm group (who are given the
score of 5) and a standard deviation of 2.0. Scores are determined by
the amount of standard deviation from the norm group, in approximately
one-half standard deviation increments.

Stanine scores are useful in calculating means, correlation
coefficients, and other statistics which are meaningful to test
evaluators.

The following table lists the meaning of each score:

High School Testing

HSLDA's testing information page - www.hslda.org/highschool/testing.asp
High School Testing - information

Testers and Evaluators

The inclusion of the following entries does not constitute an endorsement by Christian Home Eduators of Colorado of the program, organization, or tutor. It is the parent's responsibility to investigate who will be involved in their children's education. We encourage parents to thoroughly investigate a potential tester and to stay involved on an ongoing basis with their children's testers. You should also ask for references and talk to others who have used these organizations/persons' talents.

Shannon Atwater
Aurora 720-371-7099
ITBS/Woodcock-Johnson III , Stanford Achievement Test
slatwater@comcast.net

Christian Cottage Home School Services
3560 W. Dawson Road
Sedalia, CO 80135
303-688-6626

888-286-5494
Christiancottage.com
christiancotage@aol.com

christiancottage.processingskills.com
Woodcock Johnson Diagnostic Test.

Jill Bailey
Colorado Springs, CO 719-637-0797

Jan Hummel
Loveland, CO 970-667-1449

Yvonne Polhemus
Castle Rock, CO 303-688-2073
ypolhemus@wmconnect.com

Sharon Lindsay
Sedalia, CO 303-688-9118
Woodcock Johnson Diagnostic Test

Colorado Heritage Education School Systems (CHESS)
James Clifford, Administrator
Greeley 970-346-0099
1300 9th Street
Greeley, CO 80631
coloradoheritage@msn.com
www.c-h-e-s-s.org
ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills)
personal evaluation

FACE
Westminster 303-426-8484
CAT, ITBS, TerraNova/CAT 6
On-line standardized testing by CTB/McGraw Hill

Cheryl Kasson, PhD
Denver Metro Area 303-922-2797
cherylk22@comcast.net

Evaluator, portfolio assessment, specializes in unschooling and special needs.

Elma Field
Denver 303-423-5664
ITBS, evaluations. Also gives curriculum advice and advice on getting started.
Reading evaluations and solutions

Nancy Horne, MS
Colorado Springs Area 719-495-9702
HomeSchoolEvaluator@gmail.com
Evaluator

M. Lee Watt
Denver, Colorado 303-985-8840
www.makelearningefficient.com
leewattdenver@gmail.com
Woodcock Johnson, FirstSTEP, Interactive Metronome, PACE, approved BJU tester, identify underlying casuses of learning difficulties.

Dayspring Christian Schools
dayspringeagles.org
Greeley 970-330-1151
SAT, ACT, PSAT, PLAN. AP for Biology, English, History, Calculus

Shema Christian Academy
Carol Hartz 303-678-1989 carol@shemaca.org
Diane Aschmann 303-678-1672
PO Box U
Berthoud, CO 80513
shemaca.org
Offers Stanford Achievement Test , CAT, ITBS

Glenda Childs
Shiloh Christian Academy
Highlands Ranch, CO
Woodcock Johnson III Test of Achievement
glendachilds@comcast.net
303 937-1567
Credentials: BA~Elem. Ed. & MA ~ Curriculum & Instruction
22 years of experience in the field of education

Elizabeth Ridgway, MS
Northern Colorado
970-532-5653
ridgway_e@hotmail.com
MS, Special Education and Educational Diagnostics, BS in Education, Teaching Certificates in CO, TX, and IL.
Woodcoock Johnson III Test and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills

Allison Foisset
SE Denver Metro (Aurora, Parker, HR etc)
720-870-2233
foisset5@msn.com
Testing with the ITBS, CAT7
Groups or Individuals, Cost of test plus nominal fee for services.  Prefer your home or site, will travel further if compensated for travel.
Credentials: BS in Educaion and Special Education, 6 yr home educator

Julie Grotheer
Elizabeth, CO
(303)646-5247
jgrotheer@dishmail.net
Service: testing in reading, spelling writing, and math K-6th website: www.learning-consultant.com
Credentials: CO. Certified special educator and Elementary Ed. 20 years of experience in public, private, and charter schools.

Judy Van Acker
Canon City, CO
jfvanacker@gmail.com
https://sites.google.com/site/coloradohomeschoolevaluations/
jfvanacker@gmail.com
Evaluator since 1990.  Whether you use a formal curriculum or you are an unschooler, this easy evaluation template will meet your needs, and fulfill the requirements of Colorado Homeschool Law.
Credentials: Colorado Certified Teacher. Masters in Library Science.

Joan Girkins added 2-18-10
Morrison/Littleton
303-697-1615
ocforever1@gmail.com
Service: Stanford Achievement Test Administrator
Iowa Basic Test
Credentials: I am an approved tester through Bob Jones University

Kim Almas
Broomfield and surrounding cities
303-483-1520
2boysmom00@comcast.net (preferred)
Service: Evaluations based on work samples (portfolios or notebooks welcome!) and oral reading assessment. My approach is thorough, yet not intimidating or overwhelming for your child.
Credentials: Current teaching license in CO and CA. Experience with a variety of schooling methods, styles, and curricula. Experience working with special needs and accelerated students. 10 years in the classroom, 3 years as consultant/evaluator for a homeschool charter, and currently a homeschooling mom.

Kate Buckius
303-756-1035
skbuck02@yahoo.com
Service: Educational Assessment
Credentials: BA in Elementary Education, MA in Special Education

Michelle Malchuk
Greeley, Evans, Johnstown
970-33-3171
jmmalchuk@msn.com
Credentials: Bob Jones approved tester

Angela Dormish
Broomfield
303-359-4794
AngelaInCO@yahoo.com
Service: evaluations, testing, and tutoring.
Credentials: BS in Elementary Education Homeschooler and Options School Teacher

Wanda Eppes, Psy.D.
Woodland Park
719-839-0820
DoctorWandaEppes@embarqmail.com
Service: Testing: IQ/Autism/ Academics/Attention/ Processing/Behavior/Mood/Personality
Credentials: Licensed Colorado Psychologist and CDE School Psychologist. Former Home-School mom, public school teacher and currently dual practitioner with a Christian worldview.

Michelle Malchuk
Greeley, Evans, Johnstown
970-330-3171
jmmalchuk@msn.com
Service: testing
Credentials: Bob Jones approved tester

Karen Beach
Denver, Littleton, Morrison
303-697-5408
karenbeach@hotmail.com
Service: Testing
Credentials: Certified Elementary School Teacher Orton-Gillingham/Barton Certified Tutor