Testing

January 12, 2010

From: Mary Ellen Sullivan, WVHEA Testing Coordinator

1409 Glade Fork Rd., Mannington, WV 26582

The following tester training workshops have been scheduled for 2010 WVHEA testing:

Friday, February 5, 2010 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Martinsburg Library at 101 W. King St.

Saturday, February 6, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bank of Romney community room.

Friday, February 12, 2010 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. at the Raleigh County Library in Beckley at 221 N. Kanawha St.

Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Roane County Public Library in Spencer at 110 Parking Plaza (Main Street).

Saturday, February 20, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Barboursville Public Library at 728 Main Street.

Saturday, March 6, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Songbird Learning Center at 305 Songbird Lane in Fairmont.

*Weather cancellation dates for all the February workshops will be February 26-27, same times and locations. You’ll be called if the workshop needs to be canceled. Backup date for the March 6 workshop is March 13.

If you plan to attend one of these workshops, please send your completed registration form to the address above with $18 payable to Mary Ellen Sullivan. We must know the total attending by the Monday prior to the workshop. Contact Mary Ellen with questions.

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Name(s) ______________________________________ Workshop Location ____________

Address _______________________________________ Amount Enclosed _____________

($18 per person)

_______________________________________

Area Coordinator ______________

Phone ______________________ (if applicable)

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According to WV Code 18-8-I, each child educated at home under subsection (c), subdivision (2) must annually obtain an academic assessment and submit the assessment results to the county board of education by June 30. Testing is one legal assessment option. You can use any individualized standardized achievement tests, nationally normed within the past 10 years.

Since 1991, WVHEA has provided a testing service for any homeschooler who wishes to use it. In 2007, over 1000 students tested through our service using the TerraNova. Other sources of testing materials include curriculum suppliers, correspondence schools, other private testing services, and county public schools.

Testing through WVHEA is conducted under standardized procedures in testing centers throughout the state. We oversee about 30 centers, with local administration by trained area coordinators. Individual testing can be arranged through WVHEA where appropriate, in accordance with standardized procedures and security policies. All WVHEA testers must provide proof to WVHEA of their specific training in administering standardized tests. WVHEA offers workshops annually to provide such training. For more on WVHEA’s testing service, read About Testing With WVHEA.

How can I prepare my child for the test? Children can and should be taught test-taking skills. Many textbooks and workbooks use a standardized test/multiple-choice format for unit tests and review tests. Also, you can purchase test-taking practice booklets from bookstores and other educational suppliers. For more about practice tests, see Practice Tests.

Can I see the actual test before my child takes it to see what he needs to know for it? No. Due to security reasons, you may not. However, you may consult the test publisher’s category objectives. The use of practice tests or grade-level “what you should know” series can be helpful, and are actually suggested as a tool to help you know what type of questions are on the test. The state’s content standards and objectives provide another useful guide. There are also numerous online resources available for test preparation. Click here for those links.

Standardized Testing