Homeschool in Cincy - Where to Begin? Part 2

Usually we don't have to think about assessments until the end of the year, but I thought it might be important to at least hit on this information a bit...so any new homeschoolers will be a little better prepared.

I wanted to go over what our family does for our yearly assessments that are required each year as a homeschooling family. This is what WE do in our city/state...be sure to find out what is required for YOUR family in YOUR city/state.

**If you are enrolled in an Ohio {or any other state} virtual school, your school will have information about yearly assessments.

**If you participate in a CoOp, or other form of Charter School...contact your teachers/organizers to see if they offer yearly assessments.

As an Ohio homeschool parent, you have agreed to:

1. Provide 900 hours of instruction per year;

2. Notify the superintendent every year; and

3. Provide an assessment of the students work.

Today we are focusing on #3, “Provide an assessment of the students work.”

If you follow this link, you will find the law written out that covers what we can do for the yearly assessment for our homeschooling students.

Ohio Laws for Academic Assessment for Homeschoolers

The law allows you 3 assessment choices.

1. Testing

2. Narrative assessment

3. A mutually agreed upon form of assessment with your superintendent.

Within our local homeschool community group, we are lucky enough to have a wonderful homeschooling mom who keeps up her teaching credentials so she can provide us all with an opportunity to complete what is required through a narrative assessment. This is the preferred way for our family to accomplish our assessment requirement for homeschooling.

We have never gone the "testing" route, so unfortunately, I do not have any insight on that for you today. But I am confident a quick Google search will give you plenty of options to research! This is also why it is such a great resource to be a part of a homeschool support group! They are out there....FIND THEM!! You will have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips!!

{Be sure to check your local homeschooling support groups to see if they already have someone that their group uses for assessments.}

What is a narrative assessment? A written narrative indicates that samples of the child's work has been reviewed and that the child's academic progress for the year is in accordance with the child's abilities. A narrative assessment must be prepared by a licensed or certified teacher, or another person mutually agreed upon by the parent(s) and the superintendent.

In the Spring, around March to April, we do a "Group Assessment". A bunch of us from the homeschool community gather together. We bring along what our assessor requests for us to have on hand for her to review for each of our students. She goes around the room, to each parent, looks over things, and provides us our form to be sent in with the following year's intent letter. Then we all chat among ourselves...it is a good opportunity for those who have questions to ask them.

If you do an Online Virtual School...what do I need to do for a Narrative Assessment? For For state virtual schools, the school will provide you with what you need for a year end assessment. You will NOT need to do a Narrative Assessment or any other assessment required for homeschooling. Since you are through a public school, you will need to find out what sorts of assessments are required by that school/state by contacting your virtual school.

That is all I have for today! Here is the link to the ODE & their information on homeschooling...

Information & links from the Ohio Department of Education

Happy Homeschooling!!