4/21/20 Achievement Testing Update: Moving Forward
Weeks ago, President Trump decided to suspend requirements for end-of-the-year standardized testing for public school students. The question surfacing immediately in home schooling communities was, “Does this apply to us?”
Basic Skills reached out to the Oregon Department of Education for clarification. We requested, in light of the Coronavirus, that there be some modification of the rules regulating testing. Over the past few weeks we’ve had an on-going conversation with the Department. Last Friday, I learned that it seems highly likely that the deadline line for complying with state testing here in Oregon will be moved from August 15th to sometime in November. This decision, if approved, will likely be adapted at the next Department meeting which will take place the latter part of May.
In light of the current stay-at-home mandates and social distancing standards, all May on-site test dates previously posted on our website have been canceled. Depending on when we return to “business as usual,” all June dates must be considered tentative. In place of on-site testing, we have established remote testing options for families who will be testing this year.
They options are:
- Remote group testing
- Private and semi-private testing
- Parent Administered Testing
All three testing options take place in the comfort and safety of your home. You can read about them here
Additionally, for those of you who regularly test with one of our affiliated independent examiners, you may still do so. Please contact your examiner to see if he or she will be participating in our new remote testing platform. It’s possible that when the stay at home/social distancing standards are relaxed and eventually removed, testing in the context you are familiar with may be possible.
If you have any questions regarding the above, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. You may reach our office at 503-650-5282 or by email at info@basicskills.net.
Thanks for reading!
Curt Bumcrot, MRE
