Posted by Pauline on March 19 2008 at 09:29:33:
In Reply to: Pssa Testing posted by Becky on March 18 2008 at 16:53:36:
Assuming you are home educating or using the private tutor law, you do NOT need to have your child take the PSSA´s.
School districts often *offer* the PSSA´s to homeschoolers. The PSSA test *can* be used to satisfy the 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade testing requirements for home educated students, if the parent wishes. (Privately tutored students have no test requirements whatsoever.) However, very few home educators take the PSSA´s, as they are inconvenient, time-consuming, and the school district sees the scores before the parent does. (The only reason I can think of to take the PSSA´s is if you are absolutely flat broke and can´t afford $15 for the WRAT - and even then you would only need to do it in 3rd, 5th, and 8th grades.) Most home educators test privately.
Read the letter again - are they *offering* or requiring? If requiring, call the PDE - they will straighten this out for you. If they are offering, you can either ignore the letter or politely decline. Be sure to spread the word among other homeschoolers in your district.