Testing & Evaluations

We get many, many questions about the annual assessment requirement and developed an Assessment FAQ to address the top common questions. We encourage people to reference this handy page.

Assessment FAQ


Records

Parents and guardians are required to maintain records of each student’s home education program. The portfolio must include a  list of books the student reads and work-product samples from the year such as worksheets, writing samples, videos, computer programs, tests, and creative pieces. Records do not have to be comprehensive; several pages per subject from different points in the study period is sufficient. The reading list may include any reading material the child reads independently or read together. The annual assessment — a national student achievement test, teacher evaluation, or mutually accepted method agreed upon by the Participating Agency — must be included in the portfolio. These records are the private property of the family and must be kept a minimum of two years from the date instruction ended. Note that school districts cannot demand to review the student’s records, but they may be required for participation in school-sponsored activities (Equal Access), course placement, or proof against educational neglect.

The home ed requirements include some kind of annual assessment, and there are many options so families can choose whichever method and approach is best suited to their children’s needs and reflects their learning progress. The assessment performance standard, regardless of which is selected, is for the child to “demonstrate progress commensurate with age, ability, and/or disability.” (Updated as of June 2022 HB 1663.) The assessment becomes part of the child’s portfolio which is the private property of the family. There is no right or best way to assess your children’s growth; whatever works for your family and reflects your children’s progress is fine.


Testing

National student achievement tests are one of the ways to fulfill the annual assessment requirement. Students are expected to demonstrate “progress commensurate with age, ability, and/or disability” per RSA 193-A. As of 2012 annual assessments are not required to be submitted to the Participating Agency, but results should be kept with the student’s portfolio for a minimum of two years. The law was changed in June 2022 to remove the requirement to score at or above the 40th percentile on a composite score.

Home educators may choose from a number of national achievement tests such as Basic Achievement Skills Inventory (SASI), the California Achievement Test (CAT), the Stanford Test, the Iowa Basic Skills Test (ITBS), the Personalized Achievement Summary System (PASS), the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), the Classic Learning Test, the TerraNova, and others. There are different types of tests — some are online and others are paper/pencil; some are timed and others aren’t; some require a proctor but many don’t; some are aligned to Common Core while others are not; and the range of subjects covered vary by test. Consult the providers’ website for more information.

Families also have the option to have their home educated children participate in the statewide assessment administered by their local public schools at no cost. Please contact your district office well in advance if you wish to pursue this option.

Go to our Testing Services page for a list of providers.


Evaluations

This is one of the annual assessment options available to home educators. New Hampshire certified teachers, someone with certification recognized by another state, or an educator currently teaching in a NH nonpublic (private) school may perform a homeschool annual evaluation. GSHE encourages families to talk with potential evaluators to make sure there’s a good fit prior to scheduling an appointment. It is advisable to discuss the teacher’s experience and specialties, credentials, evaluation process, fees, and any other concerns. It is important that the teacher understands that homeschooling is an individualized education program and families are not obligated to follow public education pedagogy, curricula, standards, or other requirements.

Evaluations include a review of the child’s portfolio and mementos from the school year such as playbills, records from sports programs, field trips, creative materials, and other work-product samples, and may include interviews with the parent or student. There is no required form. Teachers may develop their own evaluation form and GSHE prepared a simple template that may be used.  Teacher may also provide additional feedback, recommendations, and suggestions for the next academic year. At a minimum, the evaluation must contain the following:

  • The name and address of the teacher, including state recognized documentation of certification or the name and address of the nonpublic school at where the evaluator currently teaches
  • The date(s) on which the evaluation(s) took place
  • A description of the work reviewed
  • A summary of the child’s educational progress in the home education program concluding with a statement that the child has or has not made educational progress
  • The signatures of the teacher and the parent

Students must achieve “progress at a level commensurate with the child’s age, ability, and/or disability” per RSA 193-A. This can be particularly favorable for unschoolers and students with special needs or test anxiety. The evaluation must be signed by a parent to be complete, so do not sign it unless it is acceptable. Again, keep a copy with the student’s portfolio for a minimum of two years.

We have compiled resources to help organize a portfolio.

Go to our Teacher Evaluators, Tutors & Proctors page for a list of teachers who offer these services.

If you are a teacher and would like to be added to our list, please contact us at info@granitestatehomeeducators.org.


Alternatives

Homeschooling families have another broad option to fulfill the annual assessment by using an alternative that is agreed upon with their Participating Agency. The choices are limitless, but should be agreed upon in writing, so there is no misunderstanding later. Examples of alternatives are the Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT), the SAT for a grade level other than 11th grade, a report card or transcript from a third-party educational provider, or a capstone project or presentation.


GSHE produced this brief video that goes into these assessment options in depth, and is updated to reflect the legal changes as of summer 2022.

 

More great advice and suggestions from Amanda on the annual assessment.