The home school law allows parents to arrange for their children to take the state-mandated testing at an alternate test site. Students must still take the same test (SAT9) as is administered at the state sites, and the testing must take place in the state-mandated testing window (usually a 2-week period starting mid-September). However, with an alternate site, you can choose the dates to test during the testing window, the place to test and the test administrators. The down-side is that you must make the testing arrangements and pay for the testing (usually $7.50 per test plus any costs for the location or test administrators).
In order to test at an alternate site, you must request permission in writing from your Educational Service Cooperative (or school district if you live in Pulaski County) at least 3 weeks prior to the testing window. This deadline is usually around the third week in August. In your request, you should state that all directions for handling and administering the tests will be followed, specify the students to be tested and their grades, give the location and dates of the testing, and list the test administrators with a statement that they meet the criterion for administering the tests. The test administrators can meet this criterion by being certified under the protocol used by Bob Jones University's Testing Department or by watching a training video, available from your cooperative. Home school parents can serve as test administrators as long as they do not administer the test to their own child.
Anyone interested in coordinating an alternate test site should contact their cooperative (or Pulaski Co. school district) well before the August deadline to let them know of your intentions. Ask if there are any special requirements you should address in your request for permission. If they or you have any questions, contact Bill Ballard at 501-315-2213. For more details and sample request letters, contact Home Educators of Arkansas (HEAR) at P.O. Box 192455, Little Rock, AR 72219.
Practice Tests for the SAT9 (gr. 1-8) are available from Bob Jones University, ph. (800) 845-5731. The cost for a packet including 1 teacher and 1 student booklet is $7.50. Individual student booklets are $2.50 each.
Last updated: 05/21/2000
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