2009 IOWA TESTS
| Ada Region: | March 17, 18, 19 March 18, 19 |
(ITBS) 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. (ITED) 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. |
| Other Regions: | March 3, 4, 5 March 4, 5 |
(ITBS) Times vary (ITED) Times vary |
Contact your regional coordinator for more information.
STANDARDIZED TESTING
- General Information
- Testing Results
- Testing Dates
- Testing Registration Forms
- Recommended Testing Resources
- Scope and Sequence
- 15 Reasons to Test with ICHE
Why Test?
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
In Idaho, there is no statutory testing requirement for home educated students. This policy is supported by research demonstrating that the degree of governmental regulation has no significant effect on the academic performance of home schoolers and is of no apparent benefit to student learning. Whether a state imposes a high degree of regulation, low regulation, or no regulation, home school test score averages are nearly identical (Brian D. Ray, Strengths of Their Own—Home Schoolers Across America: Academic Achievement, Family Characteristics, and Longitudinal Traits, 1977).
IMPORTANCE
Most home educators choose to voluntarily test their children in the manner best suited to each child. Achievement test results can be a helpful tool in the development of an individual learning plan and in curriculum selection appropriate to each student. In addition, establishing a large database of compiled scores lends credibility to the educational excellence of home educated students. Because our scores are so very high, the larger the number of students tested, the more convincing our scores become to both legislators and the public. This issue was fundamental to the passage of our current favorable home education law in 1992 and to the defeat of H.R. 6, the federal legislation to eliminate home education, in 1994. Therefore, your participation is urged, not only for your own information but to continue to safeguard our freedoms.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Tests and scoring services are purchased directly from the publisher, a private corporation. The process is similar to the purchase of curriculum from any private publisher. Results are sent directly to ICHE who, in turn, mails them to individual families. Under no circumstances will individual test scores be released to anyone other than the parents.Honors Society and Who's Who Nominations
Based on individual test scores, qualifying ICHE-tested students are nominated to two honoraries.
SUMMA CUM LAUDE SCHOLARS
Ninth through twelfth grade students with a complete composite score of the 90th percentile or higher qualify as ICHE Summa Cum Laude Scholars. Core composite scores do not qualify for this honorary. Therefore, ITBS ninth grade students aspiring to this designation must complete the sources of information, social studies and science portions of the test. Only ICHE-tested students are eligible for this honor society. Those seniors are entitled to wear white honor cords at the Idaho Home School Graduation.
WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Ninth through twelfth grade students with qualifying complete composite scores are nominated by ICHE to Who's Who Among American High School Students. Those seniors are entitled to wear gold honor cords at the Idaho Home School Graduation.
ICHE Testing Program
QUALIFICATION
ICHE testing is open to all privately home educated students who are taught three or more of the following academic subjects at home: math, language, reading, science, and social studies. Our composite data is strictly a comparison of privately home educated students and publicly educated students. Therefore, students enrolled in public virtual charter schools including Idaho Virtual Academy (K-12) and IDEA do not qualify for ICHE testing.
TEST CONTENT
Students are tested on the nationally standardized Iowa Tests.
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) grades 3-9:
Required tests: vocabulary, reading, spelling, capitalization, usage, punctuation, math (concepts, problem solving, data interpretation, estimation, and computation)
Optional tests: social studies, science, sources of information (maps, diagrams, and reference materials)
Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED) grades 9-12:
Required tests: vocabulary, language, reading, spelling, math, computation, social studies, science, sources of information (maps, diagrams and reference materials)
Optional tests: none
Test Scope and Sequence: Ninth graders will choose either the ITBS or the ITED.
- Test Scope and Sequence (PDF, 92K)
PROCTORS
Because of the high probability for mechanical errors in simultaneously testing six levels of the ITBS, a parent or other designated adult will be required to attend all testing sessions. Proctors are welcome, but not required for ITED students. Siblings who are not testing will not be permitted at testing sites under any circumstances.
FEES
2003 was the first year of Form A administration, which will be given to all students. Each student will pay the higher initial fee for the purchase of the reusable test booklet the first year in which he/she tests with Form A. In subsequent years, returning students will pay the lower "returning student" fee. All fees are nonrefundable.
| New student testing fee: (Students who have not previously paid for Form A testing) |
$29.00 |
| Returning student testing fee: (Students who have previously paid for Form A testing) |
$24.00 |
| Current ICHE membership through August 1 of current year (required) or membership fee |
$20.00 |
ICHE memberships must be current through August 1 when registering for testing. To verify membership status, click here or check the expiration date on your membership card. Memberships include an ICHE Educator Discount Card and Student ID Cards which are honored by many businesses for discounts. Memberships are valid for one year.
Testing Results
In addition to group composite statistics, comparisons are offered with public school scores, as well as data based upon the number of years of home education. Students who have been home educated three or more years typically score 15 to 20 points higher than those home educated for one year or less. Idaho home educated students as a whole, regardless of the number of years of home education, typically score 25 to 30 points higher than Idaho public school students.
Testing Dates
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS): grades 3-9
Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED): grades 9-12
Spring 2008: Registration Open May 1 to August 1, 2008
| Ada Region: | March 17, 18, 19 March 18, 19 |
(ITBS) 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. (ITED) 8:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. |
| Other Regions: | March 3, 4, 5 March 4, 5 |
(ITBS) Times vary (ITED) Times vary |
Test Registration Forms will be posted May to August 1
Testing registration is open annually from May 1 to August 1, for testing the following March. There are two ways to register for testing, by mail or online. Testing sites are filled based on postmark and online registration dates. If your requested regional site reaches capacity, your registration will be returned. Registration Packets with specific instructions concerning testing will be mailed the following January. Late registrations cannot be accepted.
- MAIL-IN REGISTRATION: (Now Closed)
Print out and complete all information on the registration form. You will receive by mail your ICHE Educator Discount and Student ID Cards, and confirmation that your registration was processed. Return the completed form and check payable to ICHE, postmarked no later than August 1 to:ICHE TESTING REGISTRAR
Post Office Box 878
Eagle, Idaho 83616
- ONLINE REGISTRATION: Available May 1
Online registration closes midnight, August 1. You will receive an immediate email confirmation that your registration has been processed. If you have difficulty in registering online, contact registrations@iche-idaho.org before the deadline with your name, address, phone number, email address, and the specific nature of your registration problem, and you will be contacted by ICHE for assistance.
- TESTING QUESTIONS
For further information, contact your regional coordinator.
Recommended Testing Resources
PREPARATION
There are many excellent resources available to familiarize students with the content and format of timed standardized tests. These are particularly helpful for students unfamiliar with the content of the Sources of Information section (tables, charts, graphs, maps, diagrams, and reference materials.) You are urged to order test preparation materials now and use them throughout the year. Test Preparation Resources.
15 Reasons to Test with ICHE
- Dissuades legislative regulation
- Private. No governmental access to test scores
- Offered at cost
- Educator discount card honored by more than 50 businesses
- Nomination to Who's Who Among American High School Students
- Summa Cum Laude Scholars qualification
- Graduation honor cords
- Practice for college entrance exams
- Curriculum planning
- Detailed score reports
- 20 testing sites throughout Idaho
- Graphs comparing ICHE, Idaho, and national scores
- Dual enrollment qualification
- ICHE Membership
- Weekly legal email updates