We have a Hillsorough county homeschool parent who is being asked to submit test scores in addition to her annual homeschool evaluation form. This is against the state mandate requirements, correct?
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Thank you for your quick response. These home education students were given an achievement test and parents received evaluation forms that note by a certified teacher that progress was made. It's my understanding that the evaluation form is the only requirement to be given to the county. That the test scores can remain private with parents.
As per Florida Statute Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine
"(f) The parent shall provide for an annual educational evaluation in which is documented the student’s demonstration of educational progress at a level commensurate with her or his ability. The parent shall select the method of evaluation and shall file a copy of the evaluation annually with the district school superintendent’s office in the county in which the student resides. The annual educational evaluation shall consist of one of the following:"
A teacher selected by the parent shall evaluate the student’s educational progress upon review of the portfolio and discussion with the student. Such teacher shall hold a valid regular Florida certificate to teach academic subjects at the elementary or secondary level;
The student shall take any nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher;
The student shall take a state student assessment test used by the school district and administered by a certified teacher, at a location and under testing conditions approved by the school district;
The student shall be evaluated by an individual holding a valid, active license pursuant to the provisions of s. 490.003(7) or (8); or
The student shall be evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the district school superintendent of the district in which the student resides and the student’s parent.
This states that the parent must PICK ONE of the following. If they ask for the test records, and you did not take a test, then simply state back to them that you did not elect the nationally normed student achievement test as an option, nor the state student assessment test and so you do not have those results.
You may copy/paste the statute in your response.
I would caution that if you are a PEP student and you have chosen that path of enrollment to homeschool, this is different.
If you're "homeschooling" under a private school or sometimes called Umbrella School, you're enrolled as a private school student. Then it is up to the private school to determine what method of evaluation they will use.
Side note, this is one of the reasons why in Florida I suggest that we stop using the term "homeschool" because it's a bit of a misnomer. There's Home Education, PEP and Private School options for parents to access their freedom of choice take the opportunity to teach their own children vs send them to public schools. Each one is handled differently, and it's good that it's setup this way. But it's also something that makes it hard talk about the more we use terms we can't search and find answers for in statutes, etc.