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Is State Testing Required For Kansas Or Missouri Homeschoolers?

By May 15, 2023November 1st, 20232 Comments

State testing can raise a lot of questions for people new to (or considering) homeschooling. We’ve gathered a list of the most frequently asked questions for your convenience:

  • Are homeschoolers required to take standardized achievement tests, and if so, which?

The answer varies by state. However, Kansas and Missouri do not require state testing for homeschoolers unless they are using a virtual school or other publicly funded school.

In that case, they’re not technically considered homeschools, but offshoots of the public school system.

However, we recommend that area homeschoolers take advantage of standardized testing opportunities available just for them! 

This year we’re excited to offer 10% off testing for the Academic Achievement Study, which allows homeschoolers to take standardized testing opportunities while also helping defend homeschool freedom.

Additionally, we offer opportunities for homeschoolers to take the PSAT/NMSQT test in their high school years (it can help qualify them for national merit scholarships).

Afterward, homeschoolers who want to continue to college can take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (also called SAT) and/or American College Test (ACT).

  • What are some reasons I should consider state testing?

It helps give you a yardstick for your child’s academic performance. Because public and private schools require these tests, this can serve as an independent, third-party assurance that your students are doing well academically.

These tests can also help reassure your extended family that your kids are doing well on a nationwide level.

Remember that the results are based on peer comparisons, not academic requirements per se.

While we often think standardized tests indicate how our child compares by grade level, they actually indicate how our child compares academically to other grade-level children taking the same test at that time. (Here’s a helpful intro guide from the HSLDA.)

Even if your child ranks less than average in a subject area, you may just need to concentrate more on that topic. Students often rebound in a subject once they’ve identified the problem and targeted it for improvement.

  • My child has special needs. Should I register for state testing with a large group, or explore other options?

We recommend exploring other options depending on your child’s specific situation. You can also contact us with specific questions.

This blog post was originally published in September 2015. We have updated it for timeliness and detail.

Shanxi Omoniyi

Shanxi Omoniyi (@ShanxiO on Twitter) is MPE's online content director. A homeschool alumna, Shanxi graduated from the University of Kansas with degrees in journalism and English. Her company, Wordspire Media, helps businesses and nonprofits share their stories through content marketing, social media management, and email marketing.

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