–Dana

Although I love how as soon as a state senator has a heart to make sure all children receive a quality education that it immediately becomes a “bill which would limit the freedom and independence of homeschooling.”

Wanting to ensure a quality education does not make this bill something that limits the freedom and independence of homeschooling. Requiring parents to adopt state standards, be “approved” by the state and submit to state testing with the consequence of being forced into an accredited school if the state determines that the child has not made enough progress is what makes this bill something that limits the independence of homeschoolers.

This bill is not meant for a majority of homeschoolers but for the minority that do not get a good education and end up two or three years behind.

If effects every single homeschoolig family. We do not search every home in Nebraska looking for drugs, telling the innocent that the searches aren’t meant for them. Only for those who are hiding drugs. Or abuse. Or whatever issue you want to bring up. The state is supposed to have probable cause before searching a home (or a mind). “Homeschooling” is not probable cause.

These kids, and especially their parents, need a wake up call on how far behind their kids are.

All the data that exists demonstrates that homeschooled children do better than their public schooled peers. Are there some who do not? Of course. But there is no proof they would do better in public school, especially considering that many people choose homeschooling after experiencing problems in the public school. In fact, according to US Department of Education statistics, 68% of homeschooling families have chosen to homeschool because of dissatisfaction with the academic instruction at other schools.

We have children graduating public schools unable to read and do simple math.

“The ability to read and understand complicated information is important to success in college and, increasingly in the workplace. An analysis of the NAEP long-term trend reading assessments reveals that only half of all White 17 year olds, less than one-quarter of Latino 17 year olds, and less than one-fifth of African American 17 year olds can read at this level.”

http://www.nifl.gov/nifl/facts/NAEP.html

This is why testing occurs in real schools too, and is not singled out for homeschoolers.

Homeschoolers evaluate their children. Just because we do not turn the scores in to the state does not mean that we are not evaluating the educational progress of our children. And here is an important point to consider: the reason that the standardized testing exists in the schools is not so that the state knows what is going on in the classroom. It is so parents do. It is for parents to have a better idea of the performance of their local school.

I have a bit more here:

http://principleddiscovery.com/2008/01/29/why-would-homeschoolers-object-to-state-testing/

And on “accountability” through high stakes testing, there are a number of groups opposed to them, including the National Education Association. Research indicates a negative effect on school, because the more weight put on the test, the more focus the institution puts on the test. Some states are currently lowering standards so that they can meet federal guidelines. And classrooms around the nation are narrowing their focus to test prep. As a former public school teacher, I have seen it first hand. Why on earth would I want to do that to my children?

Research indicates something else a little concerning:

“Amrein and Berliner (2002), for example, examined multiple indicators of academic achievement to determine whether states with high-stakes tests and high school graduation exams posted greater achievement gains than states with no- or low-stakes testing programs. Of the states with high-stakes tests, they found that after such tests were implemented, 67 percent posted decreases in grade 4 math performance, 63 percent posted increases in grade 8 math performance, and 50 percent posted increases in grade 4 reading performance, compared with the nation.
Of the states with high school graduation exams, they found that after those exams were implemented, 67 percent posted decreases in ACT performance, 67 percent posted decreases in SAT performance, and 57 percent posted decreases in AP performance compared with the nation. Academic achievement improved in states with high-stakes tests or high school graduation exams on only one of six academic indicators examined in their study–the grade 8 math National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).12
Of the states with high school graduation exams, they found that after those exams were implemented, 67 percent posted decreases in ACT performance, 67 percent posted decreases in SAT performance, and 57 percent posted decreases in AP performance compared with the nation. Academic achievement improved in states with high-stakes tests or high school graduation exams on only one of six academic indicators examined in their study–the grade 8 math National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP).12″

http://www.asu.edu/educ/epsl/EPRU/documents/EPSL-0211-125-EPRU.pdf

http://principleddiscovery.com/2006/07/11/the-darwinian-roots-of-standardized-testing/

Testing has been a frequent topic around here.

We almost have a national curriculum now because of No Child Left Behind, and Bush’s “fourth pillar” of local control crumbled a long time ago. It is laughable to even talk about local control in relation to NCLB.

It is only natural that this will extend to homeschools. But really, it is bad for all children, not just us. A lot of homeschooling families left the public school system to escape that culture of testing.

It is hard to say how they will vote on this, but some of them don’t have to worry about voters. They are on their last term due to term limits.

It is hard to imagine that this particular bill will get far given NE’s history, but one never knows for sure.

http://www.eduwrit.com/blog/?p=1006