Kimber

Thanks Ned and Tuck for your replies about testing. I have looked at the homeschool laws for Arkansas and this is what I have found.

<<< 6-15-504. Home-schooled students - Achievement tests - Enrollment or reenrollment in local schools.





(a) Each student enrolled in a home school program who is considered to be at a grade level, or no more than two (2) years beyond the normal age for the appropriate grade, for which the state mandates norm-referenced tests for public school students shall be tested using a nationally recognized achievement test selected by the State Board of Education.>>>


The following question was answered on the FAQ page of the AR Dept. of Education site........

<<<12. Are home school students required to test?

Yes. Home school students are required to take the

same norm-referenced test at the same grade levels as

public school students. Home school students who are

in grades 5, 7, and 10 at the beginning of each school

year will take the required test in the fall. Currently the

Stanford 9 is administered to both home school and

public school students in September. Home school

students in grades other than 5, 7, and 10 will not be

tested by the state.>>>


This is what I found regarding refusal to test.....

<<<<(e)(1) Any student that refuses to participate in the testing program required by this section shall be subject to the applicable Arkansas laws regarding truancy. >>>>

Here is what the law says about truancy.........

<<<(5)(A) Whenever a student exceeds the number of excessive unexcused absences provided for in the district's or the state board's student attendance policy, the school district or the adult education program shall notify the prosecuting authority and the community truancy board, and the student's parents, guardians, or persons in loco parentis shall be subject to a civil penalty in an amount as a juvenile court or other court of competent jurisdiction, as authorized under subdivision (a)(6)(A) of this section, may prescribe but not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500) plus costs of court and any reasonable fees assessed by the court.>>>>

All of this information just makes me even more confused about what I will do next year. It seems pretty clear that if I put my son in 5th grade next year they will expect him to test. I am leaning towards keeping him in 4th next year and then promoting him to 6th the following year.
I am not quite sure how the truancy law would be applied to refusal to test. It only talks about unexcused absences.......my child will be present in my homeschool daily......??
If anyone has had some experience in this area I would sure appreciate the additional advice.

Kimber in AR



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

KT

>
>
>All of this information just makes me even more confused about what I will do next year. It seems pretty clear that if I put my son in 5th grade next year they will expect him to test. I am leaning towards keeping him in 4th next year and then promoting him to 6th the following year.
>
Yep, that's how you legally get around the testing.

That part about refusing to test being truancy was put through a year or
so ago, and the HSLDA establishment/leadership in Arkansas helped pass
it. :P

Tuck

Tia Leschke

>
>That part about refusing to test being truancy was put through a year or
>so ago, and the HSLDA establishment/leadership in Arkansas helped pass
>it. :P

And people sometimes wonder why I speak out against HSLDA. Sheeesh!
Tia

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
*********************************************
Tia Leschke
leschke@...
On Vancouver Island