Standardized testing is one of the most over-stressed parts of Pennsylvania homeschool law. The rule is actually short: a nationally normed standardized test (or the PSSA) is required in grades 3, 5, and 8 — and only those three grades. No tests in K, 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, or 12.
What Act 169 actually requires
Under 24 P.S. § 13-1327.1(e)(1), the portfolio for grades 3, 5, and 8 must include results from one of the following:
- California Achievement Test (CAT)
- Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS / IOWA)
- Stanford Achievement Test (Stanford 10)
- Terra Nova
- PSSA (Pennsylvania System of School Assessment)
- Any nationally normed standardized achievement test approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (MAP Growth and the Woodcock-Johnson are commonly accepted)
You — the supervisor — choose the test. The district does not assign one.
Where to order the test
Most PA homeschool families order through one of three providers:
- Seton Testing Services — IOWA and CAT, ships to your home, results in 2–3 weeks.
- BJU Press Testing & Evaluation — Stanford 10 and IOWA, parent-administered options.
- Family Learning Organization — CAT, low-cost and untimed in some grades.
Cost typically runs $25–$60 per child. Order by March 1 to leave room for the test, scoring, and any retakes before your June 30 portfolio deadline.
Who can administer the test?
Requirements vary by test and provider, but in general:
- CAT — Parents can usually administer at home.
- IOWA — Requires a "qualified administrator" (bachelor's degree is enough through Seton).
- Stanford 10 — Requires a certified teacher or BJU-approved administrator.
- PSSA — Administered through the district on the public school testing calendar.
If you do not meet the administrator requirement, your evaluator, a homeschool co-op, or a certified-teacher friend can administer it. Many evaluators offer testing as an add-on service.
How to give the test at home (and keep your child calm)
- Pick a quiet morning. Same time of day your child is normally sharpest.
- Spread it out. Most tests are designed for 2–4 sittings across several days. Do not try to do it all in one day.
- Read the directions exactly. Standardized means the instructions are part of the score.
- Skip the test prep crash course. A few sample problems the week before is plenty.
- Don't share the results dramatically. "You did great" is enough. The goal is a baseline, not a verdict.
What the scores mean (and don't mean)
You will get back a packet showing percentile rank, grade equivalent, and stanine scores. PA law does not set a passing score. An evaluator only needs to see that a test was given and the results are documented.
Use the results as data, not a report card. A reading score in the 35th percentile in third grade is useful information for next year's plan — not a referendum on your homeschool.
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What goes in the portfolio
- The full score report (or composite summary page)
- The test name and the date(s) administered
- The administrator's name and qualifications
You do not need to submit the actual test booklet or your child's answer sheet.
What if my child has a bad testing day?
You can retest. Some providers allow a single retake at low cost; others let you order a different test entirely. As long as some qualifying score is in the portfolio by June 30, you are compliant. The evaluator's letter — not the test score — is what certifies "appropriate education."
Accommodations for learning differences
If your child has a diagnosed learning difference, most providers allow accommodations: extra time, oral directions, a quiet room, or a scribe. Document the accommodation in your portfolio so your evaluator sees how the test was administered. See our guide to IEPs and 504s for PA homeschoolers for more on documenting support.
For the full year's deadlines, see our PA homeschool deadline calendar.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm test acceptance and administrator requirements with your evaluator and current PDE guidance.