Mission Statement

Pennsylvania Home Educators Association (PHEA) is an inclusive statewide coalition of home educators whose primary purpose is to provide accurate information and advocate for Pennsylvania home educators.

• PHEA believes in the freedom to home educate with confidence and without fear.
  
• PHEA actively endorses efforts to reduce or eliminate regulation, control, and oversight of home educators.
  
• PHEA believes knowledge equals empowerment.
  
• PHEA encourages its members to freely exchange information regarding home education.
  
• PHEA is not associated with any religion or educational methodology.

PDE Eliminates Several Tests Options 

The Pennsylvania Department of Education in a Basic Education Circular (BEC) released in March 2009 eliminated five of the original eight tests acceptable for 3rd, 5th, and 8th grade testing under the Pennsylvania Home Education Law, Act 169: 

1.    Comprehensive Testing Program (CTPII)

2.    Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS)

3.    Peabody Individual Test

4.    Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT)

5.    Woodcock Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement. 

However, a number of homeschoolers and those providing testing services to homeschoolers have contacted the Pennsylvania Department of Education regarding testing that has already been provided for the current 2008-2009 school year, and this is the  response received from Sarah Pearce, homeschool liaison for the PDE:

"I just realized what problems the new BEC will cause, updating it in March as we did.  I will work on a correction immediately, so that tests that were approved as of July 1, 2008 will be acceptable through June 30, 2009.  Sorry for the confusion."

Anyone having difficulty with their school district regarding the use of any tests for the 2008-2009 school year may contact Sarah Pearce to have her clarify the position of the PDE on this matter.
spearce@state.pa.us

 The tests that are acceptable for homeschoolers to use after June 30, 2009, will be:

1.  California Achievement Test 

2.  Comprehensive Testing Program (CTPIV) 

3.  Iowa Test of Basic Skills 

4.  Metropolitan Achievement Test 

5.  Peabody Achievement Individual Test – Revised Version

6.  Stanford Achievement Test 

7.  Terra Nova 

8.  Woodcock Johnson Revised Tests of Achievement III

The list may look similar, but please note that revised versions of some of the tests have been substituted.  If you are going to use any of the above-listed eight tests, please make sure you will be using the revised versions listed.  See the full information at this page:  http://www.pde.state.pa.us/k12/cwp/view.asp?A=11&Q=54281.  Then scroll to "Tests."

New to Home Education in PA? Click here for some Cautionary Words!

Click here for Home Education Proclamation 2004

Click here to access the PHEA School District Violations page

Past Articles (click title to view entire article):

Lowering the Compulsory School Age in Philadelphia School District

A victory for the family and all Norwin home educators is the result of the canceled due process procedure on Thursday, November 6, 2003

Public Cyber Charter School – Is it Homeschooling?

Equal Access for Home Educators

Data Collection, Student IDs, and Home Education Students