| Home schoolers are
able to participate in the annual assessment of literacy and numeracy.
Why is the assessment service provided?
The major purpose is to give parents information about the progress
of their children in relation to nationally agreed benchmarks. A
second purpose is to provide those responsible for teaching a child
with information that can be helpful in planning the child’s
continuing education. In the case of home schoolers this information
is useful to you as the parent and also as the child’s teacher.
Is participation compulsory?
No. You are responsible for providing education to your child and
you are the person who makes decisions about assessment of your
child’s progress.
If I wish to do so how do I participate?
It will be necessary to apply for the materials by 30 June 2007.
When does the assessment occur?
1. The assessment takes place in week 3, term 3. In 2007, this week
commences 6 August 2007.
2. The test materials as well as instructions about how the tests
should be managed will be mailed to your home prior to the assessment
time.
3. During the assessment week (usually in week 3 of Term Three)
you will supervise the tests for your children (one test for each
child in each subject). The tests can be given on days and at times
that you choose.
4. When all testing is finished you mail the papers to the address
provided.
5. Towards the end of the year you will receive an individual report
for each child showing that child’s progress in relation to
nationally agreed benchmarks.
What is assessed?
Tests for year 3, 5 and 7 students have four parts - numeracy, reading,
spelling and writing. Information from the writing test is also
used to assess spelling.
What are the tests like?
The assessment tasks are very much like normal reading, writing
and maths activities undertaken by children. The Test
Content page provides samples and other information that will
give you a clear idea of what the assessment tasks will be like.
Who will mark my child’s work?
People qualified to do so mark the papers and are bound to respect
the confidentiality of all results.
If I participate in the program what control do I have
of the process?
As home educator you make the following decisions:
· Whether or not to apply to participate.
· At any stage in the process, whether to continue with the
process.
· Whether to share the report information with your child
or with anyone else.
· Whether to use the information you obtain from the report
in planning your child’s continuing education.
I don’t use grade labels for my children. Does that
matter?
No. You are in charge of your child’s education and you make
the judgement about whether your child is suited to doing the test
or not.
My child has a disability. How will I deal with that?
You should give your child the same additional help during the test
that you usually give in learning situations.
My child is not used to exams. I am worried that the experience
might be damaging.
Most children in primary school are not used to exams and it is
not intended that these assessment situations should be regarded
as exams. The tests are constructed to be as close as possible to
the normal types of activities experienced by children of the relevant
age. The duration of each test is structured to reflect the normal
working time for children and is a part of the assessment process
in order to ensure a degree of validity in the results.
How does that happen?
In the writing test, for example, when you present the idea of the
writing topic you are asked to provide the following help:
· you discuss with your child what purpose the writing of
that topic might be;
· you show and discuss any of the samples or models of writing
that are familiar to your child and that relate to the assessment
task.
· you remind your child of the important features of that
type of writing; and
· you give your child time to plan what will be written before
actually starting to write.
What information is provided in the report?
You will receive separate reports about your child’s progress
in each of the four parts: numeracy, reading, spelling and writing.
Each report will provide the following:
· Information that enables you to compare your child’s
progress with the achievement of other children at the same year
level.
· Information that enables you to compare your child’s
progress with the minimum expected standard for children in schools
at that year level.
· Information about your child’s developmental progress
in literacy or numeracy.
· Information about the skills associated with your child’s
achievement in literacy or numeracy.
What are the benefits of the assessment results?
The assessment results have most value when they are considered
in conjunction with your own on-going assessment of progress that
has been occurring through the year.
Information in the report will be a useful supplement to your own
judgement of progress, which can provide a useful basis for planning
future learning experiences.
How much does it cost to participate?
Participation is free.
How do I apply for the materials?
Complete the Application
Form and send it by fax, email or post to the address shown.
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