Are you participating in the NHERI/HSLDA/BJU homeschool testing study? Pros and Cons?

[Shari]

A letter arrived with our IOWA testing materials from BJU yesterday asking us to take part in the "largest and most in-depth study ever conducted on homeschool families and their academic ability." It is a joint study of HSLDA, NHERI (National Home Education Research Institute), and BJU Press. Basically, they are requesting our children's standardized test scores (no names) for the 2008 year. The information will be used "to help homeschool organizations better serve homeschool families, inform lawmakers, policymakers, and the general public about the benefits of a home-based education, and encourage those who choose to homeschool."

I was wondering, is anyone planning to participate in this? Why or why not? I cannot off the top of my head think of a reason not to participate in data gathering -- providing that our privacy is protected -- but I would like to know others' views on this. Dh is of the opinion that the survey is not altogether altruistic, but is not opposed to our participation.

[RootAnn]

In Nebraska this year, there has been a bill introduced (LB 1141) to mandate homeschooler testing each year, including a "pretest" before your child starts the first year. If the testing doesn't show enough progress, the bill would require you to enroll your child in an "accredited" (public or private) school. There are other parts to the bill (including that the parents pay for the testing or an 'assessment' of the student's work). It would be helpful to have updated testing in a study like the one you describe. So, if you do participate, thank you in advance! We think this bill will fail, but are assured there will be future legislation like this next year and the year after or until it passes.

[abbeyej]

Interesting. I got 21 ITBS tests from BJU in the mail this week (all for home schoolers, of course), and no letter...

[St. Theophan Academy]

Tennessee is dealing with the same issue right now, they are trying to change the law to say that all students must be tested (right now the law states that all public school students must test). This means that private schools and homeschoolers will have to cater their instruction to the public school testing system.

[Susie in MS]

Originally Posted by RootAnn

In Nebraska this year, there has been a bill introduced (LB 1141) to mandate homeschooler testing each year, including a "pretest" before your child starts the first year. If the testing doesn't show enough progress, the bill would require you to enroll your child in an "accredited" (public or private) school. There are other parts to the bill (including that the parents pay for the testing or an 'assessment' of the student's work). It would be helpful to have updated testing in a study like the one you describe. So, if you do participate, thank you in advance! We think this bill will fail, but are assured there will be future legislation like this next year and the year after or until it passes.

I just wonder what they do with kids who don't score high enough in public schools. Do they have somewhere they can send them??? I'm sure tons of public school students don't show enough progress! Sometimes I wonder about the intelligence of those writing some of these bills.

[Shari]

Why would I have been the only one to receive this letter? It was dated February 27, 2008, and was on HSLDA letterhead.

Weird

[Ellie]

Originally Posted by Shari

Why would I have been the only one to receive this letter? It was dated February 27, 2008, and was on HSLDA letterhead.

Weird

I'm sure you aren't the only one :-) Maybe it was just a random sampling.

[angela in ohio]

Originally Posted by Ellie

I'm sure you aren't the only one :-) Maybe it was just a random sampling.

I think you give them to much credit, Eliie.

Shari, do you use BJU curriculum? Last time they did a study like this, they used homeschoolers who used BJU curriculum.

I would be of the "Why not?" opinion if I got the letter. However, I think the "studies" are a joke, because they only test homeshcoolers who take standardized tests and want to report their scores. Not exactly a representative sampling of homeschoolers.

[abbeyej]

Originally Posted by angela in ohio

...However, I think the "studies" are a joke, because they only test home schoolers who take standardized tests and want to report their scores. Not exactly a representative sampling of homeschoolers.

This was my opinion of that ludicrous study HSLDA did along with someone else a few years ago on adults who had been home schooled. My brother and I both participated, but we both felt it was seriously skewed by the self-reporting aspect. I don't know of a single study so far that has actually used a representative sampling of home schoolers. I think it would be really interesting to see -- though also perhaps nearly impossible to accomplish. (We are, as a group, not exactly "joiners", huh?)

[angela in ohio]

Originally Posted by abbeyej

This was my opinion of that ludicrous study HSLDA did along with someone else a few years ago on adults who had been home schooled. My brother and I both participated, but we both felt it was seriously skewed by the self-reporting aspect. I don't know of a single study so far that has actually used a representative sampling of home schoolers. I think it would be really interesting to see -- though also perhaps nearly impossible to accomplish. (We are, as a group, not exactly "joiners", huh?)

I think that it would be political suicide for homeschoolers. I get nervous whenever there is talk of "more research needed." Throwing the HSLDA/Ray/etc. studies, worthless as they are, around promotes our cause (it's nice when sloppy journalism helps our side, LOL.) I'd be afraid a scientific study would not help us.