Beyond the Test: Understanding Your Child’s State Assessment Results

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Now that your homeschooler has completed their statewide assessment, it’s time to make sense of the results. This process can be a bit confusing, especially with all the terms and figures that are often included in the report. Understanding what these results mean—and how they’re delivered—can help you gain valuable insights into your child’s academic progress and better support their learning journey.

Receiving the Results: Your Right to the Individual Student Report

Under federal law, every parent must receive an individualized student report detailing their child’s assessment results. However, how these reports are delivered varies from place to place. Most states don’t collect or maintain personal contact information for homeschool families, so the actual distribution of reports is handled at the local level. This means that local educational agencies—such as your school district, county office, parish, or educational service district office—are responsible for providing these reports. If you’re unsure how or when you’ll receive your child’s results, it’s a good idea to contact your local educational office directly to inquire about the process. Remember, these reports are your right as a parent, so don’t hesitate to follow up if needed.

Keep in mind that individual test results are not typically shared across schools or districts. In fact, under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), access to a student’s educational records, including test results, is restricted to school staff and faculty directly involved in the student’s education. Results are generally only reported in aggregated form—such as school-wide or district-wide data—to ensure that individual students cannot be identified. Unless you, as the parent, choose to share your child’s individual scores, they remain private. Holding onto the report is important in case you need it for future educational decisions, especially if you plan to transition back to public school or need to provide the results to another educational institution.

Action Tip: After your child’s test, reach out to find out how you’ll receive the results. Once you have them, make sure to store them in a safe place in case you need to reference them in the future.

Breaking Down the Key Components of the Report

When you receive the individual student report, you’ll likely find several terms and scores that may seem a bit unfamiliar. Here’s a breakdown of the most common elements you might encounter:

Scaled Scores: Scaled scores represent your child’s overall performance on the assessment. These scores are calculated by converting raw scores (the number of questions answered correctly) to a standardized scale that allows for comparison across different test forms. Scaled scores provide a consistent way to evaluate performance across various versions of the test, making them an essential piece of the report.

Standard Error of Measurement: You might also see a reference to the standard error of measurement (SEM). This statistic indicates the range within which your child’s true score likely falls, accounting for any minor variations in their performance on test day. The SEM helps remind us that no test score is an absolute measure; instead, it provides an estimated range of your child’s knowledge or skills in that area.

Performance Classifications: Most statewide assessments categorize performance into levels, such as “Proficient,” “Basic,” or “Advanced.” These performance classifications show how your child’s scaled score aligns with the expectations for their grade level. Each classification provides insight into your child’s current level of understanding and achievement in the subject areas tested according to the policy expectations for that subject and grade level.

Percentile Ranking: This is a measure that indicates how your child’s performance compares to that of other students in the same grade who took the test. For example, if your child scored in the 75th percentile, it means they performed better than 75% of students who took the same test. Percentile rankings can be a useful way to see how your child’s achievements stack up against a larger group, while keeping in mind that this is just one metric of comparison.

Growth Measures: Depending on your state, the report may also include information on growth measures. These indicate how much progress your child has made over a specific period, often compared to their previous assessment results or those of peers with similar starting points. Growth measures can be particularly helpful in understanding how your child is developing over time, not just where they currently stand. However, keep in mind that growth calculations often require test scores from a previous school year. If your state includes growth measures, they should have more information available on the report or on the state department of education’s website explaining how these are calculated.

Viewing Results in Context

While the numbers and classifications can provide valuable information, it’s important to remember that these results are just one part of the bigger picture. Here are a few tips for interpreting the report with a balanced perspective:

Think of the Scores as a Snapshot: These results capture your child’s performance on a single day in specific subject areas. They don’t reflect everything your child has learned or is capable of, nor do they measure other valuable skills like creativity, problem-solving, or social-emotional growth.

Consider the Full Range of Indicators: Use these scores alongside other assessments and indicators you’ve collected throughout the homeschooling year, such as project-based learning outcomes, portfolios, or even your personal observations of your child’s growth. Together, these can offer a more complete view of your child’s learning.

Focus on Progress, Not Just Proficiency: Pay particular attention to any growth measures included in the report, as they can provide insights into your child’s development over time. Even if they haven’t reached the “Proficient” level yet, evidence of consistent growth is something to celebrate and build upon.

Ask Questions and Seek Clarity: If any part of the report is confusing, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local educational office or even a trusted educator for clarification. Understanding how to interpret these results can help you make informed decisions about your child’s learning path.

Final Thoughts

Understanding your child’s state assessment results can be a helpful step in guiding their education. By knowing what to look for and remembering that these results are only one piece of the puzzle, you can use the information to support and enhance your child’s learning journey. Remember, you have a right to this report and the insights it offers—take advantage of it to gain a broader understanding of where your child stands academically.

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