Why Testing is Not Necessary in Elementary School

A question homeschool parents are often asked by curious friends and family and teacher friends is, "How do you know if your child is learning?" This question assumes that a teacher needs regular tests to assess a students progress, and of course most homeschooled students don't take regular tests and usually no standardized tests. Here's how I answer this question:

Public schools in the United States use tests to gauge the progress of students because teachers have to track over a dozen students (most classes having over 20 students) at one time — in an environment that makes it impossible for teachers to have one-on-one time to assess their students in a observational way. Observational assessment is a more meaningful way to access progress than standardized testing, but it can only be done when teachers are engaged in more interactive types of instructional methods — and take the time to observe students individually.

Testing in the public school way is not helpful to the development of young children. In has a negative impact on a child's development that is not worth the data derived from it — and high-stakes standardized testing, done every year in US schools, is particularly harmful. In Finland, where the education system is developmentally appropriate, teachers use healthy models of interactive instruction & observation. Students don't take their first standardized test until 8th grade, and in early elementary assessments are observation based, not formal tests. This school system ranks at the top in international tests given to their students in 10th grade.

Homeschool parents use the most healthy and effective form of observational assessment to mark the progress of their children. They do not need regular tests or intensive standardized testing to know their children are learning and developing academically. The intuitive teaching and learning relationship between a parent and their child as they homeschool is powerful and homeschool parents have a better understanding of their child's strengths and weaknesses, knowledge and deficits, than standard tests are able to reveal in their public school counterparts.

Most homeschooled students begin taking standard quizzes and tests, though, not necessarily standardized tests, in 7th or 8th grade, and they are often doing more standardized curriculum and courses complete with standard tests in their high school years. In most cases homeschool families find this adequate preparation for college entry testing and college preparation. Homeschoolers are proving that early frequent testing is not only unnecessary but developmentally inappropriate.