Testing options beyond FLO
[Posted to the HELP board on Monday, April 24, 2006]
So, I came home ready to test my kindergartener, as I reminded everyone at the last meeting, that tests are not available for some grades, so it’s best to order asap.
Anyways, Gr. K is not available until June 19th. As we’re ready to test and I want to send my notifications asap, I had to find other options.
Only to find that 2 other homeschool testing administrations are NO longer offering tests for 2006! One cost $50, the other $54 per test.
So, FLO is $35, with time-restraint that you have to return a completed test in 2-weeks. scoring May take 1-3 weeks. http://www.familylearning.org/index.html {most grades have a 6-8 weeks waiting period}
I just called and ordered mine from Seton Home Study: http://www.setonhome.org/testing/default.php
OR
http://www.setonhome.org/ and go to “Standardize Testing”
Here are the PROS to Seton:
- ALL grades are presently available, and INstock; goes out in mail 24-hours within order.
- $25 ($10 cheaper).
- There’s no time-restraint. As testing is year-round, you (the parent) get the test, take as short or long as you want. There’s no “checking in” process. They use the honor-system. All tests received are immediately scored, materials need to be sent back to be scored. They have 100% success rate.
- Test scoring takes average 24-48-hours, they score everyone onsite. Gr. K- 3rd by hand, 4-12 computer.
So, I had to ask: “How?” Seton have been doing this for over 15 years, they reuse “usable” test and instruction booklets. To save in costs, and “hey: I’m all for recycling!”.
While their curriculum is Catholic-focused, its separate from their testing services. Testing must be secular, confidential, and strictly between client (parent-adminstrator) and themselves. No records are tallied or shared with anyone.
I’ve already called them three times with questions. They have easy-secured online ordering…and obviously, great customer service!
Peace everyone!
~ Ponn
PS. Can you tell…I have limited “patience”?? Hee hee…hmm…amazingly I married into “patience”…yeah, right 
“Sabra = Patience”.
PPS. I ordered on Monday, received on Thursday. We started testing yesterday, 2 tests a day. We completed 2 more today & will be done tomorrow. [May 2, 2006]
