Homeschool Idaho
TESTING
Homeschool Idaho Testing
Iowa Assessments – Through BJU Press Homeschool
NEW ORDERING PROCESS!
Homeschool Idaho is excited to once again be partnering with BJU Press Testing and Evaluation to offer the Iowa Assessments from the comfort of your own home!
Convenient
- Set your own test date
- Results in 10 days from receipt of completed tests
- Test administrator provided by BJU Press for online testing
- Parent administrator for paper tests, minimal requirements
Affordable
- 10% discount on The Iowa Assessments™ purchased from BJU Press
- Free shipping on paper tests with discount code
Options
- Paper testing – most flexible test dates, minimal administrator qualifications, scores included in group report
- Online testing – fastest return of results
- Cognitive Abilities Testing (CogAT) Learn more about the CogAT
Private
- Your privacy is of utmost importance to us, and individual test scores and student data will always remain confidential. BJU Press provides Homeschool Idaho a report of Idaho testing families. This allows us to continue to showcase to legislators the high test scores of privately homeschooled students in Idaho.
Questions? Contact testing@homeschoolidaho.org.
Testing Schedule
- Flexible test dates through July 31.
- When ordering paper tests, set your own test date, and order three weeks prior to desired date.
- Online testing should be ordered two weeks ahead of desired online testing date.
3 Ways to Order Your Tests
1. Parent Portal – for ordering paper tests only.
- NEW PROCESS: See instructions and links on this page. Only tests ordered through the portal will be included in the Homeschool Idaho group report.
- 10% discount and free shipping available with code sent through email. If you did not receive an email from Homeschool Idaho, request code from testing@homeschoolidaho.org.
2. BJU Press Homeschool website – for ordering online tests.
- At this time, tests completed online will not automatically be included in the Homeschool Idaho group report.
- Order onlines tests at www.bjupresshomeschool.com.
- 10% discount code available on request from testing@homeschoolidaho.org.
3. Phone Ordering
- At this time, tests ordered by phone will not automatically be included in the Homeschool Idaho group report.
- Call BJU Press directly at (800) 845-5731 to order your test(s).
- Connect to Testing & Evaluation Dept.
- Ask to be included in Homeschool Idaho’s group in order to receive 10% discount.
- Order the Iowa Assessments you need for your students.
- Give the date you selected to the representative.
- The customer service representative should apply a 10% discount to your order.
Parent Portal Instructions
The test ordering process has changed for this year. Below are links that lead to pre-filled lists of test items for each level. You can change quantities (i.e., if you have multiple students in one level). You will select a link for each test level to add more items to your cart. When all test items for all your students have been added, you can add the discount code and check out! On your first use of the portal, you will create your account with BJU Press when you check out.
Step 1: Select from this list of grade-level links. Click on the grade level that applies to your student (if you have multiple students, choose one to start with). You may choose the Iowa Assessment alone, or in a combo with the CogAT. Select the grade level that your student is currently completing.
Step 2: Check/modify the test items in the cart. The link will open a prefilled cart for that particular grade. Wait for the BJU site to load the cart. Since this is a prefilled cart, you don’t need to add anything, but you may need to change quantities if you have multiple students in that grade.
Step 3: If you have additional students, use the ‘back’ button to navigate back to the list. Then click on the next applicable link to add more items to your cart.
Step 4: Enter your promo code to receive a 10% discount and free shipping. Promo codes were sent by email in our regular enewsletter to subscribers. If you have are not a subscriber, request a code at testing@homeschoolidaho.org.
Step 5: When you are prepared to check out for the first time, you will be prompted to sign up for a new account on BJU Press.
Step 6: To log back into your account, go to your portal link.
Why Test?
In Idaho, there is no law requiring testing for privately homeschooled students.
While completely optional, there are many benefits of having your child take a standardized test through Homeschool Idaho’s testing option.
PROTECT HOMESCHOOL FREEDOM
The high test scores achieved by Idaho’s home educated students were fundamental to the passage of Idaho’s homeschool law in 2009. By utilizing BJU Press for your standardized testing, Idaho homeschool families can still contribute to the group data we include in charts each year. This will allow Homeschool Idaho to continue reminding the Idaho legislature of the academic excellence of private home education.
The generally high test scores of Idaho’s homeschool students provides concrete evidence to both legislators and the public that private home schooling succeeds without government funding or oversight.
Your participation is encouraged, not only for your own information, but to continue to safeguard our freedoms.
LEARN TEST-TAKING SUCCESS
Following directions, relaxing under pressure, pacing oneself, and completing work in an allotted time are all great skills that can be honed through taking tests.
Testing can be a valuable preparation for college entrance exams such as the ACT and SAT.
WE PROTECT YOUR PRIVACY
The charts of test scores shown to Idaho legislators are combined scores of homeschool students statewide, never individual scores. Only a compilation of all student scores will be shared at our annual Legislative Day.
PROVIDE A BENCHMARK
Standardized tests indicate how your child compares academically to other children at his grade level.
We have the privilege of seeing our children learn in their own unique ways on a day-to-day basis. However, it is beneficial in certain circumstances to assess a child’s year-to-year development of learning. Homeschool Idaho provides a convenient, private way to meet the need for testing data if it should become necessary for your family.
GRADUATION HONORS
Students in grades 9-12 with a complete composite score of the 90th percentile or higher qualify as Homeschool Idaho Summa Cum Laude Scholars. A score between the 80th and 89th percentile qualifies as a Magna Cum Laude Scholar. Honor designations earned during the 10th-12th year entitle graduates to wear a white (Summa) or gold (Magna) honor cord at the Homeschool Idaho Graduation Ceremony.
DUAL ENROLLMENT QUALIFICATION
To be eligible for certain dual enrollment opportunities in Idaho public schools, principals or athletic directors may ask to review standardized test results.
The 2023 Composite Numbers
Here you’ll find the The Iowa Assessments™ compiled scores for Idaho homeschoolers in 2023. As you can see, the median composite test score for all of our homeschooled students who were tested was at the 82nd percentile, 32 percentile points higher than typical public school student scores.
- Composite Score – 82%
- Reading – 86%
- Language – 88%
- Mathematics – 73%