Which homeschool test does my state accept?
Each state's testing rule in its own words, with the grades and the dates its checklist gives.
22 of the 51 states Peabody has checked ask for a test, an evaluation, or a choice of either, in some grades or every year; 29 ask for none. Find your state below: the rule is quoted from the record, each linked to the law, with the dates where the state sets them.
Colorado: a test or an evaluation
In grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, each child takes a nationally standardized achievement test or a qualified person (a licensed teacher, a teacher at an independent or parochial school, a licensed psychologist, or someone with a graduate degree in education) evaluates the child's progress. The results go to the school district that received your notice, or to an independent or parochial school. A composite score at or below the 13th percentile (after a chance to retest) means the district requires the child to be placed in a school until the next testing period. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- In grades 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11: Each child takes a nationally standardized achievement test, or a qualified person evaluates the child's progress.
Florida: a test or an evaluation
Each year the parent arranges one annual educational evaluation and files a copy with the district superintendent's office. The parent picks the method: a Florida-certified teacher reviewing the portfolio and talking with the student; any nationally normed achievement test given by a certified teacher; the state test used by the district, given by a certified teacher; an evaluation by a licensed psychologist; or another valid tool agreed with the superintendent. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- Each year: Arrange one annual educational evaluation by a method you choose, and file a copy with the district school superintendent's office.
Georgia: a standardized test
A nationally standardized test at least every three years, starting at the end of third grade, given with someone trained to give and read norm-referenced tests. The parent keeps the scores and records; they are not sent in. Georgia Milestones tests do not count as nationally standardized tests. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- At least every three years, from the end of grade 3: A nationally standardized test.
Hawaii: a standardized test
Provide test scores from a nationally-normed standardized assessment for grades 3, 5, 8 and 10, either from the school's statewide testing (free) or private testing at your own expense. The Department's page adds that public school students are no longer tested in Grade 10 but are tested in Grade 11. Also send the principal a yearly progress report using one of four methods: a nationally-normed test score at grade level; test progress of about one grade level per year; a written evaluation by a teacher certified in Hawaii; or your own written evaluation with work samples. Test scores can serve as that year's report. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- In grades 3, 5, 8 and 10: Provide scores from a nationally-normed standardized test, with the yearly progress report.
Iowa: depends on the route
Only on the CPI routes with a parent teacher who reports or dual enrolls: an annual evaluation by May 31 (a nationally recognized standardized achievement test, or portfolio or accredited correspondence-school report options), results to the district by August 1. Adequate progress is above the 30th percentile in reading, mathematics and language arts (plus science and social studies from grade 6). Not meeting it can mean returning to an accredited school. No evaluation on CPI Option 2 without reporting or on independent private instruction. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- By May 31 (CPI routes that report or dual enroll): The annual evaluation is due.
Louisiana: a test or an evaluation
State tests are not required for home study students; a parent may ask the local school board to give them. At each yearly renewal the parent sends one of three things: a packet of materials about the year's curriculum, standardized test scores, or a statement from a certified teacher who examined the program. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
Maine: a test or an evaluation
Each year after the first, an annual assessment of the child's progress is sent with the notice. Choose one: a standardized achievement test, a test agreed with the school officials, review by a Maine-certified teacher, review of a portfolio by a support group that includes a certified teacher or administrator, or review by a local advisory board. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
Maryland: an evaluation
No test is required. Instead the parent keeps a portfolio, and the local superintendent or a designee reviews it at the end of each semester, at a time that suits both sides, no more than three reviews a year. A child may take the public school's standardized tests on request. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- At the end of each semester: The local superintendent or a designee reviews your portfolio.
Massachusetts: depends on the route
State law sets no test for home schooling. Evaluation is one of the things a district looks at when it reviews your plan, so what you must show depends on the district's policy and the plan it approves. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
Minnesota: a standardized test
Each year the child's performance must be assessed with a nationally norm-referenced standardized achievement test (children ages seven through 16, and ages 16 through 17 if the first report was filed after age 16). The parent and the superintendent must agree on the test and where and how it is given. Results are kept with the homeschool records and do not go to the district unless asked. A score at or below the 30th percentile means the parent must get an additional evaluation. Accredited homeschools are exempt. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- Each year: Give the nationally norm-referenced achievement test you and the superintendent agreed on, and keep the results.
New York: a test or an evaluation
With the fourth quarterly report, file an annual assessment: a commercially published norm-referenced achievement test from the regulation's list, or an alternative written narrative by a certified teacher, a peer review panel or another person the superintendent agrees to, after an interview and a portfolio review. The narrative may be used in grades 1 to 3, and in grades 4 to 8 no more often than every other year. A test score is adequate above the 33rd percentile or with one year of growth; otherwise the program goes on probation. The source, checked 2026-10-30.
- With the fourth quarterly report: File the annual assessment: a listed standardized test, or (grades 1 to 3, and every other year in grades 4 to 8) a written narrative by an approved person.
North Carolina: a standardized test
Every year the chief administrator must give each student a nationally standardized test (or equivalent measure) covering English grammar, reading, spelling and mathematics. There is no minimum score. Results stay in the home school's files for at least one year and are shown to DNPE if it asks. The state does not provide or pay for the test. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- Each school year: Give each student a nationally standardized test and keep the results for at least one year.
North Dakota: a standardized test
In grades four, six, eight and ten, each child takes a standardized achievement test used by the school district, or a nationally normed one if the parent asks. A licensed or approved teacher gives it. The parent files the results with the superintendent. The test requirement does not apply if the parent files a philosophical, moral or religious objection, is licensed to teach, holds a bachelor's degree, or has met the cutoff score on a national teacher exam. The notice is filed with the statement of intent. A basic composite score below the thirtieth percentile leads to an assessment for a possible learning problem. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- In grades 4, 6, 8 and 10: Your child takes a standardized achievement test, unless one of the law's exceptions applies.
Oregon: a standardized test
Children taught at home are tested in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 with a test the State Board of Education has approved, given by a neutral person who is not related to the child. The first test comes at least 18 months after leaving public school. The Department says testing is due by August 15. A score below the 15th percentile means another test within a year. Children with an IEP or a private plan may follow that plan instead. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- By August 15, in grades 3, 5, 8 and 10: Testing must be done by the August 15 deadline.
Pennsylvania: an evaluation
Every year an evaluator (a certified teacher, a licensed psychologist, or a qualified nonpublic school teacher or administrator) interviews the child, reviews the portfolio and writes whether an appropriate education is occurring; the parent gives this to the superintendent by June 30. In grades 3, 5 and 8 the portfolio must also hold results of a nationally normed achievement test or the statewide tests in reading/language arts and math. The parent may not give the test. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- By June 30: Give the superintendent the evaluator's certification that an appropriate education is occurring.
- In grades 3, 5 and 8: Put the results of a nationally normed achievement test (or the statewide tests) in reading/language arts and math in the portfolio.
Rhode Island: depends on the route
No state test is set. RIDE says the parent and the school committee should agree on how to evaluate progress in the required subjects, which may include testing at regular intervals, as part of approving the plan; where testing happens is also agreed. The source, checked 2026-10-30.
South Carolina: depends on the route
Option 1: students take the annual statewide testing program and the Basic Skills Assessment Program for their grade, given by a certified school district employee, with public school students or at the place of instruction at the parent's option (the parent pays the test giver for a home test). First-grade-age students are tested for readiness in the first fifteen instructional days of the school year. The Department of Education says Option 1 students take part. The statute lists no state test for Options 2 and 3. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
Tennessee: a standardized test
Independent home school students in grades 5, 7 and 9 must take a standardized test. Either a nationally normed test the parent picks (graded in English language arts and math, proctored by someone not related to the student and recorded by the test's developer) or the same state-approved test public school students take. Results go to the parent, the director of schools and the state board of education. The grade 9 test is not an end-of-course exam. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- In grades 5, 7 and 9: Your child takes a standardized test.
Vermont: a test or an evaluation
Each child's academic progress is assessed at the end of each school year and the parent keeps the record. The allowed ways are: a standardized assessment, a review by someone with a current Vermont teacher's certificate, a parent or guardian report and portfolio with a summary and at least four samples of student work, grades from an online academy or school, or evidence of passing the GED. The Agency of Education says families no longer send the end-of-year assessment to it. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- At the end of each school year: Assess each child's progress and keep the record.
Virginia: a test or an evaluation
By August 1 after the school year, give the division superintendent either (i) evidence of a composite score in or above the fourth stanine on a nationally normed standardized achievement test (or an equivalent score on the ACT, SAT or PSAT), or (ii) an evaluation or assessment the superintendent finds shows adequate growth and progress, such as a letter from a person licensed to teach in any state or with a master's degree or higher, or a report card or transcript from a college, distance learning program or home-education correspondence school. This does not apply to children under age six as of September 30 of the school year. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- By August 1: Give the division superintendent evidence of progress for the year just finished: a test score in or above the fourth stanine, or an evaluation.
Washington: a test or an evaluation
Every year, either have a standardized achievement test approved by the state board of education given to the child by a qualified person, or have a certificated person who is working in education write an annual assessment of the child's academic progress. The result goes into the child's permanent records. If the child is not making reasonable progress, the parent must make a good faith effort to fix any deficiency. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- Each year: A state-approved standardized achievement test given by a qualified person, or a written assessment by a certificated person working in education.
West Virginia: a test or an evaluation
Every year get an academic assessment of the child for the previous school year, in one of four ways: a nationally normed standardized achievement test (acceptable progress is the fourth stanine or better, or improvement), the state public school test taken at a public school in your county, a portfolio of work reviewed by a certified teacher who writes a narrative, or an alternative assessment agreed with the county superintendent. Send the results to the county superintendent for grades 3, 5, 8 and 11 by June 30 of the year of the assessment. The source, checked 2026-10-27.
- By June 30 (results for grades 3, 5, 8 and 11): Get an academic assessment each year; send the results for grades 3, 5, 8 and 11 to the county superintendent.
States with no test or evaluation
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Who gives the tests?
Where a state names a nationally normed achievement test, families commonly use a test publisher's own home testing service, a local testing group or co-op, a private school that opens its testing day, or the public school's state test where the law allows it. Some states say who may give the test (often not the parent): your state's rule above says so when it does. We name no provider and rank none.
Keep the scores
Log each test in the free test-score log; the scores print on the evaluation packet.
Information, not legal advice. See how we check state laws.