We’ve already discussed the elements that are required in the portfolio, including a log, samples of the child’s work and standardized test scores in grades 3, 5 and 8. One final requirement is to obtain an evaluation and submit the evaluator’s certification that an appropriate education is occurring for the school year under review no later than June 30.
The evaluation typically takes place in the spring as the home education program is wrapping up. The first step is to choose a qualified evaluator who supports homeschooling, in general and will apply the appropriate standard of review when looking over the portfolio and interviewing your child. The second step is setting up a time for the evaluation to take place.
Who’s Qualified to Conduct an Evaluation under PA Homeschool Law?
Neither the supervisor of a home education program nor a spouse may conduct the evaluation for his own child.
The law defines 3 categories of professionals who are legally qualified to conduct an evaluation of the portfolio: 1) a licensed clinical or school psychologist; 2) a Pennsylvania certified teacher; 3) a nonpublic school teacher or administrator with at least 2 years of teaching experience in a Pennsylvania public or nonpublic school within the last 10 years.
A teacher or administrator who evaluates a portfolio at the elementary level (grades K-6) must have at least two years of experience in grading any of following subjects: English; arithmetic; science; geography; history and civics. Likewise, a teacher or administrator who evaluates a portfolio at the secondary level (grades 7-12) must have at least 2 years of experience in grading any of the following subjects: English, including language, literature, speech, reading and composition; science, including biology, chemistry and physics; geography; social studies, including economics, civics, history; foreign language; and mathematics, including general math, algebra, trigonometry, calculus and geometry.
“Grading” as used in the clause means evaluation of class work, homework, quizzes, class work-based tests and prepared tests related to the classwork subject matter.
Finally, at the request of the supervisor, persons with other qualifications may conduct the evaluation with the prior consent of the district of residence superintendent. My district has accepted evaluations from homeschool parents who are well-informed about the homeschool law, so long as they are not providing evaluations for their own children. This would be the most common situation. Other persons who might also get approval from the superintendent, any of whom might be a family member or friend, are; a child development specialist, a speech pathologist, a tutor-even if not certified; a coach with a degree related to one of the subjects listed above; a person with college teaching experience; a music teacher with a degree in one of the subjects listed above and who has lots of experience with your child. These are just examples.
Most people know a teacher or have a teacher in the family with the experience required by the statute. This is a great choice especially if she generally supports your decision to homeschool. If you don’t know a teacher or administrator or would rather not have that person conduct the evaluation, other homeschoolers in your area should be able to help you find a qualified evaluator. You can ask the school district for a referral but they may or may not be helpful. A quick google search for homeschool groups in your city or region should generate a contact of someone who can refer a list of evaluators.
If you have more questions about evaluations, you might be interested in downloading the guide I created, “School District Shenanigans“, because school administrators routinely ask for things that aren’t required by the law.
We have a group of homeschoolers in the Meadville PA area and finding an evaluator for our area is a nightmare. Please do not direct us to the PA Homeschoolers website, Ask Pauline, CHAPS, Erie Diploma, or any of the bigger organizations. They do not list current evaluators in our area, any listing in our county are out dated and the individuals listed do not even exist there anymore or at least do not respond to phone or email attempts. I suspect anyone in the last two decades who expressed an interest in being an evaluator is still listed, even if the individual has subsequently died or fled the state.
We have to contact a distance evaluator or travel over an hour one way, usually two hours to Pittsburgh or Erie for an evaluation. Can you include on your page a place for evaluators to sign up annually in the spring? That way at least we would know who is available, sparing the inevitable round of emails and phone calls every year because inevitably whatever evaluator we used the previous year is no longer doing it. It would be great if you could find a way to solicit evaluators in every county if that is at all possible. Further, a way to ‘report’ evalutors who demand more than the law would be great too. For example, Patty Tinkey an education professor at Grove City College informed me that she required ‘proof of socialization ovtside the home” in the form of ‘photos of your child participating in activities’ or ‘a church flyer listing your child as participating in a group activity’. When I contacted her about this she stated that she did so because she felt she needed to explore whether the kids she evaluated were ‘safe’ and that an evaluation by her indicated to the school district that those children were indeed ‘safe’. As someone with professional experience in human services I did attempt to educate her on how she was overstepping her role and setting herself up for litigation besides imposing unlawful requirements on families and also about the fact that there is no evidence in the professional literature the would lead anyone to believe that ‘evidence of socialization outside the home’ as she required had anything at all to do with ‘ensuring’ the absence or presence of actual child abuse of neglect. Patty Tinkey is still doing evaluations in the Grove City area and imposing her unlawful requirements on families who have chosen to use her services because they simply cannot find another alternative outside of Pittsburgh. Personally I would love to put her out of business.
As you might be able to tell, finding an evaluator in the ‘hinterlands’ is enough to make most of us reconsider enrolling in at least a cyber charter school. Can you help us out? Really help, not just refer us to those outdated and geographically distant lists maintained by the big groups?
Judy Arnold
By the way, the light grey font color I’m forced to write this in is very difficult to see while I am trying to type. It would be helpful if you changed it to a darker color.
Judy,
Thanks for the tip about the font. I will make it darker.
Also, thank you for taking the time to look at the site and to leave such a thoughtful and relevant suggestion. I know what you mean about the difficulty in finding an evaluator through the channels you mentioned. I haven’t experienced the same difficulty since I’m in Pittsburgh. The person who conducted my children’s evaluations for the first couple of years tried to get on the Pa Homeschoolers list but had no luck. I’m not sure what the problem was but they never listed her.
Regarding the person at Grove City….honestly, I’m speechless. She is so far out of line, I don’t know what to say. What she requests and the reason she gives is so completely inappropriate and off the mark. Unfortunately, there are no consequences for evaluators who expect more than the law requires. The best approach is to try to educate parents (supervisors) and to discourage them from using those people. Just curious, what does she charge?
In the short term, I will direct you to PHEA.net, an association dedicated to supporting freedom in homeschooling. They advocate compliance with the law and no more. MaryAlice Newborn, who started phea.net also moderates a yahoo group called Family Learning Opportunities. Somebody on that list may be able to help with a homeschool-friendly evaluator in your area. She also organizes “Freedom Evaluators”, a group of about 5-10 homeschool moms/dads who also happen to be PA-certified teachers and are qualified to conduct evaluations for both grade levels (2-6)(7-12). Although they meet near Pittsburgh, one day a week for about 5 weeks in the spring, I think others conduct them in or around Grove City on a few dates in the spring. If I find that information, I will get in touch with you.
I think a list of current and homeschool-friendly evaluators on this site is a great idea. I will work on that. Also, your comment suggests that this is a topic worth covering in more detail on the site.
Thanks again for your time. Please let me know how else I can help.
I am utterly disturbed by this account of an evaluator and her demand of photographs to prove socialization. That is so terrible!
Unfortunately, many homeschooling parents aren’t aware that this evaluator’s actions are out of line. One of my goals is to help PA homeschooling parents to understand that they have a right to educate their children at home. They have wide discretion to choose the method and manner in which to teach the required subjects. The role of an evaluator is not to police the parent and definitely not to ensure “socialization” of the child. All I can say is that this person’s expectations are bizarre.
I am an evaluator in Washington Co. and would be willing to “set up shop” for a day or two in your area in order to evaluate families. I am passionate about homeschooling and understand your frustration in evaluator’s requiring too much. I just finished and have been so blessed by all the wonderful people I meet. I am a homeschool mom and know that it can be difficult to find qualified people.
Amy, I emailed you (check spam) that would be great. I’ll be in touch end of winter.