At this point in the school year, I always find myself reflecting on how much my kids have grown—both academically and personally. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day and forget to pause and take stock of all the little moments that show real progress. Maybe it’s the way they confidently tackle a math problem that once left them in tears, how their handwriting has improved, or even the thoughtful connections they make between subjects that weren’t there before. Growth isn’t always measured in perfect increments, and it doesn’t always look the way we expect it to—but it’s happening.
As homeschool parents, we have so many ways to recognize our children’s learning—portfolios, projects, goal-setting, and skill-tracking, just to name a few. But one tool that is often overlooked is testing. While we all realize that standardized testing results are just one measure of achievement, these results do provide valuable insight. It can highlight strengths we may not have noticed, reveal areas that need more focus, and even help our kids practice essential skills like working through challenges, pacing themselves, and demonstrating what they know under structured conditions.
State testing is also an important part of our school’s ability to continue offering the programs and freedoms we value so much. As a public charter school, we are required to administer these assessments and demonstrate academic growth in our students, with a goal of achieving at least 95% participation. Participation and showing growth help ensure we can continue providing families with quality curriculum choices, field trips, enrichment activities, and personalized learning support. It’s one of the ways we demonstrate the value of homeschooling while keeping our program strong for years to come.
That said, testing doesn’t have to be stressful! Over the years, I’ve found that a little preparation and a positive mindset can go a long way:
- Portfolios – Keeping a collection of my kids’ work helps us see their progress throughout the year, making testing feel like just one of many ways we track learning.
- Project-Based Learning – When kids apply their knowledge through hands-on projects, they often feel more confident when it comes time to demonstrate their understanding in a test.
- Goal-Setting and Reflection Journals – Writing down goals helps kids see how much they’ve accomplished and gives them a sense of ownership over their learning.
- Skill-Tracking Sheets – Using simple progress trackers helps kids see what they’ve mastered and what still needs work, making testing feel more like a checkpoint than a high-stakes moment.
- Practice & Familiarity – Using one of the many free apps in Clever or programs like i-Ready or IXL to review concepts can build confidence, and practicing test-taking skills—like reading instructions carefully and managing time—can make the experience smoother.
At the end of the day, testing is just one piece of the puzzle. It doesn’t define our kids or their education, but it is a helpful tool—for them, for us as parents, and for our school as a whole. I encourage you to embrace this season as an opportunity to celebrate growth, set new goals, and support your child in gaining experience with testing—an important life skill they’ll use well beyond their homeschool years.
Kindly, Kara
Kara Parkins, Parent Support Supervisor