Subject: 2010 Testing Season

Dear Homeschooling Family,

Annual assessments are required for home school students age 8-18 who are not enrolled in an approved private school extension program. I am a certified teacher currently working with homeschooling families and am available for testing services.

We will be administering the California Achievement Test (CAT) in the Summit area of Tacoma on May 25-27 and in Elma on June 1 & 2. We also offer other small group sessions in Lakewood at our “new” location – 8323 95^th St SW Lakewood, Washington 98498. So far we have two test sessions scheduled: 3/5 & 3/12 and 4/30 & 5/7. Please register for testing within two weeks of the testing date. There will be other dates as the season progresses. If these dates will not work for your schedule, please contact us and we will schedule dates that are good for you.

            All tests will be hand scored so that the parent can have a quick reporting of the results and the opportunity to determine specific learning gaps. Parents will assist in scoring their child/children’s test unless they pay for the administrator to score the test for them.

In choosing the appropriate test level, parents need to consider the following factors. The test levels overlap somewhat. For instance, level 15 is an appropriate test for students in grades 4.6 (4th grade, sixth month = February) through grade 6.2. Level 16 range is 5.6 through 7.2. A student in the last three months of 5th grade may take either test. If your child has performed at an average or above average level and is not overly stressed by testing, the test, which will give the most information in new areas to work on for the next year, is the higher level. If, however, your child is stressed by testing and or is somewhat behind in academics, the lower level is recommended. The actual percentile scores are adjusted according to the child's grade level and should not vary significantly between test levels.

I also administer the Stanford Achievement Test and Iowa Test of Basic Skills by appointment through Bob Jones University Testing Service. Please call for information. In addition, if your child has difficulty with a traditional testing environment, I offer customized non-test assessments. Any of these can be arranged for on an individual basis all year around.

Please visit our websites and share this information with someone that may be interested.

Yours for the Master,

Maggie Dail, MA

Washington State Certified Teacher # 305768D

P.S.  If your circumstances have changed and you are no longer interested in receiving this kind of information, please feel free to notify us.