FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

S.M.A.R.T. associates currently administer the Woodcock-Johnson IV and the IOWA Tests. The Brigance test is also available for rental. The Woodcock-Johnson is administered one on one with students answering questions both written and orally. The IOWA uses a multiple-choice testing format with bubble sheets. The Brigance can be administered at home by parents and is commonly used for young children or those with special needs.

To schedule a testing session, first contact a S.M.A.R.T. Associate located near you. You and your associate will choose a date, time, and testing location. You will then register your student online at smarttesting.net/registration.

S.M.A.R.T. associates are available to provide training sessions or seminars for homeschool groups about testing requirements and understanding standardized test scores. We also offer Homeschool Coaching sessions to help you get started, overcome struggles, or answer questions as you transition into a new phase of your homeschool.

NC requires that you administer a nationally normed, standardized test to your child at least once per year as a requirement to homeschool. S.M.A.R.T. associates are licensed to administer the Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Achievement. We also offer the IOWA Tests and Brigance Testing.

You are free to decide when is the best time for your homeschool to administer the standardized tests. The only requirement is that it be done once per school year. (The NC Department of Non-Public Education measures their school year from July 1st - June 30th.) Many families choose to test at the end of their school year, however, others test at the beginning or middle.

You do not need to turn in your testing results to the NC Department of Non-Public Education unless requested. Keep your test results and information for your students in your records.

Yes. NC requires annual administration of a standardized test for all students, ages 7 and up after you file a letter of intent to homeschool.

One of the requirements for North Carolina's Career and College Promise program is achieving scores in the gifted range of a cognitive abilities test. S.M.A.R.T. associates can administer the IOWA CogAT test which will meet this requirement. This test must be administered with an IOWA Core or Complete test.

Standardized tests are only required for parents homeschooling under Option 1, which states that homeschools can operate under the home education law under the direction of a homeschool student's parents.

Options include: (1) A Florida-certified teacher evaluates progress based on portfolio review, (2) A nationally normed achievement test administered by a certified teacher, (3) A state assessment test at an approved location, (4) Evaluation by a licensed psychologist, or (5) Any valid measurement tool agreed upon by parent and superintendent.

The parent shall select the method of evaluation and file a copy annually with the district school superintendent's office in the county where the student resides. The annual evaluation is due on the anniversary date of your letter of intent submission.

It's always a good idea to double-check with your individual district, but most FL counties accept the Woodcock-Johnson, Iowa, and Brigance.

Students must attend school or comply with homeschool laws beginning in the school year they turn 6 on or before February 6. Parents must submit test evaluations within one year of submitting their letter of intent.

S.M.A.R.T. has testing associates in multiple locations across North Carolina and Florida. When you schedule a testing appointment, you will be given details about the testing location. If you request that a tester travel outside their testing area, travel fees may apply.

We recommend the Woodcock-Johnson to most families because it provides valuable feedback about the working academic levels of your student. Additionally, it is an easy, fun, no-stress testing experience for both you and your child.

The cost includes all consumable books and materials, a licensed professional to administer the test, immediate scoring, and a 30-minute consultation. Your test administrator will explain the scores, answer your questions, and offer suggestions for continued growth.

After testing, your associate will tell you the working academic levels of your student in each area tested. They can help you see specific strengths and weaknesses, give suggestions for growth and intervention, and often provide information about tendencies towards dyslexia, processing delays, and other learning considerations.

We recommend adding the Broad Oral Language test to your first administration for a more complete picture. Other add-ons should be considered when you have concerns in particular areas. For example, if your student is struggling in reading, the Dyslexia Screening Cluster can give more insight into specific reading skills of concern.

No. S.M.A.R.T. Associates rotate the Woodcock-Johnson test forms each year so your child will not take the exact same test each year.

S.M.A.R.T. does not offer tutoring services at this time. We are happy to refer you to professionals offering tutoring in your area.

IOWA Tests must be sent off to be scored electronically. This process usually takes 4-6 weeks.

IOWA Test scores will be e-mailed to you as soon as they are received by your testing associate.

The time can vary depending on grade level and test set requested, ranging from 3 to 7 hours. The basic IOWA core test usually takes 3-4 hours. The more tests added, the longer the session.

The IOWA can be administered individually or in a group setting. We have one pre-scheduled group IOWA Session each year in Asheville, NC. The test looks like a traditional standardized test where students work through multiple choice questions within time limits.

Yes, the IOWA is a timed test. Accommodations can be made for students with diagnosed disabilities. These accommodations need to be discussed with the testing associate prior to the session.

We offer: IOWA Core (tests reading, math, and language arts), IOWA Complete (adds science and social studies), and IOWA CogAT (a cognitive abilities test that must be administered with Core or Complete).

The CogAT measures verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal reasoning. It's most often used to identify gifted students and for program placement. It's also one of the accepted tests to qualify for NC's Career and College Promise Program.

The Brigance is an excellent option for young students or students with developmental delays or disabilities. It can be given by a test administrator or by parents themselves and measures preschool to early elementary academic achievement.

Contact a S.M.A.R.T. associate to schedule renting the Brigance testing materials. A student book will also be purchased through S.M.A.R.T. that can be used for multiple years and testing sessions.

No. If you are administering the Brigance test yourself, you can break up testing into as many sessions as needed. Arrange how long you need to rent the materials with a Testing Associate.

Yes. The Brigance is a nationally normed standardized test that will satisfy the NC yearly standardized testing requirement.

Homeschool coaching is an intensive guidance session for families. You'll have the opportunity to communicate your questions and needs with a S.M.A.R.T. Associate (experienced homeschool parents and professional educators). Your session will be focused specifically on helping you with your unique situation.

Yes. Some families want more than the included 30-minute consultation after testing. If you would like more intensive guidance, help finding curriculum options, or have other needs, a coaching session following testing may be an excellent option.

Yes. If you want help and guidance for any reason in your homeschool, but do not need a standardized test at this time, a Homeschool Coaching session is available to you.

A Homeschool Coaching Session can be completed virtually (through video conference) or in person. Please discuss these options with your S.M.A.R.T Associate.