How is standardized testing administered?
The Des Moines Home Instruction Program administers standardized tests annually. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) is given to students in grades 1-8 and the Iowa Tests of Educational Development (ITED) to students in grades 9-12. All first grade tests are administered by the visiting teacher in the home. Second graders take the first testing session in the homes. This allows the second graders to become familiar with the test format before taking the remainder of the test as a group. Children, grades 2-12, are grouped by grade level and given the tests in three or four sessions. The final session, which covers social students and science, os optional for grades 1-5. In certain cases, students need to be tested individually. The presence of diagnosed learning problems or a program teacher’s observations of the student’s behavior in group situations could support the need for individualized testing. Arrangements for individual testing are made through the program coordinator. Parents
