Is PEP annual testing required for grades K-2?
I initially thought so but have noticed the information on the Step Up for Students website does not explicitly state it must be every grade level. The website now references the alternative school district testing, which only starts at grade 3. I've also seen a couple of other references, one of which is in the FES-EO and FTC Handbook, that implies required testing starts in grade 3. Any clarification would be appreciated. Thanks.
I thought I'd share this info. This testing company can be found on the myscholarshop, Affordable Homeschool Testing Services. They offer the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment that is on the norm-referenced assessment listed in the Florida Dept. of Education website.
I contacted them and this was their reply: All of our testing is done online from your home or any other place (within the United States) that you want. You can purchase testing from the scholarship shop. After we receive the order from the scholarship program we will send you vouchers that you can use to register for testing.
We test grades K-12. Depending on what grade your students are in, they can take Math and Reading, language arts and/or science.
Hope this helps!
The statutes require a test score to be submitted for every student before they can renew the scholarship. So if you are wanting to renew the PEP scholarship for another year, then yes, the testing is required.
There are some very young-child-friendly options on the approved testing list. I'm not familiar with all the tests on the list, but I know STAR, for example, has a version that is for young students who aren't reading on their own yet, and seems like a very low-stress option for kids. There may be others too.