2023 Academic Achievement Study - North Carolinians for Home Education

We’ve all heard that homeschool students test—on average—higher than their public school peers. Did you know that this data from the last national study is more than a decade old?

We continue to see increasing attacks on homeschooling and our freedoms. North Carolinians for Home Education and more than 30 other state organizations across the nation, in partnership with NHERI (National Home Education Research Institute) and BJU Press Homeschool, are working together to collect current data that will provide new and helpful information to homeschool families, homeschool support organizations, media outlets, policymakers, courts, and the general public. Once collected and analyzed, we will be able to continue to make a convincing argument that homeschooling is an academic success without government control. We know that quality research is a powerful tool in protecting homeschool freedom. North Carolina families now have the opportunity to showcase their academic success by contributing to a nationwide research study! Here’s how YOU and your family can help:

Step 1: To purchase your Iowa test via this NCHE exclusive link to receive your discount, use this link that will take you to the BJU Press Homeschool website.

Purchase Test with 10% Discount

Step 2. Receive your student ID number in an email.

Step 3. Fill out the survey and consent forms.

Homeschool Testing Study Survey

Step 4. Test as usual.

Questions? Contact NCHE Activities Director, Evelyn Bickley at evelyn.bickley@nche.com

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who may participate in the study? Homeschooling families who order their test(s) through the NCHE portal (see above link), complete an anonymous survey, and include their student’s ID number (which you will receive after ordering your tests) will be included in the BJU Press reports provided to NHERI. By completing the survey and providing your student’s ID number from BJU Press, you are agreeing to allow North Carolinians for Home Education and BJU Press to work with NHERI to create state-by-state as well as national reports that will be used for blind studies. Your responses will be kept confidential. Names will not be used in reports or publications of the study. The survey only takes 5-10 minutes to complete and up to seven students in your family may be included on one survey form. You will need to complete a survey for EACH student you purchase a test for before the test is given or while the test is being administered. Surveys completed after testing cannot be included in the study.

2. What tests can be used? For the purposes of this study, the Iowa form E (normed in 2017).

3. Can I use the CAT? It’s cheaper. Currently, our vendor is BJU Press Homeschool, who does not offer the CAT. The CAT was last normed in 1986. It is not being updated, and it is not viewed as reliable for study purposes. The test is cheaper because no development or updating is happening with it.

4. Why BJU Press? I usually order from someone else. BJU Press is the one that has stepped up to help with this undertaking. You can order paper-and-pencil tests to administer at home or computerized tests.

5. When do I order/test? Order your test for your usual testing time. The majority of homeschoolers test from the spring to mid-summer, but test results for the Study purposes will be tabulated for tests taken through the fall of 2023.

6. How to find your student’s ID Number: Please click this https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Irtga5knu9Jd77woUVVBeHUKbDI0s1B3/view?_hsmi=250601807

7. Does NCHE benefit financially from our participation? No, NCHE is not making any money from this. In fact, neither is NHERI or BJUPress. What we ALL get is up-to-date information that can be used to support what we believe: that homeschooling works!

8. So, besides helping to bolster the standing of homeschooling in our state and country, what else might I expect? By ordering your tests through the NCHE portal above, you will receive a 10% discount on your tests. BJUPress is offering the tests AT COST in support of this study.

Thank you for being willing to join in this critical research to support homeschool freedom for the next generation!
Remember, the greater the participation, the more reliable the study results will be!

Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for being willing to join in this critical research to support homeschool freedom for the next generation!Remember, the greater the participation, the more reliable the study results will be!

Thank you for being willing to join in this critical research to support homeschool freedom for the next generation!
Remember, the greater the participation, the more reliable the study results will be!