The Testing Lady: Testing Information

Dear Parents, January 2010

This letter contains group and individual testing information for this coming spring and summer. Look closely at the schedule below because there will be morning and afternoon testing times available for Iowa group testing 2^nd week only. The morning testing times will be from 9am to 12pm and the afternoon testing times will be from 1pm to 4pm. All group testing will be administered at First Baptist Church of Norfolk located at 312 Kempsville Rd. in Norfolk (near Sentara Leigh Hospital).

The $15 non-refundable registration deposit guarantees your testing space. You may register by phone, but your space is not reserved until I receive your deposit. Along with your deposit please send a stamped (Liberty stamp please), self-addressed #10 size (regular business size) envelope. (Note: Deposit + Balance = Total Cost. Minimum total payment is $55 per child. Pay attention to which month you make your final payment to determine how much your total is.)

The Iowa Test of Basic Skills is a 2 day test. The group testing schedule is as follows:

Test

Date

Grades

Cost if paid

Jan-Mar

(Deposit + Balance)

Cost if paid

in April

(Deposit + Balance)

Cost if paid

in May

(Deposit + Balance)

Science

and Soc. Studies **

Iowa

May 5-6

Morning

K(5)-11

$55

($15 + 40)

$65

($15 + 50)

$75

($15 + 60)

n/a

Iowa

May 12-14

Morning

1-11

$55

($15 + 40)

$65

($15 + 50)

$75

($15 + 60)

add $10

to total

Iowa

May 12-13

Afternoon

3-11

$55

($15 + 40)

$65

($15 + 50)

$75

($15 + 60)

n/a

**Science and Social Studies tests for children taking the Iowa test will be given on Friday May 14 in the morning only. Please remember that Science and Social Studies are not required by the state. They are optional and are given as a set. Grades 1-8 are charged a $10 fee for the set. High school students will not be charged extra for taking the Science and Social Studies portions of the Iowa Test.

No calculators will be allowed during these tests.

Notice the graduated payment scale. In the past, people have waited until the last minute to register for testing. This late registration causes administrative difficulties and takes time from my family. Please help me out by getting registrations and full payments in as early as possible.

NO STANFORD TESTS – I do not offer a group Stanford test. The Stanford 10 Test is designed to be an un-timed test. This creates more administrative headaches than I am willing to take on. I would suggest switching to an alternate test. (Remember that the Stanford test is NOT REQUIRED. It is only 1 of many tests that will satisfy the state law.) However, if you desire to continue with the Stanford test, I will be happy to suggest other proctors who may be willing to administer this test for you privately.

NO CALIFORNIA TESTS – I will not offer the California tests this year. Parents can administer this test themselves thru Seton Home Study. Seton can be reached at www.setonhome.com.

Evaluations and Individual Tests - I will be conducting evaluations and private tests in my home from May 3 through July 23. The price for my service doubles for any dates prior to May 3 or after July 23; therefore, make your appointment as soon as possible by sending your $25 deposit to hold your place. No private appointments will be scheduled without the required deposit. Prices will be as follows: (Note: Deposit + Balance = Total Cost)

Assessment Type

Cost if paid in full in Jan-Apr.

(Deposit + Balance)

Cost if paid in full in May

(Deposit + Balance)

Cost if paid in full in June

(Deposit + Balance)

Cost if paid in full in July

(Deposit + Balance)

Scheduled

July 24 '10 – April '11

Evaluation

$90

($25 + $65)

$95

($25 + $70)

$100

($25 + $75)

$105

($25 + $80)

$200

Woodcock-Johnson

$90

($25 + $65)

$95

($25 + $70)

$100

($25 + $75)

$105

($25 + $80)

$200

Portfolio

$90

($25 + $65)

$95

($25 + $70)

$100

($25 + $75)

$105

($25 + $80)

$200

WRAT

$60

($25 + $35)

$65

($25 + $40)

$70

($25 + $45)

$75

($25 + $50)

$120

If you change your appointment after you have received confirmation, there will be a rescheduling fee of $15 per person. I must have the non-refundable deposit to schedule an evaluation or private test, and there will be a $15 fee for rescheduling the appointment.

Again, I am privileged to have Renee Carey and Sherry Brunner to do some of these assessments for me. They do an excellent job and help me tremendously in filling the ever increasing demand for private assessments. I am looking forward to having their help again this year. (All of the private testing will still be done in my home to continue to provide your student with a maximum comfort zone.)

Remember that my time is becoming more limited because my clientele base is continuing to grow and because my oldest daughter is getting married this May. Therefore, please do not be offended if I ask you to allow Renee or Sherry to do the assessment. If I didn’t think they would do a great job with your child, I would not ask them to help me in this way.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. If I do not answer, please leave a message on the answering machine and my assistant or I will return your call as soon as possible. I may be speaking with someone else about testing, and I want to give you the same undivided attention that I am giving them.

I am looking forward to working with you and your children this year.

Sincerely,

Sarah R. Olbris

P.S. Just a reminder – Parents, you are responsible to send in your children’s test scores to the appropriate school system. I will not send test scores to anyone but you.

Also, if you are a Virginia Beach resident, please seriously consider becoming a member of HSLDA. You may contact them at 540-338-5600 or on the web at www.hslda.org.