Hewitt Homeschooling Testing offers support for homeschoolers through its PASS test. This test helps assess student progress based on ability, making it a unique option for families.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What is Hewitt Homeschooling testing?
Hewitt Learning started in 1964 as a non-profit focused on helping homeschoolers. They created the PASS (Personalized Achievement Summary System) test just for homeschoolers, not adapted from regular school tests. Since then, they've given out over 350,000 tests to more than 30,000 families. Besides testing, Hewitt has curriculum products like Lightning Literature and Math-It and offers evaluations for junior high through high school students.
State recognition
The PASS test is approved for compliance in six states: Alaska, Georgia, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, and Washington. Some school districts in other states also accept PASS results, so it's a good idea to check with your local district before testing. Even if your state doesn’t officially recognize it, PASS can still help document your homeschool progress.
Why homeschoolers choose pass
PASS stands out because it’s an ability-based placement test. Instead of comparing your 8-year-old with all other 8-year-olds, it matches them with kids at their skill level. This helps reduce frustration for students who are ahead or behind. The test is untimed, so there’s no pressure from the clock. Plus, you can give it at home, which means no scheduling problems or new testing centers. At $36, it's also one of the more affordable standardized testing options.
The bottom line
Hewitt's PASS test is tailored for homeschoolers. With its ability-based placement, no time limit, and helpful scoring, it’s great for families wanting to track progress without the stress of traditional tests. Make sure to check if your state recognizes PASS for compliance. If not, it’s still a great tool for your homeschool portfolio.
