We have been homeschooling for 10 years and my kids have never taken a standardized test. (8 yrs in ND, 2 yrs in MN) Because I am a licensed teacher, I can "opt out." But for the sake of ALL kids, I will fight standardized tests to the death. They prove nothing about your child's ability---they only show which teachers and which districts are effectively "teaching to the test"--which determines how much money that district gets, and whether that teacher's contract gets renewed. The tests have NOTHING--NOTHING--to do with your child's intelligence, talent, work ethic, goals, or potential.