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Virtual High Schools: Are Students Required to Participate in Mandated State Assessments?

This database identifies which states require students in the virtual high school program to participate in mandated statewide assessments.

Why does it matter? Online students should be held to the same standards as other public school students.

Highlights:

  • Twenty-five states require students seeking a diploma to participate in state assessments.
  • Information was not available to answer this question for three states.
  • Virginia requires assessment if the course has an end-of-course exam (but does not indicate whether or how the exam score must be factored into the student's grade in the course).

    Methodology: This information was collected from state statutes, rules and regulations, and state education agencies, and will be updated as new policies and programs are enacted.

    Sources for all data points are available through this link.

    Last updated: December 3, 2007

    Research conducted by Melodye Bush and Michael Colasanti. Please contact Melodye Bush (303.299.3631 or mbush@ecs.org) with comments or questions about this database.

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    Are students required to participate in mandated state assessments?
    Alabama Yes, an adult facilitator must be present when state achievement assessments are administered, if used to determine a student's final grade.
    Alaska
    American Samoa
    Arizona Yes
    Arkansas Yes
    California Yes
    Colorado Yes
    Connecticut
    Delaware
    District of Columbia
    Florida Yes
    Georgia Yes
    Guam
    Hawaii Yes
    Idaho Yes 
    Illinois Yes
    Indiana
    Iowa Yes
    Kansas
    Kentucky Yes
    Louisiana Yes
    Maine
    Maryland Yes
    Massachusetts
    Michigan Yes
    Minnesota
    Mississippi Yes
    Missouri Yes
    Montana
    Nebraska
    Nevada
    New Hampshire
    New Jersey
    New Mexico Yes
    New York
    North Carolina No information available
    North Dakota No information available
    Ohio
    Oklahoma
    Oregon No information available.
    Pennsylvania
    Puerto Rico
    Rhode Island
    South Carolina Yes, students must be administered appropriate state assessments in a proctored environment.
    South Dakota Yes
    Tennessee
    Texas Yes
    Utah Yes, as long as the student has been enrolled in EHS by the school counselor or the student has met all requirements and standards for Utah home school students.
    Vermont
    Virgin Islands
    Virginia Yes, if the online course relates to an end-of-course assessment.
    Washington
    West Virginia Yes
    Wisconsin Yes
    Wyoming


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