An official in West-Central South Dakota sent a letter insisting that homeschool families divulge which standardized test they planned to administer to their children in the required grades (4th, 8th and 11th).
I wrote a letter to the official asking him either to point out what law authorized this demand or acknowledge that it was unauthorized, and send a letter of correction to the families.
The official replied and backed away from the demand. He did not, however, acknowledge that the demand was groundless or offer to send a letter of correction. I followed up and renewed my request for a letter of correction.
The official again refused to issue a letter of correction. On the other hand, he said he would refrain from making the demand in subsequent years.
Under South Dakota law, it is clear that families are not required to tell school officials in advance which test they will be choosing. Of course families who want to use the test that the state makes available at no charge must follow the applicable procedures.
Reminder: all state-required assessments have been waived for the 2019-20 school year.