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The TerraNova test, and which school choice programs require a yearly test

TerraNova is a family of norm-referenced achievement tests published by Data Recognition Corporation (DRC). Many private schools give a test like it each year, and 16 of the 27 state school choice programs whose rules we read ask scholarship students to take a nationally norm-referenced test, or the state test instead. The table below gives each program’s rule from its statute or program page.

Sources read October 8, 2026. Each section links the pages it came from.

What TerraNova is

DRC describes TerraNova as a family of research-based standardized achievement tests and calls it a norm-referenced assessment: results compare a student with a national sample. TerraNova, Third Edition uses 2017 norms from a national study, and its items are aligned to state standards. TerraNova NEXT, DRC’s newest generation, reports national and local norm-referenced results, criterion-referenced results and performance levels, online or on paper.

For 2026 DRC takes orders for the TerraNova3 Complete Battery (online or paper), TerraNova NEXT and TerraNova NEXT Form 2. New customers fill in a Purchaser’s Qualification Form before ordering, so families usually take it through a school or a qualified test giver. When DRC launched TerraNova Online in 2020, it described the online Complete Battery as covering reading, language and mathematics for grades 3 to 8; DRC’s current pages we could read do not list grades and subjects.

Sources: Data Recognition Corporation, Assessment Solutions; Data Recognition Corporation, Assessment Solutions: TerraNova; DRC, TerraNova Online and InView Online are up and running (January 2, 2020); TerraNova site run by DRC (terranova3.com)

Which programs require a yearly test

A norm-referenced test (TerraNova, the Iowa Assessments, Stanford and similar) compares a student with a national sample. A state test measures the state’s own standards. Programs that accept either usually leave the choice to the school.

Student testing rules in 27 state school choice programs, from each program’s statute or official page
StateProgramTestThe rule
AlabamaAlabama CHOOSE ActNorm-referenced or state testUnder the CHOOSE Act, participating students take a standardized test aligned to the school's curriculum, a nationally norm-referenced achievement test, or a nationally recognized aptitude test, as the school chooses.
ArizonaArizona Empowerment Scholarship AccountNo student test rule in the law citedThe ESA law we cite sets no student test rule; it lists the fee for a nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test as an allowed expense.
ArkansasArkansas Education Freedom AccountsNorm-referenced testFor Education Freedom Accounts, participating schools give a nationally norm-referenced test approved by the department every year.
District of ColumbiaD.C. Opportunity Scholarship ProgramState testFor the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, federal law since 2017 has the Institute of Education Sciences test scholarship students in grades 3 to 8 and one high school grade with the same reading and math test DC public schools use.
FloridaFlorida FES and FTC ScholarshipsNorm-referenced testFor the Florida Tax Credit and FES-EO scholarships, the parent must have the student take the norm-referenced test offered by the private school; the parent may also choose the state tests.
GeorgiaGeorgia Promise ScholarshipNorm-referenced or state testFor the Georgia Promise Scholarship, every participating student must complete a nationally norm-referenced test or the state test each year in math and language arts. Approved tests listed by the program include the CLT, i-Ready, Iowa Assessments and the SAT.
IdahoIdaho Parental Choice Tax CreditNo student test rule in the law citedThe tax credit law we cite sets no student test rule; it lists nationally standardized assessments as a qualified expense.
IndianaIndiana Choice ScholarshipState testTo take part in the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program, a school must give the statewide assessment.
IowaIowa Students First ESAState testIowa law requires each ESA student to take all applicable state and federally required student assessments, with results reported to parents and the Department of Education.
KansasKansas TCLISSNo student test rule in the law citedThe tax credit scholarship law we cite sets no student test rule; a qualified school must be accredited and notify the state board.
LouisianaLouisiana LA GATOR ScholarshipNorm-referenced or state testFor LA GATOR, students take each year either the state ELA and math tests for their grade or a nationally norm-referenced ELA and math test approved by BESE and given by the school or provider.
MaineMaine Town Tuitioning ProgramState testFor town tuitioning, a private school can be approved to receive public tuition money only if it takes part in the statewide assessment program.
MissouriMissouri MOScholarsNorm-referenced testTo renew a MOScholars scholarship, the student must complete annual nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement tests suited to the grade.
NevadaNevada Opportunity ScholarshipNorm-referenced or state testFor Nevada Opportunity Scholarships, the school must give each scholarship student the state's required exams or equivalent national norm-referenced exams.
New HampshireNew Hampshire Education Freedom AccountsNorm-referenced or state testFor Education Freedom Accounts, the parent agrees to an annual record of educational attainment, for example by having the student take a nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test or the state test.
North CarolinaNorth Carolina Opportunity ScholarshipNorm-referenced testFor Opportunity Scholarships, schools test scholarship students in grade 3 and up at least once a year: the test the Authority designates in grades 3 and 8, the ACT in grade 11, and a nationally standardized test the school picks in other grades.
OhioOhio EdChoice ScholarshipState testTraditional EdChoice students renew only if they take all required assessments for their grade level, and the Department publishes the state test results of scholarship students.
Rhode IslandRhode Island Tax Credit ScholarshipsNo student test rule in the law citedThe scholarship tax credit law we cite sets no student test rule; it defines eligibility by household income.
South CarolinaSouth Carolina ESTFNorm-referenced or state testFor the Education Scholarship Trust Fund, full-time schools make sure each scholarship student in grades 3 to 8 takes the state test, or instead an approved nationally norm-referenced test (or a set of formative tests).
South DakotaSouth Dakota Partners in EducationNorm-referenced or state testFor the Partners in Education Tax Credit Program, the parent must make sure the student takes the norm-referenced tests or state tests the school gives.
TennesseeTennessee Education Freedom ScholarshipsNorm-referenced or state testFor Education Freedom Scholarships, students in grades 3 to 11 take, each year, either a nationally standardized achievement test aligned to the school's plan or the state's TCAP tests in math and English language arts.
TexasTexas Education Freedom AccountsNorm-referenced testFor Texas Education Freedom Accounts, participating private schools must give a nationally norm-referenced test each year to participating students in grades 3 to 12.
UtahUtah Fits All ScholarshipNo test requiredFor Utah Fits All, the law says no assessment is required; any test is one the parent asks the program to arrange.
VirginiaVirginia EISTC ScholarshipsNorm-referenced testFor Virginia's EISTC scholarships, a school qualifies either by meeting the state's private school accreditation rules or by testing scholarship students yearly in reading and math with a national norm-referenced achievement test, such as the Stanford, California or Iowa test.
West VirginiaWest Virginia Hope ScholarshipNorm-referenced testFor Hope Scholarship students on the individualized plan pathway, the Hope Scholarship Board says academic progress is shown each year by a nationally normed standardized achievement test or a certified teacher's review of the student's work.
WisconsinWisconsin Private School Choice ProgramsState testIn the Wisconsin parental choice programs, schools must give choice students the state's Forward Exam in English language arts and math in grades 3 to 8 each year (plus other state tests in some grades).
WyomingWyoming Steamboat Legacy ScholarshipNorm-referenced or state testFor Wyoming ESAs, students in grades 3 to 10 take the state test at the local school or an approved nationally recognized norm-referenced exam each year.

Sources: Alabama CHOOSE Act, Act 2024-21 (HB129 enrolled), posted by the Alabama Department of Revenue (PDF); Arizona Revised Statutes 15-2402 (Empowerment Scholarship Accounts); Arkansas DESE, Education Freedom Accounts: Information for Private and Micro Schools; Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 115-31), amending SOAR Act Section 3009(a); Florida Statutes 2026, Section 1002.395 (Florida Tax Credit and Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options); Georgia Promise Scholarship, Family Handbook updated August 12, 2026 (PDF); Idaho Code 63-3029N (Parental Choice Tax Credit); Indiana Department of Education, Indiana Choice Scholarship Program; Iowa Code Section 257.11B (education savings accounts) (PDF); Kansas Statutes 72-4352 (Tax Credit for Low Income Students Scholarship Program, definitions); Louisiana Department of Education, LA GATOR policy (BESE rules); Maine Revised Statutes Title 20-A, Section 2951 (private school approval for tuition purposes); Missouri State Treasurer, MOScholars Parent Handbook (PDF); Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 388D (Opportunity Scholarships); New Hampshire RSA 194-F:3 (Education Freedom Accounts, parent agreement); North Carolina General Statutes 115C-562.5 (Opportunity Scholarship nonpublic school requirements); Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, How to Apply for an EdChoice Scholarship; Rhode Island General Laws 44-62-2 (scholarship organization tax credits); South Carolina Code of Laws, Title 59 Chapter 8 (Education Scholarship Trust Fund); South Dakota Codified Laws 13-65-6 (Partners in Education Tax Credit Program); Tennessee Department of Education, 2026-27 Education Freedom Scholarship Family Handbook (PDF); Texas Education Freedom Accounts (Texas Comptroller), program home page; Utah Code 53F-6-410, Parental rights, optional assessment (effective 3/6/2025); Code of Virginia 58.1-439.28 (Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits); West Virginia Hope Scholarship Board, FAQ; Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Parental Choice Program Assessment Requirements; Wyoming Department of Education, ESA Family Handbook (PDF)

Named tests and other options

  • Georgia: The Georgia Promise family handbook lists approved norm-referenced tests, including the CLT 3-8, CLT10 and CLT.
  • Virginia names the Stanford, California and Iowa tests for schools that qualify by testing.
  • Alabama also lets the school pick a test aligned to its curriculum or a nationally recognized aptitude test.
  • West Virginia Hope students on the individualized plan pathway can instead show progress through a certified teacher’s review of their work.
  • Several programs list test fees as a cost the account can pay, so the test itself can come out of the award.

Sources: Georgia Promise Scholarship, Family Handbook updated August 12, 2026 (PDF); Code of Virginia 58.1-439.28 (Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits); Alabama CHOOSE Act, Act 2024-21 (HB129 enrolled), posted by the Alabama Department of Revenue (PDF); West Virginia Hope Scholarship Board, FAQ; Arizona Revised Statutes 15-2402 (Empowerment Scholarship Accounts)

Programs not in the table

Mississippi, Maryland, Oklahoma, Montana, Pennsylvania and Vermont are not in the table: we could not read their test rule on an official page we are allowed to use, or the pages we read did not settle it. Ask the program office.

Sources and dates

Common questions

What is the TerraNova test?

A family of norm-referenced achievement tests from Data Recognition Corporation. It compares a student with a national sample; TerraNova, Third Edition uses 2017 national norms, and TerraNova NEXT is the newest generation.

Do school choice students have to take a standardized test?

In most programs we checked, yes. 16 of 27 programs ask for a nationally norm-referenced test or the state test each year, 6 more require the state test, and 4 set no student test rule in the law we cite. See the table for your state.

Can homeschoolers take the TerraNova?

DRC asks new customers to file a Purchaser’s Qualification Form before ordering, so families usually test through a school or a qualified test giver. Whether a test meets your state’s homeschool rule depends on that rule: see our state homeschool law pages.

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