Homeschool Boss

Online standardized assessments for homeschooling

Homeschool Boss is an American service specializing in online academic assessments for homeschooling families, tutors, and teachers. Its catalog focuses on adaptive tests with national norms that allow measuring and guiding students' academic growth. The company presents itself as a vendor for most School Choice Scholarship Programs.

Four assessments in the catalog

The current offering consists of four instruments, each with a defined audience and purpose:

• MAP Growth: computer-adaptive test with national norms, for grades K-12, with the option to administer up to three times a year. Listed price of $60 per student.
• Renaissance Star: computer-adaptive test with national norms, for grades K-12, with a six-month subscription of unlimited testing. Listed price of $75 per student.
• MAP Reading Fluency: early literacy solution with national norms and dyslexia screening, for grades K-5. Listed price of $49 per student.
• MindPrint: cognitive assessment for ages 8 to 21+, with a strengths-based remediation tool. Listed price of $115 per student.

The site includes a test comparison chart and a guide with five questions for choosing the right instrument: how long the test has been in use, when it was last normed, whether it is timed or untimed, whether it is adaptive or fixed, and how it is taken.

Origin of the service and technical approach

The company was founded by Ellen Crain, who began homeschooling her children in 2006. According to her account, her experience with outdated tests led her to contact NWEA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educational research, which agreed to collaborate to make its MAP Growth assessments available to homeschooling families. The company emphasizes that the adaptive nature of MAP Growth makes it suitable for students who work at different levels by subject or who follow non-traditional approaches.

Operating since 2016 and user support

Homeschool Boss has been operating since 2016 and has expanded its catalog to the current four options. The company emphasizes smooth management of testing sessions and resolution of technical issues, with a support team available by call, text, chat, or email throughout the entire process.

Client profile

The service is aimed at homeschooling families, schools, educational cooperatives, tutors, and teachers. The company also offers independent reviews by experts on homeschooling curricula, as well as administrative record-keeping tools.

Operational information

Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., U.S. Central Time (CST). The company maintains a mailing address in Minneapolis and a support phone number. The site indicated that fall testing registration was open through November 25, 2026.

Location and contact

2801 Hennepin Ave S, Ste 231, Minneapolis MN 55408 · Phone: 612-430-6652 · Email: sales@homeschoolboss.com · Hours: Monday-Friday 8AM-7PM CST