SOL Retesting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never understand why parents would want to opt out. Why wouldn't you want your child to get experience on a standardized test? They are so prevalent in later school years and are an important (but not the only) factor in college applications. Furthermore, even adults take a lot of standardized tests for graduate schools, certifications, licenses, etc.

It seems to me that by opting out, a parent gives the test too much "power" and it becomes a fearsome thing rather than just another day at school. I would much rather have my student take a standardized test, to be one and done, and receive a score than to have my student do one of those absurd "mastery performance" projects that are so subject to rater bias by a teacher or series of teachers.

I didn't realize about the 0 but I think this is a wise choice by the schools. There should be a consequence for opting out.

Agree 100%. Except for people whose kids have SNs, those who opt out are doing their children a disservice and the ones who do so loudly are virtue signaling and ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Our elementary put all kids who didn't pass an SOL together in class the following year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary put all kids who didn't pass an SOL together in class the following year.

That makes sense. Focus on remedial.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understand why parents would want to opt out. Why wouldn't you want your child to get experience on a standardized test? They are so prevalent in later school years and are an important (but not the only) factor in college applications. Furthermore, even adults take a lot of standardized tests for graduate schools, certifications, licenses, etc.

It seems to me that by opting out, a parent gives the test too much "power" and it becomes a fearsome thing rather than just another day at school. I would much rather have my student take a standardized test, to be one and done, and receive a score than to have my student do one of those absurd "mastery performance" projects that are so subject to rater bias by a teacher or series of teachers.

I didn't realize about the 0 but I think this is a wise choice by the schools. There should be a consequence for opting out.

Agree 100%. Except for people whose kids have SNs, those who opt out are doing their children a disservice and the ones who do so loudly are virtue signaling and ridiculous.

You make an excellent point about the children with SNs. Thank you for adding that in!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary put all kids who didn't pass an SOL together in class the following year.

That makes sense. Focus on remedial.

It also makes retesting sensible if and only if the teacher thinks the child should have passed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our elementary put all kids who didn't pass an SOL together in class the following year.

That makes sense. Focus on remedial.

It also makes retesting sensible if and only if the teacher thinks the child should have passed.

Retesting is only an option if a child's score is within 25 points of passing. Any child in that range certainly should be capable of passing with a retest, especially given the specific reports the schools receive about the child's skills and deficiencies, and the intensive coaching and re-teaching most schools give to children in that range.

It also makes sense that the students who don't pass, either on the first test or the re-take, should be put into at remediation group the following year. The SOLs measure basic competence. If a child hasn't acquired basic competence in a subject then that child does need extra and specific help.

[Anonymous]

My DW and I both teach in elementary schools. We would not have our child retake.

[Anonymous]

I teach HS.

Retakes are only allowed if the kid gets between 375 and 399.

I would always want to opt-in on retesting, and would advise everyone else to do the same.

As PPs have said, SOLs measure basic competence in materials learned - if they can't pass then they did not learn enough that year. And stop with the test anxiety excuse - anxiety is real, but if you have it shouldn't you GET MORE PRACTICE when the scores do not affect your education going forward? Why wait till HS when failing SOLs means you cannot graduate?

If you want your kid to get where you want them to go then they have to learn to take standardized tests well. Try to write an application to UVA and dismissing those SATs because you have test anxiety.

I teach students who have never passed a math SOL in their career. I hope those parents didn't opt out because those kids now don't have any confidence with respect to the SOLs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the parent of a 3rd grader (oldest child) and new to the whole SOL process. I got a form from the school asking whether or not my child should be given the opportunity to retake a test if she does poorly on it. The form clearly states that the test has no impact on her grades/report card, advancement etc.

So, I have to ask, what is the point of retaking the test? DD is doing great in school so the chance of her failing is slim, but should I allow her to be retested if necessary? What are the pros?

My school doesn’t send that home until after the test isn’t passed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They only consider re-take if your kid almost passed. There is a number range. It helps the school rankings to have more passes. If your kid got below the re-take range they won't bother you and it probably means there was a glitch in teaching or in learning or your kid is just not a good test taker or your kid has spring fever !

IDC My 10 year old has ADHD she is not retaking them if she gets a 399 idc.

My ADHD kid got the 398 in 3d grade, and he retook. Got lower. Won’t have him retake again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I never understand why parents would want to opt out. Why wouldn't you want your child to get experience on a standardized test? They are so prevalent in later school years and are an important (but not the only) factor in college applications. Furthermore, even adults take a lot of standardized tests for graduate schools, certifications, licenses, etc.

It seems to me that by opting out, a parent gives the test too much "power" and it becomes a fearsome thing rather than just another day at school. I would much rather have my student take a standardized test, to be one and done, and receive a score than to have my student do one of those absurd "mastery performance" projects that are so subject to rater bias by a teacher or series of teachers.

I didn't realize about the 0 but I think this is a wise choice by the schools. There should be a consequence for opting out.

Agree 100%. Except for people whose kids have SNs, those who opt out are doing their children a disservice and the ones who do so loudly are virtue signaling and ridiculous.

Not really. We know our kids have difficulty and they’re already being worked with. The only advantage the SOL has is for those kids that the school didn’t realize were struggling.

[Anonymous]

My DD is struggling in math, and has both passed and failed math SOLs before. The years she failed, the school offered remediation for a few weeks before re-takes. IMO if she failed, it was because she did not quite get the concepts. Remediation helped her focus on the specific areas she struggled with, and subsequently, she passed (and was excited to do so). So we are happy to do the re-takes, and get her the extra help she needs. (Yes, she also receives private tutoring, but every little bit helps).

[Anonymous]

We had our non-ADHD child retake math last year (she passed the second time) and will have her retake this year if needed.

[Anonymous]

Had DS with ADHD retake last year. The first time he took the math SOL, he scored around 377. I knew he wasn't going to pass. I had been tutoring him all year and told his teacher that there were concepts that he wasn't completely grasping, but going through motions. He received specialized math sessions when he failed. The second time, he scored around 420. I will allow a re-take this year. Its a great tool that I use to see how he's doing in math. We spend the summer focusing on his weaknesses. I put no pressure on DS to do well on the SOL tests, just for him to do his best.

[Anonymous]