SOL Retesting

[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]

[Anonymous]

bruh my dad is so mad cause i did not pass like i did not fail i just have to retake

[Anonymous]

Nope. I never elect for a retest. I don't care what the kid got. If they failed they failed. They're not retesting.

[Anonymous]

I don’t want to commit to retaking until I see the original scores. They always make you commit to retaking before the test is even given. It’s ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

They will ask again, even if you didn't sign the retake on the front end.

[Anonymous]

After the first year, we started declining the retest. It's not worth it. They don't care if your child has learned it, they just want the school's numbers to go up. I think the school should get the numbers it deserves.

[Anonymous]

I would retest. Once. It's worth DD getting use to testing without you making her some kind of outliner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:After the first year, we started declining the retest. It's not worth it. They don't care if your child has learned it, they just want the school's numbers to go up. I think the school should get the numbers it deserves.

That’s a teacher I can tell you that the kids that trial year and work hard. I really would like them to pass if I think a little more review is going to get them there that I would encourage them to retest. For the kids who blow off school and are disruptive all day long, I don’t care if they retest. They were always going to fail.

[Anonymous]

Too much emphasis and time is put on these tests. I opt my kids out in elementary. The “they need to learn about standardized test” argument is weird. One standardized test matters and many schools are going test optional

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Too much emphasis and time is put on these tests. I opt my kids out in elementary. The “they need to learn about standardized test” argument is weird. One standardized test matters and many schools are going test optional

Actually, everyone has to pass SOLs to graduate high school so it’s a reasonable argument. That being said, my kids wouldn’t retake in elementary or middle. They had the testing experience and for elementary kids they dont’ even know they didn’t pass most of the time. No need to make them feel bad just so the school can have a better rating. I feel the retake is in the school’s best interest, not the child’s best interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:After the first year, we started declining the retest. It's not worth it. They don't care if your child has learned it, they just want the school's numbers to go up. I think the school should get the numbers it deserves.

That’s a teacher I can tell you that the kids that trial year and work hard. I really would like them to pass if I think a little more review is going to get them there that I would encourage them to retest. For the kids who blow off school and are disruptive all day long, I don’t care if they retest. They were always going to fail.

If this is ES, what difference does it make if they pass? How is doing more test prep and remediation and then retesting personally benefiting these kids?