SOL Retesting

[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?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Technically, SOLs aren’t necessary since there are alternative tests accepted for all of the verified credits. In most cases, it’s just that the SOL is easier (IMO) both in terms of content and logistics. But the basic truth is that standardized testing in some form is necessary so while I don’t necessarily advocate retakes - and I say that as the parent of a now HS aged kid who did retake an SOL in 3rd grade, something I likely wouldn’t repeat knowing what I know now - at least attempting the test in the first place has some value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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).

This is why we did retakes too - for two weeks of daily remediation. My child still failed the retake, but agree that every little bit helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she fails and retakes it with a pass, it raises the school’s overall pass rate. That’s the only pro.

This. The school pressured me to allow my kid to retest. There’s no way I was telling him he “failed”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she fails and retakes it with a pass, it raises the school’s overall pass rate. That’s the only pro.

This is has absolutely no benefit for you or your child at the ES level....HS is different but when my kids were in ES we said no to that.

[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.

As a parent and teacher I always said no and my kids were the kids who worked hard...it still has no benefit for the kids. You take it and move on-my kids have never even asked for their scores.