APS: SOL Failure Notification

[Anonymous]

Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

[Anonymous]

I would write to the principal, the superintendent and then then each individual school board member. This is unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

What grade level?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

What grade level?

OP here. Elementary. Why does it matter though?

Also, we had zero notice that this was a likely scenario.

[Anonymous]

I'd be upset too. And I'd be asking a lot of questions. I was frustrated we didn't get the results until the end of July. I knew my kid probably passed, but they did not pass by much, so I would have preferred to have this information a month earlier to help us figure out how to fill holes this summer.

I don't understand the delay in posting scores at ALL. Or if it doesn't matter that my kid failed, then let's stop putting so much emphasis on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

What grade level?

OP here. Elementary. Why does it matter though?

Also, we had zero notice that this was a likely scenario.

For older grades it’s a bigger deal - it’s required to get credit for some classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

What grade level?

OP here. Elementary. Why does it matter though?

Also, we had zero notice that this was a likely scenario.

For older grades it’s a bigger deal - it’s required to get credit for some classes.

^ and would affect course registration, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be upset too. And I'd be asking a lot of questions. I was frustrated we didn't get the results until the end of July. I knew my kid probably passed, but they did not pass by much, so I would have preferred to have this information a month earlier to help us figure out how to fill holes this summer.

I don't understand the delay in posting scores at ALL. Or if it doesn't matter that my kid failed, then let's stop putting so much emphasis on it.

OP here. SOL test taken in May, results released on July 31. APS delayed us in intervening in our child’s learning for over 2 months — the entire summer. Basically, whole summer lost. No retake was advised. I’m sortof furious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

What grade level?

OP here. Elementary. Why does it matter though?

Also, we had zero notice that this was a likely scenario.

For older grades it’s a bigger deal - it’s required to get credit for some classes.

I cannot imagine it not being a big deal to any family. I am beyond mad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

What grade level?

OP here. Elementary. Why does it matter though?

Also, we had zero notice that this was a likely scenario.

For older grades it’s a bigger deal - it’s required to get credit for some classes.

I cannot imagine it not being a big deal to any family. I am beyond mad.

Understand that you’re mad, but the point being it seriously affects whether or not a kid will receive high school credit and whether or not they can take the next class. For elementary yes, it’s a setback, but it doesn’t impact their next school year from a course perspective. You have time on your side while high school students don’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be upset too. And I'd be asking a lot of questions. I was frustrated we didn't get the results until the end of July. I knew my kid probably passed, but they did not pass by much, so I would have preferred to have this information a month earlier to help us figure out how to fill holes this summer.

I don't understand the delay in posting scores at ALL. Or if it doesn't matter that my kid failed, then let's stop putting so much emphasis on it.

OP here. SOL test taken in May, results released on July 31. APS delayed us in intervening in our child’s learning for over 2 months — the entire summer. Basically, whole summer lost. No retake was advised. I’m sortof furious.

What was the score?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

What grade level?

OP here. Elementary. Why does it matter though?

Also, we had zero notice that this was a likely scenario.

For older grades it’s a bigger deal - it’s required to get credit for some classes.

I cannot imagine it not being a big deal to any family. I am beyond mad.

Understand that you’re mad, but the point being it seriously affects whether or not a kid will receive high school credit and whether or not they can take the next class. For elementary yes, it’s a setback, but it doesn’t impact their next school year from a course perspective. You have time on your side while high school students don’t.

Exactly. Your kid doesn’t have to scramble right now to adjust HS courses for the next few years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

What grade level?

OP here. Elementary. Why does it matter though?

Also, we had zero notice that this was a likely scenario.

For older grades it’s a bigger deal - it’s required to get credit for some classes.

I cannot imagine it not being a big deal to any family. I am beyond mad.

Understand that you’re mad, but the point being it seriously affects whether or not a kid will receive high school credit and whether or not they can take the next class. For elementary yes, it’s a setback, but it doesn’t impact their next school year from a course perspective. You have time on your side while high school students don’t.

I mean, you don’t think an elementary school parent is entitled to know whether their child can complete on grade level learning when the school system knows s/he cannot? How do you think it impacts an elementary school family to lose an entire summer without summer school / tutoring /whatever to come into a grade the next year already behind and having done nothing to catch up over the summer? I can’t figure out why you think an argument is to be made that it’s more or less important for certain kids in APS based on their age. That is just not a good reason not to communicate with families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be upset too. And I'd be asking a lot of questions. I was frustrated we didn't get the results until the end of July. I knew my kid probably passed, but they did not pass by much, so I would have preferred to have this information a month earlier to help us figure out how to fill holes this summer.

I don't understand the delay in posting scores at ALL. Or if it doesn't matter that my kid failed, then let's stop putting so much emphasis on it.

OP here. SOL test taken in May, results released on July 31. APS delayed us in intervening in our child’s learning for over 2 months — the entire summer. Basically, whole summer lost. No retake was advised. I’m sortof furious.

What was the score?

Why does that matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd be upset too. And I'd be asking a lot of questions. I was frustrated we didn't get the results until the end of July. I knew my kid probably passed, but they did not pass by much, so I would have preferred to have this information a month earlier to help us figure out how to fill holes this summer.

I don't understand the delay in posting scores at ALL. Or if it doesn't matter that my kid failed, then let's stop putting so much emphasis on it.

OP here. SOL test taken in May, results released on July 31. APS delayed us in intervening in our child’s learning for over 2 months — the entire summer. Basically, whole summer lost. No retake was advised. I’m sortof furious.

I’d be curious at the lost time, too. But, historically, retakes are only available to kids who just miss the pass score. I’m not on the side of APS here – I think the delay is ridiculous across the board. Just pointing out the retake thing.

I would be reaching out to the principal asap.