Opt Out of SOL Process

[Anonymous]

“ If you opt out, your kid will not get extra instruction, they will read a book or do something quiet while the rest of the class takes the test.”

More like, if you opt out, you can stay home and do whatever you want on test day. The kids who are testing aren’t getting instruction. Most of them are sitting at a desk for three hours waiting for other kids to finish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“ If you opt out, your kid will not get extra instruction, they will read a book or do something quiet while the rest of the class takes the test.”

More like, if you opt out, you can stay home and do whatever you want on test day. The kids who are testing aren’t getting instruction. Most of them are sitting at a desk for three hours waiting for other kids to finish.

The majority of kids finish in under 1.5-2 hours. If kids are left still testing at that point, we dismiss the rest of the group or move the kids still testing to a new area. Been this way for the 2 decades I’ve been teaching.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish every parent would opt out so we could stop spending all this money on testing. It’s incredible how much money the testing companies are making and how stressed some kids get. When I had a kid with a 150 IQ come in my third grade room on the first day of testing and saw him throw up from anxiety, I knew we needed to get out of this.

+1 the anxiety buildup for everyone - teachers to students to families and admin is real. Can someone explain to me in simple terms the deal w SOLS in elementary and middle? I never knew we could opt out.

They send out an email, multiple emails actually, telling you that you can opt out with instructions on how to do so.

The SOLs don’t mean much in ES, they are more for the schools then they are the kid. Passing Advance is useful for applying to AAP and to get into Advanced Math after 3rd grade but that is about it.

SOLs matter in HS because some are needed for graduation.

A law was passed last year that is supposed to take effect next year were the SOL is supposed to be 10% of the grade for MS and HS.

We have used the SOLs to help our kid get comfortable with taking standardized exams. He has always done well on them so he doesn’t have the same anxiety as some kids do. I would hope that they provide kids who do have some anxiety with tests some practice taking them would be useful as the child gets older.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t matter what grade. Presumably OP knows the implications of opting out whichever grade it is. The policy is the same either way: you submit a request in writing to the principal and testing coordinator.

https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/assessment-information#right-to-refuse-assessments

If it doesn’t matter which grade, and it happens to be high school, how would the child graduate?

That’s OP’s business, not yours, which is what I meant by it doesn’t matter what grade. All they asked is how do you opt out, which is the same process for all grade levels. Presumably they are aware of the potential effects for whatever age their child is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t matter what grade. Presumably OP knows the implications of opting out whichever grade it is. The policy is the same either way: you submit a request in writing to the principal and testing coordinator.

https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/assessment-information#right-to-refuse-assessments

If it doesn’t matter which grade, and it happens to be high school, how would the child graduate?

SOLs aren't the only way.

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/20660/638731535301330000

Is your kid very young? The SOL is less stressful than any of those substitute tests in HS. Why would you opt the out of the SOL to say they have to get a certain score on the SAT, an AP exam, etc?

[Anonymous]

It looks like the alternatives work for kids who are in advanced classes but not a kid struggling. I know kids who had to go to summer school and failed the SOL during the school year and after summer school. In this case, the parent was aware that the kid just didn’t care about school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t matter what grade. Presumably OP knows the implications of opting out whichever grade it is. The policy is the same either way: you submit a request in writing to the principal and testing coordinator.

https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/assessment-information#right-to-refuse-assessments

If it doesn’t matter which grade, and it happens to be high school, how would the child graduate?

SOLs aren't the only way.

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/20660/638731535301330000

Is your kid very young? The SOL is less stressful than any of those substitute tests in HS. Why would you opt the out of the SOL to say they have to get a certain score on the SAT, an AP exam, etc?

Because its an easy way for disgrunted parents who hate a school's admin to get even. Even more so if your kid is a top student and they can get a bunch of their friends to do the same to tank scores.

Also teaching to the test is dumb. Why the heck is my middle schooler spending most of the year reading passages rather than books?

If your kid is already going to be loading up on APs in high school and getting a "2" is a low bar, why does it matter at all? Obviously if your kid isn't planning on taking many APs, they probably aren't going to follow that route.

[Anonymous]

My kid has 3 SOL tests in May in 5th grade. So ridiculous. I am definitely opting out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish every parent would opt out so we could stop spending all this money on testing. It’s incredible how much money the testing companies are making and how stressed some kids get. When I had a kid with a 150 IQ come in my third grade room on the first day of testing and saw him throw up from anxiety, I knew we needed to get out of this.

+1 the anxiety buildup for everyone - teachers to students to families and admin is real. Can someone explain to me in simple terms the deal w SOLS in elementary and middle? I never knew we could opt out.

They send out an email, multiple emails actually, telling you that you can opt out with instructions on how to do so.

The SOLs don’t mean much in ES, they are more for the schools then they are the kid. Passing Advance is useful for applying to AAP and to get into Advanced Math after 3rd grade but that is about it.

SOLs matter in HS because some are needed for graduation.

A law was passed last year that is supposed to take effect next year were the SOL is supposed to be 10% of the grade for MS and HS.

We have used the SOLs to help our kid get comfortable with taking standardized exams. He has always done well on them so he doesn’t have the same anxiety as some kids do. I would hope that they provide kids who do have some anxiety with tests some practice taking them would be useful as the child gets older.

PP here. I hadn’t really thought about opting out before, so I only glanced at that info. We usually just go with the flow at our school and support our admin and teachers — they’re excellent.

The SOL stress has only shown up this year in upper elementary, and even then it’s more “a bit much” than anything serious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish every parent would opt out so we could stop spending all this money on testing. It’s incredible how much money the testing companies are making and how stressed some kids get. When I had a kid with a 150 IQ come in my third grade room on the first day of testing and saw him throw up from anxiety, I knew we needed to get out of this.

+1 the anxiety buildup for everyone - teachers to students to families and admin is real. Can someone explain to me in simple terms the deal w SOLS in elementary and middle? I never knew we could opt out.

They send out an email, multiple emails actually, telling you that you can opt out with instructions on how to do so.

The SOLs don’t mean much in ES, they are more for the schools then they are the kid. Passing Advance is useful for applying to AAP and to get into Advanced Math after 3rd grade but that is about it.

SOLs matter in HS because some are needed for graduation.

A law was passed last year that is supposed to take effect next year were the SOL is supposed to be 10% of the grade for MS and HS.

We have used the SOLs to help our kid get comfortable with taking standardized exams. He has always done well on them so he doesn’t have the same anxiety as some kids do. I would hope that they provide kids who do have some anxiety with tests some practice taking them would be useful as the child gets older.

PP here. I hadn’t really thought about opting out before, so I only glanced at that info. We usually just go with the flow at our school and support our admin and teachers — they’re excellent.

The SOL stress has only shown up this year in upper elementary, and even then it’s more “a bit much” than anything serious.

When your child has special needs and test taking anxiety, SOL’s are a real issue. We opt out of all of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The iReady and SOL do not hurt your childs grades or class placement, unless you have a second grader and then the MAP scores and VALLS scores are in the AAP packet if you are applying.

You can tell your child to do their best but you are not worried about their scores because they don't harm your child. You can tell your child that they are great practice for the type of exams they will take as a teenager, like SOLs needed for graduation and college applications. Let them practice on the lower stress test and figure out their strategies, which will help them as teens. If they get used tot he format and the style of questions, the SOLs and SATs in HS will be more familiar and, hopefully, easier for them.

If you opt out, your kid will not get extra instruction, they will read a book or do something quiet while the rest of the class takes the test.

This was our approach. We didn’t study or talk about them much except the night before to get a good night sleep. If she failed we did not do retakes in elementary. She never knew her scores.
In 8th grade if she needed retakes and review we did that because it was close to high school and we thought practice was important.

Yes my child struggles in school. I’m
Trying not to be nervous about the high school SOLs!!!

This is our approach as well. We don't opt out of the SOLs, but we would opt out of any retakes.