Permission to retake SOLs?
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Anonymous
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My kid came home with a permission form for me to sign that allows the child to retake the SOL tests if the score is between 375 and 399.
I didn't see this last year and my kid scored above that last year. I think it's been given to all the classes. Is this a new thing this year? Not sure how I want to respond. On the one hand, I don't want my kid in another day of full day testing. On the other hand, it wouldn't really hurt either. It's not like a whole lot is going on the last couple weeks of school. WWYD? |
Anonymous
| How old is your child? |
Anonymous
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This is a new thing legislature passed this year.
I plan to sign the form. It is highly unlikely that my kid would not pass the SOLs (hasn't yet) but on the off chance kid does, it gives them another chance. If your kid doesn't retake, there's a good chance your kids might be automatically signed up for remedial classes/instruction next year. That's fine for kids that need it, but if your kid just had an off day on the SOL test day, you want them to be able to retake. Personally, I think it's a great thing. |
Anonymous
Well the form says: _____ Yes, Provide my child with the opportunity to retake the SOL tests if his/her score is between 375 and 399. _____ No, do not retest my child if his score is between 375 and 399. I understand that this decision will not in any way impact my child's grade or academic period. (I underlined it) So, it shouldn't just automatically sign them up for remedial classes. |
Anonymous
| Lol! They don't use SOls to put kids in remedial classes. There is actually a law against it. |
Anonymous
They do in high school. If you don't pass the SOL of a required-for-graduation course, you spend time in an SOL remediation class. It does not effect your course selection for the year though--you can still move on to the next level of class. I teach middle school algebra, so we've had retakes for years. It makes sense there--the kids have to pass the class to graduate, so a second chance when the material is fresh benefits them. Students are required to have x hours of remediation prior to a retake (6, I think?). Most years, our school had 15-20 kids fall in that range, and 12-15 of them pass the second time around. The ones who pass generally score in the 400-420 range. It is exceedingly rare to have a high score on the retake. A non-grad required class though? There is ZERO benefit to the student, unless it's an internal pride thing that they want to pass. Admin fully admitted that this was Richmond's way of meeting NCLB requirements, since schools haven't made AYP with SOL scores (whoa, that's a lot of acronyms). This benefits the statistics of the school, but not the individual kids. A 402 is really no different than a 395--it's 1 more question right, and the teachers/schools know that. |
Anonymous
| SOL scores definitely guide course placement and remediation classes for middle and high school. Do they unofficially in elementary? I have no idea. |
Anonymous
That's true. A 7th grader who was recommended for algebra but fails the SOL will likely be recommended to move to math 8 at my school. But then, math placement is ultimately completely up to the parents. The teacher can recommend all they want, and the parent just has to sign a form to do otherwise. |
Anonymous
Ignorant. |
Anonymous
| I, for one, will not be having my DC take an SOL over if she fails it - and this is very possible given the horrendous math instruction she's received this year. I hope she doesn't fail, but if so, hopefully it will be a reflection of the poor teaching she's received. |
Anonymous
| I have a fifth grader, and I said no. I just don't see the point of having him sit through another test. If he doesn't pass the SOLs, I would be more concerned about whether I need to get him a tutor to get him where he needs to be in the subject. Having him sit through another day of testing does nothing toward helping him with his mastery of the material, which is what I would be most concerned about. |
Anonymous
| ^ you will be made to care |
Anonymous
How so? |
Anonymous
Amen. My 5th grade DD has never even remotely come close to failing an SOL, and when I declined to sign her form, her teacher began asking for it everyday, and telling her I HAD to sign it. I see no point in a retake when the letter accompanying the form clearly says failing does not affect grades or academic standing for grades 3-8. This is all about her competitive FCPS AAP center school trying to improve/ keep their rankings, and not about helping kids. If her score came back very low (and it would take a 200+ point drop from last year) I would certainly be concerned and look for/address the underlying cause, but I have zero interest in facilitating more unnecessary testing. That being said, DS is in 7th grade Algebra, so I reluctantly signed his form in case he has a bad test day, so he can get the high school credit. |
Anonymous
| Pretty sure the algebra retake does not require the form. At least, there's never been a form in years past. |