What are some ways to advocate to reduce the SOL testing?

[Anonymous]

What are some ways to advocate to reduce the amount of SOL testing?

I know the SOL requirements come from Richmond (General Assembly) and I know Dels. Tag Greason and Rob Krupicka organized the successful effort to reduce the number of SOLs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virginia-students-will-take-fewer-standards-of-learning-tests-next-year/2014/04/05/eea18666-bb46-11e3-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html

But how can parents advocate to further reduce the number of SOLs? Why is it necessary to have 3rd grade students (as an example) take so many SOLs compared to all the other assessments already in place?

[Anonymous]

They have reduced the number of SOLs required this year.

[Anonymous]

While SOLs are a Virginia requirement, standardized tests are mandated under NCLB. Until the NCLB testing requirement goes away, there will be too much testing.

Write your Congressman/woman and tell them why they need to repeal that part of NCLB. Then, write your state representatives.

[Anonymous]

Not sure why we need a math and reading SOL every year. I would like them reduced to every other year or just to 3rd and 6th.

[Anonymous]

What would be easier, and would help your student greatly, is to pressure your superintendent to cut down on the amount of pre-SOL standardized testing, such as eCarts (FCPS) and IA testing (APS) that goes on all year. This testing, done so that the superintendents can check up on principals and teachers constantly, cuts class instructional time considerably and creates additional stress for the students.

[Anonymous]

Opt out. At the younger grades, it has no impact on your child. It gets the attention of the administration. We opted out in 3rd grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are some ways to advocate to reduce the amount of SOL testing?

I know the SOL requirements come from Richmond (General Assembly) and I know Dels. Tag Greason and Rob Krupicka organized the successful effort to reduce the number of SOLs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virginia-students-will-take-fewer-standards-of-learning-tests-next-year/2014/04/05/eea18666-bb46-11e3-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html

But how can parents advocate to further reduce the number of SOLs? Why is it necessary to have 3rd grade students (as an example) take so many SOLs compared to all the other assessments already in place?

Why do you wish to do this? It is extremely important that we measure how well our children are learning the material. Year-end final exams like this are entirely appropriate. This is what we worked for on a national level in the 1990s when our education system was beginning to lag behind those in other developed economies. Do you not remember that hysteria?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Opt out. At the younger grades, it has no impact on your child. It gets the attention of the administration. We opted out in 3rd grade.

Which school district? How did you opt out? Is there a way to do this formally?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Opt out. At the younger grades, it has no impact on your child. It gets the attention of the administration. We opted out in 3rd grade.

Which school district? How did you opt out? Is there a way to do this formally?

The child would have to miss the entire testing window.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Opt out. At the younger grades, it has no impact on your child. It gets the attention of the administration. We opted out in 3rd grade.

In our school, the 3rd grade scores were used to place kids in TAG.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Opt out. At the younger grades, it has no impact on your child. It gets the attention of the administration. We opted out in 3rd grade.

In our school, the 3rd grade scores were used to place kids in TAG.

Low hat is TAG?

[Anonymous]

Geez...sorry.
*What is TAG?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Geez...sorry.
*What is TAG?

Talented And Gifted

[Anonymous]

We just didn't take them and won't until she is in HS. DD was one of two that didn't. There is a growing number planning to opt out next year. "I didn't know you could do that".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are some ways to advocate to reduce the amount of SOL testing?

I know the SOL requirements come from Richmond (General Assembly) and I know Dels. Tag Greason and Rob Krupicka organized the successful effort to reduce the number of SOLs.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/virginia-students-will-take-fewer-standards-of-learning-tests-next-year/2014/04/05/eea18666-bb46-11e3-9a05-c739f29ccb08_story.html

But how can parents advocate to further reduce the number of SOLs? Why is it necessary to have 3rd grade students (as an example) take so many SOLs compared to all the other assessments already in place?

My 3rd grader will take 2 tests - Math and English. I don't think 2 tests are too many. I don't think folks want to find out in 5th grade that their kid can't read or multiply.