Voicemail from school re: SOL scores

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Got a called from DC's (3rd grade) principal. DC failed the math SOL with a 379.

Principal offered a retake, but before that happens, DC will be enrolled in a fast track remediation class (pull out) during the school day with a resource teacher.

I just can't decide what to do. DC was very anxious taking the test, came home in tearsconcerned that she failed.

Told principal that DC can go to remediation class, but would have to decide about retake. DC gets 3s and 4s and is an average student.

Help!

I'd say let her get the instruction and retake. It'll be good for her confidence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Got a called from DC's (3rd grade) principal. DC failed the math SOL with a 379.

Principal offered a retake, but before that happens, DC will be enrolled in a fast track remediation class (pull out) during the school day with a resource teacher.

I just can't decide what to do. DC was very anxious taking the test, came home in tearsconcerned that she failed.

Told principal that DC can go to remediation class, but would have to decide about retake. DC gets 3s and 4s and is an average student.

Help!

I'd say let her get the instruction and retake. It'll be good for her confidence.

She should take it again. If she doesn't take it, won't they want to send her to summer school? Better to retake then to go to summer school.And I've heard that the next year they base things on the previous year's SoL (I don't know if this is true).

[Anonymous]

^^^Incorrect. She won't have to go to summer school and it is against the law to consider SOL scores for class placement. In elementary school, they are meaningless for the students. Sorry teachers and admins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^^^Incorrect. She won't have to go to summer school and it is against the law to consider SOL scores for class placement. In elementary school, they are meaningless for the students. Sorry teachers and admins.

Why apologize to teachers? I'm one and my feelings aren't hurt.

[Anonymous]

against the law to consider SOL scores for class placement.

Don't believe that. One year in elementary school all of the students who had not passed the social studies
SOL were placed in the same class. I thought those students were certainly being watched, and it seemed
assumed that they were not as strong students (drove me crazy -their teacher the year before had been new
to FCPS and a brand new teacher)

FCPS can say it doesn't "label" a kid if they don't pass. I think it does - absolutely.
Do what you can to make sure your kid passes. Work with them at home. There are practice materials online.
I use to say 'no' to offers of special remediation at school. I didn't want my kid singled out and taken out of class.
And besides I thought the teachers should have more pressure put on them. Ordinary, average learners should
not have to be thought of as needing "remedial help". The school is being lazy.

[Anonymous]

A kid's grades and other measurements (tests throughout the year) are going to count more than SOLs if there is a discrepancy. Also, if your child has learning disabilities, the SOLs are even less important. The accomodations for learning disabilities on the SOL are pretty weak.

Finally, you as the parent, have input into educational decisions for your child. Speak up! Do not let one test determine everything for your child. High stakes testing does not work for every child every year. There is no "perfect" test just as their is no "perfect" child.

[Anonymous]

I'm the PP whose DC failed math SOL with 379.

I decided not do a retake test. DC anxious the first time around and came home in distraught and convinced of failure. I can't in good conscience put DC through the stress again.

Feel like when the SOL reflects on the teacher and school at large, all of a sudden, DC needs immediate remedial attention and pull out instruction. Where was this concern mid-year? I figure DC will be re evaluated next school year anyway and appropriate placement made then. If failing the math sol means that DC is flagged for extra help or a stepped down math group, great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP whose DC failed math SOL with 379.

I decided not do a retake test. DC anxious the first time around and came home in distraught and convinced of failure. I can't in good conscience put DC through the stress again.

Feel like when the SOL reflects on the teacher and school at large, all of a sudden, DC needs immediate remedial attention and pull out instruction. Where was this concern mid-year? I figure DC will be re evaluated next school year anyway and appropriate placement made then. If failing the math sol means that DC is flagged for extra help or a stepped down math group, great.

How did you find out your DC's score? I'm pretty sure my DC failed it too, and like you, I would have so appreciated mid-year help when it mattered, rather than this frantic SOL cram session at the end of the year which has zero benefit for my child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP whose DC failed math SOL with 379.

I decided not do a retake test. DC anxious the first time around and came home in distraught and convinced of failure. I can't in good conscience put DC through the stress again.

Feel like when the SOL reflects on the teacher and school at large, all of a sudden, DC needs immediate remedial attention and pull out instruction. Where was this concern mid-year? I figure DC will be re evaluated next school year anyway and appropriate placement made then. If failing the math sol means that DC is flagged for extra help or a stepped down math group, great.

How did you find out your DC's score? I'm pretty sure my DC failed it too, and like you, I would have so appreciated mid-year help when it mattered, rather than this frantic SOL cram session at the end of the year which has zero benefit for my child.

Any student who scored between 375-399 would have gotten a call by today unless they took a paper/pencil version in the last 3 days; scores are not yet in for those. So if you haven't gotten a call about a retake, your child either failed below the retake window or passed. You'll find out with report cards.

[Anonymous]

Apparently our school will be sending the SOL score report home with the report cards on the last day of school. I'm not happy about this at all because I know my DC will open up the envelope to check out the grades and see the SOL report - and I'm pretty sure DC failed one or more SOLs. I really do not want her to see this. I can't believe the school won't either send the scores by mail or put them in an envelope addressed to the parents if they have to send them home with the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently our school will be sending the SOL score report home with the report cards on the last day of school. I'm not happy about this at all because I know my DC will open up the envelope to check out the grades and see the SOL report - and I'm pretty sure DC failed one or more SOLs. I really do not want her to see this. I can't believe the school won't either send the scores by mail or put them in an envelope addressed to the parents if they have to send them home with the kids.

Tell your child they most not open anything till they get home.

[Anonymous]

I give my students the envelopes, pass out the reports, and have them stuff their envelopes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently our school will be sending the SOL score report home with the report cards on the last day of school. I'm not happy about this at all because I know my DC will open up the envelope to check out the grades and see the SOL report - and I'm pretty sure DC failed one or more SOLs. I really do not want her to see this. I can't believe the school won't either send the scores by mail or put them in an envelope addressed to the parents if they have to send them home with the kids.

Tell your child they most not open anything till they get home.

This will definitely not work - all the kids open up their report cards and compare grades. I think the administration should know better than to send SOL scores home with the kids. Nice way to kill the confidence of those who fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I give my students the envelopes, pass out the reports, and have them stuff their envelopes.

Why would you do this? So that the kids can see who failed? How mortifying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Apparently our school will be sending the SOL score report home with the report cards on the last day of school. I'm not happy about this at all because I know my DC will open up the envelope to check out the grades and see the SOL report - and I'm pretty sure DC failed one or more SOLs. I really do not want her to see this. I can't believe the school won't either send the scores by mail or put them in an envelope addressed to the parents if they have to send them home with the kids.

If you call the school and request that SOL's be mailed home, I bet they'd accommodate you. Ours would.