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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The SOL score does not define the child. But it is a number that has value to a variety of stakeholders and it is important for parents to track because it is produced without any ability for rater bias to occur. The SOL score can help parents understand where their children are relative to their peers and the curriculum established by the state.

The tests now are computerized. Within 1/10 of a second of a child hitting submit his or her score can be seen by those with the proper authorization  since they have the code. At some schools, even the teachers have the access codes.

Those parents/children who are learning they haven't passed most likely are in the 375-399 group. Many schools will now remediate with those children for the next few weeks before the retake to get the child over 400.

The stakes are high for the schools and for the community since the over-all pass rates for schools determine funding and freedom from restrictive regulations by the state. Additionally, the ratings on things like Great Schools depend heavily on them, which helps or hurts homeowners and business owners. At many elementary and middle school levels, scores on the SOLs may be used by administrators to determine class placement.  Thus, achieving a passing score could be a great boon to your child. At our school, many children who don't pass are put into a remediation program for the next year and lose a special/elective.

If you are asked if your child can retake then you should consider it unless, as some prior posters have indicated, it will be too stressful for the child. For most children it should not be too stressful.[/quote]

If a child is failing an SOL, given the low  pass benchmarks, then as a parent I would not allow a retake. I'll take the year of remediation over a week of cramming to just get by. While retakes may improve property values, they aren't in the best interest of the individual child, and my child's education, including getting appropriate remediation over the next year, is more important than property values or making the school look better.  The retakes basically make it easier for schools to avoid putting in the necessary effort to help kids who really need it. I guarantee you that a week of reteaching does nothing to improve the core understanding of the child.  Also, maybe getting remediation is more important to later success than being able to take a special or elective.  [/quote]

I understand your reasoning.  Please understand this:  passing with a score of 401 and not passing with a score of 399 are not materially different and, likely, the two point difference is from one question, which the child may or may not have corrected upon review if the test was not adaptive.

A score of 375 may be as many as 4 or 5 questions from passing out of a total of 50-60; 4-5 questions is fewer than 10% to improve to pass.

A parent is not a bad parent for allowing a child to remediate.  Most remediation is targeted to the specific 'low' area of the child.  The teachers have quite a comprehensive report with which to work that identifies by standard and type of question/s (high, medium, low).

I have no problem allowing my child go focus on a 'low' area and retaking the entire test with a goal of passing.  I do not have worries that this will 'do(es) noting to improve the core understanding of the child' because, in fact, two weeks of tailored instruction [i]definitely[/i] DOES improve the core understanding of the child.

But different strokes for different folks.  If you prefer to remediate over the course of a year then, by all means, please do so.[/quote]

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