A student with an IEP or 504 has the other diploma types available to them if they cannot pass all the testing

A gen ed student who does not have an IEP or 504 plan will not graduate with and standard or advanced diploma if they do not get the 5 verified credits, either through the SOL or a substitute test... if you pass all your classes and have all your course credits but do not get the tests passed, you get a certificate of completion instead of an actual diploma

OP, what SOLs has she passed already?

Anonymous wrote:This is beyond confusing. So can you or can you NOT graduate if you don't have SOLs but all your actual coursework is fine and your grades are fine? Do VA colleges even are about SOLs? I went to HS in Michigan, we have our standardized tests. No one cared about them.

Potentially, yes. You need 5 verified credits (SOLs or alternative tests).

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-students/graduation/diploma-options/standard-diploma-graduation-requirements

There are accommodations that can be made, especially for students with disabilities, but they are school or district dependent. Talk to your kid’s counselor.

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/parents-students/for-students/graduation/graduation-requirement-resources/credit-accommodations

This is beyond confusing. So can you or can you NOT graduate if you don't have SOLs but all your actual coursework is fine and your grades are fine? Do VA colleges even are about SOLs? I went to HS in Michigan, we have our standardized tests. No one cared about them.

...I should clarify... you can graduate without SOLs if you pass the approved substitute tests... but they made it sound like you will still graduate even if you opt out of everything with no testing at all, which is not true

The person who said you can opt out of SOLs and graduate with honors, etc, is not correct, or at the very least leaving out A LOT of variables and information

In high school your must have 5 verified credits to graduate with advanced or standard diplomas unless you transferred from out of VA public schools at a certain time. These are earned either by passing the SOLs or by a substitute test approved by VDOE

You can refuse an SOL, but that refusal does not change the graduation requirements of needing verified credits... so you can refuse, but won't be able to graduate

Students with IEPs can get some different permissions based on some other diploma types... Standard diploma with Credit Accommodations allows you to get the verified credits with a score of 375 or higher on the SOL. It still counts as failing, but it can count for the verified credit. This doesn't apply to every kid with and IEP - you have to have it in the IEP and be getting that diploma type.

If an IEP student still cannot get to 375, there is a special permission process to get VDOE to approve the verified credit with a score lower than 375 - but it requires a lot of justification and data.

So, it is possible for the SWD to graduate without passing an SOL, but it's not as simple as "students with disabilities just all pass without taking SOLs".

You have to have verified credits in order to graduate. There is no opting out of SOLs in HS. There is an alternative test that can be given if students can't pass the SOL. I'm not sure if it's only available to English language learners or not. I would definitely try to pass the SOL, but if she doesn't, you need to meet with the counselor.

All the different diplomas are outlined somewhere. An IEP doesn’t change graduation requirements. But there’s more than 1 deploys type.

If going to college, and this advice is for a weaker student: imho, there is some value in being able to state on the college application that you have *already* passed the state exams for graduation. And list the subjects.

Don't assume admissions (esp outside of VA) know everything about our SOLs and many states don't have something like this. List the subjects. The student is college ready.

The opting out is only in elementary or middle. You need verified credits in high school to graduate. I don’t know if there’s an exception for kids with IEPs, OP, but it’s probably on a case by case basis.

Correct. Anyone can opt out. I never let my child, who was designated as talented/gifted and a great test taker, take them.

Every single child in FCPS can opt out of SOLs. They will still graduate with honors etc.

This is really a question for your kid’s counselor. I would ask sooner rather than later, so you can plan accordingly.

Do kids with IEP need to pass any Sol in order to graduate?

My daughter friend who is a senior told her not to worry about the SOL, because she will still get a Standard diploma if she fails them, THE Case manager told my DD that should pass them, but didn't say anything about a wavier the VDOE page is kinda says Substitute Tests for Earning Verified Credits, who's right?

My DD is a sophomore and the only Sol is worry about is next years English 11