Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the haters. You're right to be upset.

Agree, ignore the syphax agents on here

Nope. Just a parent who knows how to count and understands how SOLs/LDs work.

Sorry but it seems really dumb for a parent to do nothing in the face of a failing a math or reading SOL in elementary school. Sure, it is just one data point, but it is data nonetheless, data that a parent can use to make sure their kid doesn’t fall even further behind.

It depends on the other data points. Are all other test scores and assessments great? Then probably ok to wait until the start of school to discuss with school. If they weren’t great, then you knew that before the summer and could make plans accordingly. They offered some virtual summer work. Maybe OP should have done that with her kid.

And maybe OP could have done that had they known earlier that their kids FAILED the freakin SOL. See how this works?

It’s one test. It’s not a big deal for most kids (HS credit obviously).

Failing an SOL is a big deal for any student. Not the end of the world or reason to panic, of course, but it means that the student very likely didn’t learn important concepts, which is the primary purpose of school . This true even though testing is imperfect.

Also, learning is cumulative. A kid who failed a third grade SOL is most likely going to struggle in later grades unless he gets help. Just because it’s elementary school doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

I'm apalled that so much common sense stuff needs to be explained here to the dismissive and/or partisan posters. OP, this is the county policy and you absolutely should raise objections, as should people whose kids haven't failed SOLs. The policy does not make sense. And, by the way, the way it is communicated to parents is oh the results will come by snail mail over the summer. So they have actually lied, results were delivered only electronically.

Don’t mean to be a jerk, but you’re wrong about why people are being dismissive. At school, kids are tested or assessed at least once every two months. In math, they are assessed before and after every new unit, and then there is a mid year and end of the year commutative assessment. Some of these are on the iPad, some are on paper. On your report card, they tell you how they did on those assessments. If they passed them, you are ok! The sol is just another data point. Yes, it’s concerning that they failed, but if they had been failing all year long, it would be a bigger deal.

Similarly for reading, they assess them several times a year (beginning, middle, end). The reading assessments are different because it’s more geared towards identifying an issue/learning disability, but that lets you know if it’s actually an issue. The results are sent home in your report card. If op’s kid was failing all along, they will have intervened by now for reading. And I’m sure they will intervene now as well since the sol score indicates that the child needs help. I doubt op’s child failed anything up to now, because they were surprised. So it’s not an issue with decoding, it’s a reading comprehension issue, which is more of a test taking strategy thing.

Sol scores are always reported online. Never by snail mail. I think they came by mail pre-covid.

Whatever you wrote is general knowledge. You just don't seem to understand. Yes, there are other assessments, sure. But failing a SOL is a pretty big deal. If not for you, then for other parents and students. Knowing that it is absolutely possible to release results earlier, no one so far has explained why APS does not do it. It goes against kids' intereat. The test taking strategy thing--it can be worked on during the summer too, you know. And what if the family has planned a month long vacation in August, concurrent with Syphax? Then they return to school like a deer in headlights and have to worry about it during the vacation, as well as about the fact that thry are away from local resources like tutors. Since the esteemed admin wing of APS gets paid over the summer, they should have a unit that deals with test taking strategies support for those who fail SOLs. At a minimum, families need to get this information pronto.

Of course failing an sol is a big deal, the main issue here is whether is indicative of performing badly on one test (out of many assessments don’t throughout the year), or if it is indicative of a larger problem. I (and the other posters who are telling you to calm down) think it’s just doing badly on one test. If there was a larger problem, it would have likely been caught by now, and the school would have done interventions. If it was a failing math sol, I would be even less worried because it’s just indicative of having forgotten material throughout the year. If there was a real issue, the sol would not be the first indication of a problem.
Some kids are bad test takers. That doesn’t mean that they don’t know how to read, it means that they are unfamiliar with the test. My son (now in highschool) barely passed his third grade sol. It was because he had trouble with rhyming questions. The kid was reading at a seventh grade reading level— reading Harry Potter and wings of fire completely independently. Did he know how to decode words? Yes— he just didn’t get why they were asking that question— and didn’t understand what they were asking. Was it indicative on an issue in his case? No. My experience may be different from yours, but understand where the advice is coming from. If there was a real issue, this would likely not be the first time hearing of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the haters. You're right to be upset.

Agree, ignore the syphax agents on here

Nope. Just a parent who knows how to count and understands how SOLs/LDs work.

Sorry but it seems really dumb for a parent to do nothing in the face of a failing a math or reading SOL in elementary school. Sure, it is just one data point, but it is data nonetheless, data that a parent can use to make sure their kid doesn’t fall even further behind.

It depends on the other data points. Are all other test scores and assessments great? Then probably ok to wait until the start of school to discuss with school. If they weren’t great, then you knew that before the summer and could make plans accordingly. They offered some virtual summer work. Maybe OP should have done that with her kid.

And maybe OP could have done that had they known earlier that their kids FAILED the freakin SOL. See how this works?

It’s one test. It’s not a big deal for most kids (HS credit obviously).

Failing an SOL is a big deal for any student. Not the end of the world or reason to panic, of course, but it means that the student very likely didn’t learn important concepts, which is the primary purpose of school . This true even though testing is imperfect.

Also, learning is cumulative. A kid who failed a third grade SOL is most likely going to struggle in later grades unless he gets help. Just because it’s elementary school doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

I'm apalled that so much common sense stuff needs to be explained here to the dismissive and/or partisan posters. OP, this is the county policy and you absolutely should raise objections, as should people whose kids haven't failed SOLs. The policy does not make sense. And, by the way, the way it is communicated to parents is oh the results will come by snail mail over the summer. So they have actually lied, results were delivered only electronically.

Don’t mean to be a jerk, but you’re wrong about why people are being dismissive. At school, kids are tested or assessed at least once every two months. In math, they are assessed before and after every new unit, and then there is a mid year and end of the year commutative assessment. Some of these are on the iPad, some are on paper. On your report card, they tell you how they did on those assessments. If they passed them, you are ok! The sol is just another data point. Yes, it’s concerning that they failed, but if they had been failing all year long, it would be a bigger deal.

Similarly for reading, they assess them several times a year (beginning, middle, end). The reading assessments are different because it’s more geared towards identifying an issue/learning disability, but that lets you know if it’s actually an issue. The results are sent home in your report card. If op’s kid was failing all along, they will have intervened by now for reading. And I’m sure they will intervene now as well since the sol score indicates that the child needs help. I doubt op’s child failed anything up to now, because they were surprised. So it’s not an issue with decoding, it’s a reading comprehension issue, which is more of a test taking strategy thing.

Sol scores are always reported online. Never by snail mail. I think they came by mail pre-covid.

Whatever you wrote is general knowledge. You just don't seem to understand. Yes, there are other assessments, sure. But failing a SOL is a pretty big deal. If not for you, than for other parents and students. Knowing that it is absolutely possible to release results earlier, no one so far has explained why APS does not do it. It goes against kids' intereat. The test taking strategy thing--it can be worked on during the summer too, you know. And what if the family has planned a month long vacation in August, concurrent with Syphax? Then they return to school like a deer in headlights and have to worry about it during the vacation, as well as about the fact that thry are away from local resources like tutors. Since the esteemed admin wing of APS gets paid over the summer, they should have a unit that deals with test taking strategies support for those who fail SOLs. At a minimum, families need to get this information pronto.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the haters. You're right to be upset.

Agree, ignore the syphax agents on here

Nope. Just a parent who knows how to count and understands how SOLs/LDs work.

Sorry but it seems really dumb for a parent to do nothing in the face of a failing a math or reading SOL in elementary school. Sure, it is just one data point, but it is data nonetheless, data that a parent can use to make sure their kid doesn’t fall even further behind.

It depends on the other data points. Are all other test scores and assessments great? Then probably ok to wait until the start of school to discuss with school. If they weren’t great, then you knew that before the summer and could make plans accordingly. They offered some virtual summer work. Maybe OP should have done that with her kid.

And maybe OP could have done that had they known earlier that their kids FAILED the freakin SOL. See how this works?

It’s one test. It’s not a big deal for most kids (HS credit obviously).

Failing an SOL is a big deal for any student. Not the end of the world or reason to panic, of course, but it means that the student very likely didn’t learn important concepts, which is the primary purpose of school . This true even though testing is imperfect.

Also, learning is cumulative. A kid who failed a third grade SOL is most likely going to struggle in later grades unless he gets help. Just because it’s elementary school doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

I'm apalled that so much common sense stuff needs to be explained here to the dismissive and/or partisan posters. OP, this is the county policy and you absolutely should raise objections, as should people whose kids haven't failed SOLs. The policy does not make sense. And, by the way, the way it is communicated to parents is oh the results will come by snail mail over the summer. So they have actually lied, results were delivered only electronically.

Don’t mean to be a jerk, but you’re wrong about why people are being dismissive. At school, kids are tested or assessed at least once every two months. In math, they are assessed before and after every new unit, and then there is a mid year and end of the year commutative assessment. Some of these are on the iPad, some are on paper. On your report card, they tell you how they did on those assessments. If they passed them, you are ok! The sol is just another data point. Yes, it’s concerning that they failed, but if they had been failing all year long, it would be a bigger deal.

Similarly for reading, they assess them several times a year (beginning, middle, end). The reading assessments are different because it’s more geared towards identifying an issue/learning disability, but that lets you know if it’s actually an issue. The results are sent home in your report card. If op’s kid was failing all along, they will have intervened by now for reading. And I’m sure they will intervene now as well since the sol score indicates that the child needs help. I doubt op’s child failed anything up to now, because they were surprised. So it’s not an issue with decoding, it’s a reading comprehension issue, which is more of a test taking strategy thing.

Sol scores are always reported online. Never by snail mail. I think they came by mail pre-covid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does APS have any policy requiring that schools notify families of SOL failures? I understand that teachers learn about results almost instantly in June. Our school did not notify us of child’s failure. We did look online when scores were posted and uncovered the failures. No one from the school contacted us. We lost weeks over the summer were we could have tried to understand what happened and to make a plan or even to start remediation. It’s very concerning to me that APS put so much emphasis on these tests and then did absolutely nothing about it for our child.

What grade level?

OP here. Elementary. Why does it matter though?

Also, we had zero notice that this was a likely scenario.

For older grades it’s a bigger deal - it’s required to get credit for some classes.

I cannot imagine it not being a big deal to any family. I am beyond mad.

Understand that you’re mad, but the point being it seriously affects whether or not a kid will receive high school credit and whether or not they can take the next class. For elementary yes, it’s a setback, but it doesn’t impact their next school year from a course perspective. You have time on your side while high school students don’t.

I mean, you don’t think an elementary school parent is entitled to know whether their child can complete on grade level learning when the school system knows s/he cannot? How do you think it impacts an elementary school family to lose an entire summer without summer school / tutoring /whatever to come into a grade the next year already behind and having done nothing to catch up over the summer? I can’t figure out why you think an argument is to be made that it’s more or less important for certain kids in APS based on their age. That is just not a good reason not to communicate with families.

That is not even close to what anyone on this post has said. You are spinning. Take a deep breath.

I thought an anonymous message board was the entirely appropriate place to spin/scream into the ether. The alternative is doing so to actual humans who we need to help our child. Seems better to do so on here.

This isn’t “the ether.” It’s a gathering of your fellow parents. Good lord.

Anonymous wrote:But what’s done is done. Instead of wasting too much effort on the SOL report (aside from going to SB office hours and talking to principal), look for the path forward. Better to put your energy into remediation instead of lashing out at people trying to help you.

The whole point is that remediation could have started a lot sooner if the parents only had notice the kid needed it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the haters. You're right to be upset.

Agree, ignore the syphax agents on here

Nope. Just a parent who knows how to count and understands how SOLs/LDs work.

Sorry but it seems really dumb for a parent to do nothing in the face of a failing a math or reading SOL in elementary school. Sure, it is just one data point, but it is data nonetheless, data that a parent can use to make sure their kid doesn’t fall even further behind.

It depends on the other data points. Are all other test scores and assessments great? Then probably ok to wait until the start of school to discuss with school. If they weren’t great, then you knew that before the summer and could make plans accordingly. They offered some virtual summer work. Maybe OP should have done that with her kid.

And maybe OP could have done that had they known earlier that their kids FAILED the freakin SOL. See how this works?

It’s one test. It’s not a big deal for most kids (HS credit obviously).

Failing an SOL is a big deal for any student. Not the end of the world or reason to panic, of course, but it means that the student very likely didn’t learn important concepts, which is the primary purpose of school . This true even though testing is imperfect.

Also, learning is cumulative. A kid who failed a third grade SOL is most likely going to struggle in later grades unless he gets help. Just because it’s elementary school doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

I'm apalled that so much common sense stuff needs to be explained here to the dismissive and/or partisan posters. OP, this is the county policy and you absolutely should raise objections, as should people whose kids haven't failed SOLs. The policy does not make sense. And, by the way, the way it is communicated to parents is oh the results will come by snail mail over the summer. So they have actually lied, results were delivered only electronically.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the haters. You're right to be upset.

Agree, ignore the syphax agents on here

Nope. Just a parent who knows how to count and understands how SOLs/LDs work.

Sorry but it seems really dumb for a parent to do nothing in the face of a failing a math or reading SOL in elementary school. Sure, it is just one data point, but it is data nonetheless, data that a parent can use to make sure their kid doesn’t fall even further behind.

It depends on the other data points. Are all other test scores and assessments great? Then probably ok to wait until the start of school to discuss with school. If they weren’t great, then you knew that before the summer and could make plans accordingly. They offered some virtual summer work. Maybe OP should have done that with her kid.

And maybe OP could have done that had they known earlier that their kids FAILED the freakin SOL. See how this works?

It’s one test. It’s not a big deal for most kids (HS credit obviously).

Failing an SOL is a big deal for any student. Not the end of the world or reason to panic, of course, but it means that the student very likely didn’t learn important concepts, which is the primary purpose of school . This true even though testing is imperfect.

Also, learning is cumulative. A kid who failed a third grade SOL is most likely going to struggle in later grades unless he gets help. Just because it’s elementary school doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

Again, it’s one data point. If the kid had a bad test day then you can maybe write it off as a fluke. If the kid was struggling with the content then you already know that.

If you kid has any gaps, address them. Don’t wait for the report.

you are aware that the report is what tells you where the gaps are, no?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the haters. You're right to be upset.

Agree, ignore the syphax agents on here

Nope. Just a parent who knows how to count and understands how SOLs/LDs work.

Sorry but it seems really dumb for a parent to do nothing in the face of a failing a math or reading SOL in elementary school. Sure, it is just one data point, but it is data nonetheless, data that a parent can use to make sure their kid doesn’t fall even further behind.

It depends on the other data points. Are all other test scores and assessments great? Then probably ok to wait until the start of school to discuss with school. If they weren’t great, then you knew that before the summer and could make plans accordingly. They offered some virtual summer work. Maybe OP should have done that with her kid.

And maybe OP could have done that had they known earlier that their kids FAILED the freakin SOL. See how this works?

It’s one test. It’s not a big deal for most kids (HS credit obviously).

Failing an SOL is a big deal for any student. Not the end of the world or reason to panic, of course, but it means that the student very likely didn’t learn important concepts, which is the primary purpose of school . This true even though testing is imperfect.

Also, learning is cumulative. A kid who failed a third grade SOL is most likely going to struggle in later grades unless he gets help. Just because it’s elementary school doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

This.

I can’t help but suspect that the reason APS doesn’t release the scores sooner is that they don’t want to deal with parents calling/writing/coming in to complain, question, etc.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the haters. You're right to be upset.

Agree, ignore the syphax agents on here

Nope. Just a parent who knows how to count and understands how SOLs/LDs work.

Sorry but it seems really dumb for a parent to do nothing in the face of a failing a math or reading SOL in elementary school. Sure, it is just one data point, but it is data nonetheless, data that a parent can use to make sure their kid doesn’t fall even further behind.

It depends on the other data points. Are all other test scores and assessments great? Then probably ok to wait until the start of school to discuss with school. If they weren’t great, then you knew that before the summer and could make plans accordingly. They offered some virtual summer work. Maybe OP should have done that with her kid.

And maybe OP could have done that had they known earlier that their kids FAILED the freakin SOL. See how this works?

It’s one test. It’s not a big deal for most kids (HS credit obviously).

Failing an SOL is a big deal for any student. Not the end of the world or reason to panic, of course, but it means that the student very likely didn’t learn important concepts, which is the primary purpose of school . This true even though testing is imperfect.

Also, learning is cumulative. A kid who failed a third grade SOL is most likely going to struggle in later grades unless he gets help. Just because it’s elementary school doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

Again, it’s one data point. If the kid had a bad test day then you can maybe write it off as a fluke. If the kid was struggling with the content then you already know that.

If you kid has any gaps, address them. Don’t wait for the report.

Again, many parents have stated that they had no prior indication that the kid was struggling.

Also when a kid fails an SOL so badly that they can't even retake it, it's highly unlikely to be a fluke. Tests are imperfect but not so imperfect that scores aren't a big deal.

OP how did your child do on the Beginning of year, middle of year and screeners?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the haters. You're right to be upset.

Agree, ignore the syphax agents on here

Nope. Just a parent who knows how to count and understands how SOLs/LDs work.

Sorry but it seems really dumb for a parent to do nothing in the face of a failing a math or reading SOL in elementary school. Sure, it is just one data point, but it is data nonetheless, data that a parent can use to make sure their kid doesn’t fall even further behind.

It depends on the other data points. Are all other test scores and assessments great? Then probably ok to wait until the start of school to discuss with school. If they weren’t great, then you knew that before the summer and could make plans accordingly. They offered some virtual summer work. Maybe OP should have done that with her kid.

And maybe OP could have done that had they known earlier that their kids FAILED the freakin SOL. See how this works?

It’s one test. It’s not a big deal for most kids (HS credit obviously).

Failing an SOL is a big deal for any student. Not the end of the world or reason to panic, of course, but it means that the student very likely didn’t learn important concepts, which is the primary purpose of school . This true even though testing is imperfect.

Also, learning is cumulative. A kid who failed a third grade SOL is most likely going to struggle in later grades unless he gets help. Just because it’s elementary school doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.

Again, it’s one data point. If the kid had a bad test day then you can maybe write it off as a fluke. If the kid was struggling with the content then you already know that.

If you kid has any gaps, address them. Don’t wait for the report.

But what’s done is done. Instead of wasting too much effort on the SOL report (aside from going to SB office hours and talking to principal), look for the path forward. Better to put your energy into remediation instead of lashing out at people trying to help you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, ignore the haters. You're right to be upset.

Agree, ignore the syphax agents on here

Nope. Just a parent who knows how to count and understands how SOLs/LDs work.

Sorry but it seems really dumb for a parent to do nothing in the face of a failing a math or reading SOL in elementary school. Sure, it is just one data point, but it is data nonetheless, data that a parent can use to make sure their kid doesn’t fall even further behind.

It depends on the other data points. Are all other test scores and assessments great? Then probably ok to wait until the start of school to discuss with school. If they weren’t great, then you knew that before the summer and could make plans accordingly. They offered some virtual summer work. Maybe OP should have done that with her kid.

And maybe OP could have done that had they known earlier that their kids FAILED the freakin SOL. See how this works?

It’s one test. It’s not a big deal for most kids (HS credit obviously).

Failing an SOL is a big deal for any student. Not the end of the world or reason to panic, of course, but it means that the student very likely didn’t learn important concepts, which is the primary purpose of school . This true even though testing is imperfect.

Also, learning is cumulative. A kid who failed a third grade SOL is most likely going to struggle in later grades unless he gets help. Just because it’s elementary school doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter.