Anonymous
Post 03/12/2022 08:08     Subject: Some schools opted out of SOL?
I teach World 1 and I am also not sure why the county gave schools the choice of the SOL or the PBA for verified credit. I prefer the PBA, but it has been difficult dealing with kids who transfer mid year.

I actually feel worse for the kids that go from a PBA school to a SOL school. The PBAs are so time consuming we're definitely skipping some content that will be on the SOL.

I also think the county letting schools decide has created an equity issue. From what I hear the "rich" schools like McLean, Robinson, Langley etc opted for the SOL since their kids always pass it anyway. The "poor" schools like Justice, Mt. Vernon, Annandale etc. Chose the PBA because they usually have more kids fail the SOL.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2022 10:49     Subject: Some schools opted out of SOL?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son recently switched FCPS high schools. His new school says they are doing PBAs instead of the SOL. The problem is that his old school was doing the SOL so they are asking my son to come in on Saturdays for a couple weeks to do the PBAs with the kids who failed it. We do a travel sport and really can't miss multiple weekends. Why are different schools doing different things. This seems like it is unfair to kids switching schools mid year. They won't let my son take the SOL because his new school is not an "SOL school".


It sounds like your son is in danger of failing. Why else would he be invited to do this on weekends? Maybe you should be concerned more with his academics than with his travel sport?


This is an honors World history 2 class and my son has an A. I was simply told his last school opted to do the SOL and his new school opted to do PBAs for verified credit. His new school already has done the two PBAs so my son needs to make them up if he wants verified credit.

The first PBA will be made up the first two Saturdays in May, and the second PBA will be made up the next two Saturdays in May. That's 4 Saturdays my son has to attend in order to get the verified credit for World History 2.


I mean, sorry, but that’s life. School comes first. SATs are also taken on a weekend. He’s in high school. You have to put more time into academics vs sports.


OP here. My son does plenty of academics, he is in 4 honors classes and has all As other than a B+ in geometry.

After talking to the counselor he only needs one verified credit to graduate. He'll still pass the class if he doesn't do the PBAs and we will probably just skip it. He will get his verified credit his junior year in US history.

I'm just not sure why the county is letting some schools do the PBA for verified credit and other schools are doing the SOL. It should be the same county wide.


I teach World 2, and we are doing the PBAs this year. We just finished our 2nd one last week. If a student missed one or both, they still have to 2 of the PBAs to get the verified credit. We don't do them on Saturdays though - they do it at school. I like doing the PBAs so much more than the SOL - takes some of the pressure off the kids and really allows them to dive more deeply into a few of the topics. I can see how it would be annoying having the SOL at one school and PBAs at another.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2022 10:43     Subject: Some schools opted out of SOL?
Anonymous wrote:

OP here. My son does plenty of academics, he is in 4 honors classes and has all As other than a B+ in geometry.

After talking to the counselor he only needs one verified credit to graduate. He'll still pass the class if he doesn't do the PBAs and we will probably just skip it. He will get his verified credit his junior year in US history.

I'm just not sure why the county is letting some schools do the PBA for verified credit and other schools are doing the SOL. It should be the same county wide.


The quality of your education depends, in part, on your zip code.

Shouldn't be; but it is.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2022 10:42     Subject: Some schools opted out of SOL?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son recently switched FCPS high schools. His new school says they are doing PBAs instead of the SOL. The problem is that his old school was doing the SOL so they are asking my son to come in on Saturdays for a couple weeks to do the PBAs with the kids who failed it. We do a travel sport and really can't miss multiple weekends. Why are different schools doing different things. This seems like it is unfair to kids switching schools mid year. They won't let my son take the SOL because his new school is not an "SOL school".


It sounds like your son is in danger of failing. Why else would he be invited to do this on weekends? Maybe you should be concerned more with his academics than with his travel sport?


This is an honors World history 2 class and my son has an A. I was simply told his last school opted to do the SOL and his new school opted to do PBAs for verified credit. His new school already has done the two PBAs so my son needs to make them up if he wants verified credit.

The first PBA will be made up the first two Saturdays in May, and the second PBA will be made up the next two Saturdays in May. That's 4 Saturdays my son has to attend in order to get the verified credit for World History 2.


The quality of your education depends, in part, on your zip code.

Shouldn't be; but it is.

I mean, sorry, but that’s life. School comes first. SATs are also taken on a weekend. He’s in high school. You have to put more time into academics vs sports.


OP here. My son does plenty of academics, he is in 4 honors classes and has all As other than a B+ in geometry.

After talking to the counselor he only needs one verified credit to graduate. He'll still pass the class if he doesn't do the PBAs and we will probably just skip it. He will get his verified credit his junior year in US history.

I'm just not sure why the county is letting some schools do the PBA for verified credit and other schools are doing the SOL. It should be the same county wide.
Anonymous
Post 03/10/2022 09:37     Subject: Re:Some schools opted out of SOL?
I mean, sorry, but that’s life. School comes first. SATs are also taken on a weekend. He’s in high school. You have to put more time into academics vs sports.


This is nonsense. No one should have to spend 4 saturdays doing this. What if he was busy with orchestra, math competition, family, or work? Just because OP said sports, does not make the school right. Push back OP and don't take it.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2022 18:59     Subject: Some schools opted out of SOL?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:My son recently switched FCPS high schools. His new school says they are doing PBAs instead of the SOL. The problem is that his old school was doing the SOL so they are asking my son to come in on Saturdays for a couple weeks to do the PBAs with the kids who failed it. We do a travel sport and really can't miss multiple weekends. Why are different schools doing different things. This seems like it is unfair to kids switching schools mid year. They won't let my son take the SOL because his new school is not an "SOL school".


It sounds like your son is in danger of failing. Why else would he be invited to do this on weekends? Maybe you should be concerned more with his academics than with his travel sport?


This is an honors World history 2 class and my son has an A. I was simply told his last school opted to do the SOL and his new school opted to do PBAs for verified credit. His new school already has done the two PBAs so my son needs to make them up if he wants verified credit.

The first PBA will be made up the first two Saturdays in May, and the second PBA will be made up the next two Saturdays in May. That's 4 Saturdays my son has to attend in order to get the verified credit for World History 2.


I mean, sorry, but that’s life. School comes first. SATs are also taken on a weekend. He’s in high school. You have to put more time into academics vs sports.


OP here. My son does plenty of academics, he is in 4 honors classes and has all As other than a B+ in geometry.

After talking to the counselor he only needs one verified credit to graduate. He'll still pass the class if he doesn't do the PBAs and we will probably just skip it. He will get his verified credit his junior year in US history.

I'm just not sure why the county is letting some schools do the PBA for verified credit and other schools are doing the SOL. It should be the same county wide.