Science SOL requires just memorization of many facts - planets, ocean, clouds, light and sound, waves, electricity, etc plus scientific methods. No need for a tutor. Just look in Schoology for study materials.

Assuming the school won’t tell him, then just do whatever you do when he gets an advanced pass. If the trend continues look at private schools.

My kid is doing the math retake ONLY because it comes with math remediation/extra time with the math teacher. I would never make her retake the science SOL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The science SOL for 5th, 8th, and EOC HS are new this year and the scores seem lower than normal. For ES, the failure to pass doesn’t matter. You need to pass an EOC science SOL in HS. The school has to offer an expedited retake for those close to passing. It is up to you as a parent whether you want that for your child. FYI, the 8th grade science SOL covers 3 years of science.

What is new about the 5th grade SOL this year? Is it computer adaptive?

I’m confused as well, these SOLs are not new.

Yes, they are new.
Topics were moved between 4th and 5th. Changes were made to standards. And the style of testing is new. It’s not adaptive however. As it was explained to me, scenarios and/or passages, graphs, etc are presented and need to be read and interpreted by the student. Then a series of analysis-type questions are asked. Some questions are still multiple choice, for others they have to create a graph from data, and might have to interpret the results of an experiment- all based off of one scenario. Then another scenario or experiment is presented with multiple related questions. Many schools had to test early in the window for there to be sufficient data to norm this new type of test.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My minority kids fail SOL's in a high achieving school- and we always get a fair amount of pressure to retake (b/c the failure really pulls down the passing percentages) and I always say no. There is zero advantage to the child to retake an elementary SOL. The failure can help them get additional services and support.

+100

NEVER EVER EVER have your child who has failed an SOL retake it. FCPS is trying to push kids along. If your child has failed an SOL, that is data that they need additional help.

I would hire a tutor for next year and ask FCPS to pay for it. They are paying for all sorts fo things for parents right now who are pushy.

They have to fail multiple years before the school will think about doing anything - and they won’t consider it unless progress reports, iReady, and VGA are also low.

No kid gets mostly 4s on report cards. Past years passed Advanced on SOLs. Haven’t heard about reading and math this year but school hasn’t said anything just science.

I’ve taught ES in FCPS for over a decade. I have many, many kids that get mostly 4s in their progress reports. If they get all the questions right (or 1 wrong) on a quiz/test, that’s a 4.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My minority kids fail SOL's in a high achieving school- and we always get a fair amount of pressure to retake (b/c the failure really pulls down the passing percentages) and I always say no. There is zero advantage to the child to retake an elementary SOL. The failure can help them get additional services and support.

+100

NEVER EVER EVER have your child who has failed an SOL retake it. FCPS is trying to push kids along. If your child has failed an SOL, that is data that they need additional help.

I would hire a tutor for next year and ask FCPS to pay for it. They are paying for all sorts fo things for parents right now who are pushy.

They have to fail multiple years before the school will think about doing anything - and they won’t consider it unless progress reports, iReady, and VGA are also low.

No kid gets mostly 4s on report cards. Past years passed Advanced on SOLs. Haven’t heard about reading and math this year but school hasn’t said anything just science.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My minority kids fail SOL's in a high achieving school- and we always get a fair amount of pressure to retake (b/c the failure really pulls down the passing percentages) and I always say no. There is zero advantage to the child to retake an elementary SOL. The failure can help them get additional services and support.

+100

NEVER EVER EVER have your child who has failed an SOL retake it. FCPS is trying to push kids along. If your child has failed an SOL, that is data that they need additional help.

I would hire a tutor for next year and ask FCPS to pay for it. They are paying for all sorts fo things for parents right now who are pushy.

They have to fail multiple years before the school will think about doing anything - and they won’t consider it unless progress reports, iReady, and VGA are also low.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My minority kids fail SOL's in a high achieving school- and we always get a fair amount of pressure to retake (b/c the failure really pulls down the passing percentages) and I always say no. There is zero advantage to the child to retake an elementary SOL. The failure can help them get additional services and support.

+100

NEVER EVER EVER have your child who has failed an SOL retake it. FCPS is trying to push kids along. If your child has failed an SOL, that is data that they need additional help.

I would hire a tutor for next year and ask FCPS to pay for it. They are paying for all sorts fo things for parents right now who are pushy.

Why would they pay for a science tutor? The test is really simple, if kids want to pass they study for a few hours and do fine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My minority kids fail SOL's in a high achieving school- and we always get a fair amount of pressure to retake (b/c the failure really pulls down the passing percentages) and I always say no. There is zero advantage to the child to retake an elementary SOL. The failure can help them get additional services and support.

+100

NEVER EVER EVER have your child who has failed an SOL retake it. FCPS is trying to push kids along. If your child has failed an SOL, that is data that they need additional help.

I would hire a tutor for next year and ask FCPS to pay for it. They are paying for all sorts fo things for parents right now who are pushy.

I am not sure I have money for a science tutor but maybe I can review concepts during the summer.

Anonymous wrote:My minority kids fail SOL's in a high achieving school- and we always get a fair amount of pressure to retake (b/c the failure really pulls down the passing percentages) and I always say no. There is zero advantage to the child to retake an elementary SOL. The failure can help them get additional services and support.

+100

NEVER EVER EVER have your child who has failed an SOL retake it. FCPS is trying to push kids along. If your child has failed an SOL, that is data that they need additional help.

I would hire a tutor for next year and ask FCPS to pay for it. They are paying for all sorts fo things for parents right now who are pushy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School likely wants to avoid any SOL failures because it will show up in their school-wide statistics - and might affect accreditation and NCLB related stuff.

OP here...which I understand. I am just trying to figure out what's best for my kid bc DC is super sensitive and hard on himself despite us encouraging a growth mindset like a PP suggested.

I generally don’t care about SOLs, so wouldn’t be inclined to retake, but PP has a point that it might help his outlook long term. You know your kid best and whether that might be good for him.

OP, does he know he failed? If not, I would skip the retake and not tell him he failed it.

Not yet

He will find out eventually - test scores are/will be on the portal

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School likely wants to avoid any SOL failures because it will show up in their school-wide statistics - and might affect accreditation and NCLB related stuff.

OP here...which I understand. I am just trying to figure out what's best for my kid bc DC is super sensitive and hard on himself despite us encouraging a growth mindset like a PP suggested.

I generally don’t care about SOLs, so wouldn’t be inclined to retake, but PP has a point that it might help his outlook long term. You know your kid best and whether that might be good for him.

OP, does he know he failed? If not, I would skip the retake and not tell him he failed it.

Your assuming a teacher won't tell him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School likely wants to avoid any SOL failures because it will show up in their school-wide statistics - and might affect accreditation and NCLB related stuff.

OP here...which I understand. I am just trying to figure out what's best for my kid bc DC is super sensitive and hard on himself despite us encouraging a growth mindset like a PP suggested.

I generally don’t care about SOLs, so wouldn’t be inclined to retake, but PP has a point that it might help his outlook long term. You know your kid best and whether that might be good for him.

OP, does he know he failed? If not, I would skip the retake and not tell him he failed it.

Not yet

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School likely wants to avoid any SOL failures because it will show up in their school-wide statistics - and might affect accreditation and NCLB related stuff.

OP here...which I understand. I am just trying to figure out what's best for my kid bc DC is super sensitive and hard on himself despite us encouraging a growth mindset like a PP suggested.

I generally don’t care about SOLs, so wouldn’t be inclined to retake, but PP has a point that it might help his outlook long term. You know your kid best and whether that might be good for him.

OP, does he know he failed? If not, I would skip the retake and not tell him he failed it.

My minority kids fail SOL's in a high achieving school- and we always get a fair amount of pressure to retake (b/c the failure really pulls down the passing percentages) and I always say no. There is zero advantage to the child to retake an elementary SOL. The failure can help them get additional services and support.