Information from Parent SOL Information Night - Principal Presentation

What does SOL mean?

The Standards of Learning (SOL) for Virginia Public Schools establish minimum expectations for what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade or course in English, mathematics, science, history/social science, technology, the fine arts, foreign language, health/physical education and driver education.

All students in grades 3 – 6 will take a reading and math SOL.

• Grade 3 - Reading (CAT), Math (CAT)
• Grade 4 - Reading (CAT), Math (CAT)
• Grade 5 - Reading (CAT), Math (CAT), Science
• Grade 6 - Reading (CAT), Math (CAT)*
   

Students who score between 375-399 are eligible for expedited retakes (with parent permission.)

*Students in Grade 6 ADV Math will take the Grade 7 Math SOL

Local Alternative Assessments (LAAs)

• In some subject areas, students take a LAA instead of the SOL test.
• LAAs include performance-based assessments (PBAs) completed as part of classroom instruction throughout the school year for science, writing, and social studies.

Grade	Content Areas Tested
3	Science, Social Studies
4	Social Studies
5	Writing
6	Social Studies

 

If my child does not pass all his/her SOLs, he/she can still be promoted to the next grade.

What do the scores mean?

• Pass/Advanced - 500-600
• •Pass/Proficient - 400-499 
• •Fail - 0-399

Expedited Retakes 

• All students who fail an SOL test with a score of 375-399 are eligible for an expedited retake.
  • Students scoring below 375 on the first attempt may be eligible with special permission
    • Parent/guardian permission required
    • Rationale (extenuating circumstances or significant academic discrepancy)
• Parent/guardian permission is required for the school to administer an expedited retake.

Technology Enhanced Items (TEI) Types

A percentage of the items (depending on the test) are new technology-enhanced items.

There are four types of technology-enhanced items:

• • drag and drop,
• • hot spot (which includes number line and coordinate plane items),
• • bar graph or histogram, and
• • fill-in-the-blank

A computer adaptive test (CAT) is an assessment that is customized for every student based on how the student responds to the test questions.  Details about each test below.

Grade	Days Testing	Reading	Mathematics
3rd	1 day or 2 days (school decision*)	33 items Approximately 50% before the seal code	32 items Approximately 50% before the seal code
4th	1 day or 2 days (school decision*)	33 items Approximately 50% before the seal code	39 items Approximately 25% before the seal code
5th	1 day or 2 days (school decision*)	33 items Approximately 50% before the seal code	39 items Approximately 25% before the seal code
6th	1 day	38 items No seal code	53 items** Approximately 20% before the seal code

 

Grade	Days Testing	Reading	Mathematics
7th	1 day	n/a	53 items Approximately 10% before the seal code**

MATH SOL CAT

Test Name	Is there a seal code?	Is there a formula sheet?	Are calculators allowed?	Which calculator is allowed?
Grade 3 Math	Yes		No
Grade 4 Math	Yes		Part 2	Approved 4 Function Calculator
Grade 5 Math	Yes		Part 2	Approved 4 Function Calculator
Grade 6 Math	Yes	Grade 6 Mathematics Formula Sheet 2016 Mathematics Standards of Learning	Part 2	Approved Scientific Calculator

 

Test Name	Is there a seal code?	Is there a formula sheet?	Are calculators allowed?	Which calculator is allowed?
Grade 7 Math	Yes	Grade 7 Mathematics Formula Sheet 2016 Mathematics Standards of Learning	Part 2	Approved Scientific Calculator

 

Information for you to support your child

Your child cannot use their phone or iPad during testing.

He/She cannot start the test today and finish it tomorrow.

It is important your child is well rested and eats a good breakfast for their test.

• Make sure students get enough sleep!
• Research shows elementary students require at least 10  hours to function well!
• You are what you eat!!
• Food gives students the fuel they need to pay attention in class, to study, and do their best on tests!

Encourage your child to be POSITIVE

Remind them:

• •Test taking does get easier as you go along because you get into a routine and set a rhythm.
• •Some test questions will be harder than others – just encourage your child to do his/her best!

 

All the testing dates can be found on the Gunston Website Events Page.

Slides from Thursday night Parent Information Meeting. (PDF)  all important information is already noted above.