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Coates Families,
A Note About SOL Testing
As you know, state testing requirements in grades 3-6 were in-effect across all public elementary schools in Virginia this year. Thanks to the many virtual students who came on-site to participate (on Mondays, usually), and thanks to our staff for administering the SOL tests to all students in accordance with the many rules and conditions required for test security. It’s a bigger undertaking and more complex logistical challenge than people realize, especially this year.
But there’s a few things I’d like all parents to know about SOL testing:
- This year, the state will NOT use SOL test scores to determine state accreditation for schools. We were required to administer the tests, but they’re not being used the same way as in the past. So why did they require schools to give the test (remember that testing was waived last year)? The VA Dept of Education says it was to measure learning loss. I’m not sure if and how they’ll report schoolwide SOL pass rates this year, and I’m not actively concerning myself with it. See why below.
- Our normal, good conditions for teaching and learning were nonexistent for most of the school year for all students. I believe that the Coates staff did a tremendous job with virtual, hybrid, concurrent and in-person (with mitigation measures) programming, but nothing compares with “the real thing.” I also thank parents for the sheer volume of teaching they needed to do from home despite your own busy schedules. You did a great job too, but managing your child’s participation in live lessons and completion of assignments is a full-time commitment (and an unreasonable expectation).
- We scheduled testing earlier than we have in previous years. Scheduling both in-person & virtual students in available spaces made our testing calendar span a longer timeframe. When you test earlier, you lose instruction time leading up to the test.
- SOL test scores have never translated into grades on students’ progress reports in elementary school. They certainly will not do so this year either.
I hope that SOL scores do not cause stress for any student or parent. As a parent myself, I really tried to downplay SOL tests this year with my own children. However, since we tend to train our kids to take “big tests” very seriously, I know that some students experienced notable anxiety while taking SOLs and that some will feel it when they see results. Please join me in minimizing the importance of these tests.
Please know that I am not anti-standardized testing. Many of you know that I’ve taken pride in Coates students’ rising tests scores over the years. I look forward to getting back to normal schooling next year and re-engaging in our normal process of teaching and assessing in more normal conditions.
Final note: the staff and I know that there are skill areas to address with our students next school year due to the pandemic. We’ve done our own assessments all year, and we’ll be ready to continue to fill gaps and keep moving forward. Having all students onsite, physically in front of their teachers, receiving the social and academic benefits of 5-days/week of school will be tremendous for all of us.
Proud of your kids & their teachers (Coates teachers and you),
Jesse Kraft, Principal
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