Haycock Elementary Family Liaison Newsletter

     As you likely know, the purpose of Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments is to set baseline academic expectations for students in grades K–12 and to measure proficiency in core subjects such as English, mathematics, science, and history. These assessments help ensure consistency across the state, contribute to school accreditation, and serve as graduation requirements. Students do not receive traditional grades for these tests.

     I’d like to share a common situation that has recently been brought to my attention during SOL testing. Some students are feeling frustrated when the answer they arrive at is not listed among the choices, leaving them unsure how to proceed. In these cases, test proctors are only permitted to provide very general guidance.

     It would be helpful to remind your student to pause and carefully check their work if they encounter this issue. Younger students, in particular, may not immediately consider that an error could have occurred. Reassurance at home can go a long way—SOL assessments are just one measure of progress and shouldn’t become a source of undue stress for our students!