City of Fairfax School Board

Janice Miller, Chairman Carolyn Pitches, Vice Chairman

Jon Buttram Toby Sorensen Mitch Sutterfield

Peter Noonan, Superintendent

Standards of Learning

Dear City of Fairfax Schools Parents, Residents, Staff and Students,

In this issue of our CloseUp, we focus on the upcoming Standards of Learning
tests, or the SOLs as they are more commonly known. The SOLs are the
commonwealth's expectations for student learning and achievement in English,
math, social studies and science.

It is not our goal in this issue to debate the many issues surrounding the

SOLs. Here we hope to explain the tests, share some test taking tips from
school counselors and direct you to online resources to help you and your
child prepare for the exams.

If you have comments, questions or concerns, we welcome your feedback.

Please do not hesitate to email us at SchoolBoard@FairfaxVa.Gov. We wish you
a safe and happy winter. Spring is not far away!

Best,

Janice Miller
Chair, City of Fairfax School Board

Legislative Update

Dear City of Fairfax Community,

You may have recently read about the Virginia State Legislature trying to reduce the amount of SOL tests taken by students. The current bill would reduce the tests taken by a student over the course of their elementary, middle and high school career. It seems to be gaining support from a number of representatives across the state from both parties. This bill will not impact testing this year, so we are focusing on the tests ahead. Below is our Standards of Learning 101 with information about the test, links to more information, and tips to help parents prepare their child to succeed.

If you would like to have your voice heard on this issue, feel free to write your state representative. We have links on the right with the bill number and contact information.

Best,

Dr. Peter Noonan

Superintendent, City of Fairfax Schools

Standards of Learning 101

What are the SOLs? The Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) establish a minimum expectation for each student in all core subjects including math, English, social studies, science and also subject such as technology, fine arts, foreign language, PE and driver education.

Each year, there are annual assessments, commonly known as SOL tests, to provide information on individual student achievement including those with special needs in grades 3-12 in the subjects of math, English, social studies and science. Not every student in every grade will take every test. In 3-8, the tests will vary by grade. In 9-12, the tests will depend on course schedule and subject area. Individual teachers and schools will inform you of your child's testing schedule.

When are the SOL tests given? The SOL testing begins in March and will be administered throughout the spring, depending on grade and subject.

Did the tests change over the past years? Yes, the tests have changed. Beginning in the 2011-2012 school year, the math, English and science tests were updated with "more rigorous standards and expectations" according to the Virginia Department of Education. This has caused many of the test scores to decrease as the students, teachers and administrators adapt to the new standards and testing methods. We fully expect these test scores to increase back up to their levels before the implementation. In addition, more of the tests are administered online as opposed to the traditional pen and paper versions from the past.

The Virginia Department of Education has an extensive amount of information, including practice tests, on their website.

How can I help my child with the SOLs? The best thing to do with your child is to prepare them for the testing days in a few simple ways:

Encourage them to be relaxed and calm
Have a positive attitude yourself
Ensure they have a good night's sleep and healthy breakfast
Be on time to school
Try to avoid appointments that can easily be rescheduled like check-ups
Help students remember important items - glasses, medications
Let them wear comfortable, familiar clothes - now is not the time for fashion!

CloseUp is designed to inform parents, community members and residents of the City of Fairfax about our schools. We need your feedback to ensure we are providing you with the most relevant, interesting news. If you have comments or suggestions, please send us an email at SchoolBoard@fairfaxva.gov.

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