RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia students raised their reading and math SOL test scores five points and saw a two-point gain in writing, science and history tests, Virginia Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven Staples announced Tuesday.
“Virginia teachers and students are adapting to the more rigorous standards implemented by the state Board of Education several years ago,” Superintendent Staples said. “The positive trend lines confirm that meeting these new standards is possible, although it will take time for schools to complete the adjustment.”
This past school year was the first in which students in third through eighth grades were allowed to retake reading, math, science and history SOL tests. Students who retook tests, on average, raised their scores by four points.
“By providing a second chance, we get a more complete picture of the performance of schools in preparing students to meet the commonwealth’s high expectations for learning and achievement,” Staples said. “We all understand the limitations of a single, point-in-time test. Some students who initially do not pass may have just had a bad day. And there are students who barely miss the benchmark and just need a little extra instruction in a particular area to achieve proficiency. For these students, an expedited retake offers another opportunity to demonstrate success before the end of the year.”
To read more about the recently released SOL test scores, click here.
