While some pursue the Standard Diploma and others aim for the Advanced Diploma, five verified credits, which are obtained by passing two English SOLs and one each of Science, Math and History SOLs, are necessary to graduate. The Standards of Learning, also known as the SOLs, are set by the Virginia Department of Education to measure student readiness in core subjects. This year, the SOL schedule is organized differently than in the past in order to minimize the amount of time people sit in extended class periods, according to Director of Student Services Amy Parmentier.
In previous years, testing periods in the morning and afternoon resulted in students who were not taking the SOLs sitting in class for longer than 90 minutes at a time. However, this year, students taking the SOLs will arrive by 8:10 a.m. and have until 11:10 to complete the test, although extra time is alloted for those who do not finish in that time. Students not taking an SOL now have the option to arrive at school late, similar to a two-hour delay, or arrive on the bus and stay in the auditorium, cafeteria or gym.
“The testing schedule last year made proctoring hard because we needed teachers to help with proctoring, but they were still supervising students,” Parmentier said. “We’re hoping that this will make it a little easier on everyone.”
In the past, SOL testing days would occur over a span of a few weeks, whereas this year, the SOL schedule focuses on three specific dates. The History SOLs, for those who have not completed their in class performance-based assessments, will take place on April 29. However, only a small number of students take this SOL, so there will be no change in the schedule.The 11th grade English SOL will be on April 30, the Science SOLs will occur on May 1 and the Math SOLs will be on May 2.
“We wanted to wrap up SOL testing before AP testing which is why we compressed it a little bit,” Parmentier said. “I think it’s better to give kids some choice and flexibility instead of just having to sit in a class where there might not be much new instruction.”
While some students are able to be dropped off late or walk to school, many rely on the bus as their form of transportation. Currently, bus riders will have to come to school in the morning if they cannot get a ride.
“I think this schedule will definitely benefit the students taking the SOL because they’ll have a clear time when nobody is wandering the building and they can focus,” Assessment Coach Jilian Domenech said. “For the non-test takers, it’s like a reward because they can catch up on work and especially for seniors who need to get some things done.”
However, Freshman Hanna Kovacs believes that the schedule could be spread out more. While the SOL schedule provides more freedom for non-test takers, those taking more than one SOL must take the exams back to back.
“In middle school, I had mine in separate weeks, so it was way better because I had time to prepare and study,” Kovacs said. “I feel that the schedule is a little close together, especially with the rest of May not having any SOLs.”
Even if this new schedule is only being implemented in Chantilly, FCPS is aiming to move towards these major SOL testing days, according to Domenech. Although the schedule may change again next year, administration hopes this year’s change benefits a majority of students and staff.
“I think we’ll get feedback from teachers and students to see how people feel after we get through it,” Domenech said. “If they feel like it’s working, then we will keep it.”
