The Standards of Learning are divided into subject-specific categories such as mathematics, science, English, technology and fine arts. Each of these categories is further divided into measurable goals and objectives. For example, the SOLs for English for students from kindergarten to third grade are divided into three strands -- reading, writing and oral language -- while the standards from ninth grade through graduation include writing, reading analysis, research and oral language. Each strand identifies a series of individual targets that students should meet by the end of the grade level. School districts use SOL tests to assess how well students have met these goals and objectives. Students who do not meet the standards may not be eligible for promotion or graduation or may need to complete remediation programs, depending on the policies of the school district.
General education students in the third, fifth and eighth grade must complete the Standards of Learning tests, as do high school students in selected courses. These tests are not timed, so students can take the time they need to answer each question to the best of their ability. The scores range from 0 to 600; students must have a score of at least 400 to pass the test. Students who score under 399 fail, while scores over 500 are considered advanced. Parents receive a copy of their child's test scores in the mail and have the option of sharing the scores with the child. Younger students who do not pass can be promoted to the next grade, but must complete a remediation program. Graduating students who pass the coursework but do not pass the test can retake the exam if they score within 25 points of passing. Seniors who do not pass will not receive a Standard Diploma, but may be eligible for a Certificate of Program Completion, a document that indicates they completed the necessary coursework but were not eligible for a diploma.
Many students have significant cognitive disabilities that prevent them from taking the SOL tests, even if accommodations are made for their disabilities. Teachers assess these learners using the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program, or VAAP. Eligible students work toward meeting modified or simplified academic standards. Teachers and students compile a collection of evidence through work samples to show that the child is meeting the modified standards. Only students in grades 3 through 8 and the 11th grade who are eligible under the 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, can be assessed using VAAP. Students who qualify under Section 504 or have a disability as identified by IDEA may also be eligible to complete an alternative assessment called the Virginia Substitute Evaluation Program, or VSEP, which uses work samples to demonstrate academic performance. Special education students use Aligned Standards of Learning, goals and objectives geared toward their developmental level, and are not penalized if they are unable to meet the standards. Graduating students work toward a special diploma.
According to the 2001 federal No Child Left Behind Act, students in Virginia qualify as limited English-proficient, or LEP, if their primary language is other than English and they do not read, write or speak English fluently enough to be successful on the SOL tests. Depending on their level of proficiency, some children can take the SOLs with specific accommodations, such as access to a bilingual dictionary or a simplified English version of the test, while others complete the Virginia Grade Level Alternative test in reading and a modified math test called "Plain English." Younger students are not penalized for failing the tests; depending on the length of time the students have been in Virginia public schools, their scores may be excluded from school accreditation ratings.