Virginia students must pass SOLs to graduate!

[Wonderlandmom]

Fantasia-Florida does not have SOL's, we have FCATS. My kids have no problems with these-they score in the top levels and percentages. DD just had the 3rd grade reading as part of hers-one must score a level 2 or higher to pass 3rd grade. If the child can't pass, they DO need the extra summer help or repeat of grade if necessary. DD got a "5", that is the highest level. They aslo take a norm reference test as part of the FCAT.

A child I know in her class that got a level 1 does have serious reading issues and is in Summer school now. It was a good thing to catch this before 4th grade. So many parents don't listen when the teacher tells them their child has problems-I know this childs mother did NOT. When she got that "1" she sure listened and had the child tested at last for LD which she HAS(teachers had tried to get her tested earlier!) SO, in this case the test brought all these problems to the mom's attention.

4th and 8th graders have to pass the writing portion-can be either expository or narrative in 4th grade. I do wish they had several prompts from which to choose though. That is my only problem with that!

HS kids must pass FCAT to graduate, but get several years of trying.

My kids actually enjoy the FCATS . A few days of no homework and special treats at school help that!

 

[Wonderlandmom]

PS for Fantasia-Kids in 1st and 2nd grade take the Stanford 9 ! No passes or failing over it, just used in addition to classroom assessments to determine a childs ability to go to the next grade.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thank you Wonderlandmom for the infos. I suppose even if they attend Catholic school that they would still have to take this FCATS test, right? I don't even know if we have that here in Michigan. I surely don't remember taking any special test to see if I can graduate, but then again that was many years ago when I was in school.

Why would they want to confuse the child? Don't they want the child to succeed? Why make the test confusing and the answers are not even there!

 

[Wonderlandmom]

The SOL is what Valerie was saying is confusing-not the FCAT . I am not familiar with the SOL. The FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test) has not been said to "not have the answers there". I had to take some test in HS to pass before FCATS. It was the "literacy test" or something like that!
Private school kids are immune to FCAT. They probably take Stanfords. Only public schools in FL use FCAT.