Virginia Assessment Program
Overview
Presentation to the Standards of Learning Innovation
Committee
July 15, 2014
SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
History of the SOL Assessment Program
• 1983 – Initial development of SOL classroom
assessments
• 1998 – Initial implementation of statewide SOL
testing
• 2001 – Introduction of online testing
• 2006 – Introduction of reading and mathematics
tests at grades 4, 6, and 7 to meet federal
mandates
• 2012 – Introduction of technology-enhanced items
• 2013 – Introduction of operational online writing test
• 2014 – Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) Pilot
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Implementation of New Tests
• History in 2010-2011
• Mathematics in 2011-2012
• Reading, Writing and Science in 2012-2013
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Online Testing in Virginia
SOL Non-Writing Tests Administered Online
3,000,000
2,659,723
2,489,167
2,500,000
2,216,693
1,908,966
2,000,000
1,652,680
1,418,255
1,500,000
1,333,150
924,050
1,000,000
579,000
500,000
265,000
1,700
8,500
76,000
0
Fall
Spr
Spr
Spr
Spr
Spr
Spr
Spr
Spr
Spr
Spr
Spr
Spr
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Current Standards of Learning Tests
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Tests Administered in Elementary Schools
Mathematics
Reading
Grade 3
Grade 3
Mathematics
Test
Grade 3
Reading
Test
Grade 4
Grade 4
Mathematics
Test
Grade 4
Reading
Test
Grade 5
Grade 5
Mathematics
Test
Grade 5
Reading
Test
Writing
Grade 5
Writing
Test
Science
History &
Social Science
Grade 3
Science
Test
Grade 3
History
Test
Grade 5
Science
Test
Grade 4
or Grade 5
Virginia
Studies
Test
Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Tests Administered in Middle Schools
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Mathematics
Reading
Grade 6
Mathematics
Test
Grade 6
Reading
Test
Grade 7
Mathematics
Test
Grade 8
Mathematics
Test
Writing
Science
History &
Social Science
U.S. History
to 1865
Test
U.S. History
1865 to
Present
Test
Grade 7
Reading
Test
Grade 8
Reading
Test
Grade 8
Writing
Test
Grade 8
Science
Test
Grade 7 or 8
Civics &
Economics
Test
Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Tests Administered at End-of-Course
English
Mathematics
Science
Reading
Writing
Algebra I
Test
Geometry
Test
Earth Science
Test
EOC
Reading
Test
EOC
Writing
Test
Algebra II
Test
Biology
Test
World Geography
Test
Virginia & U.S.
History Test
World History I
Test
Chemistry
Test
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History & Social
Science
World History II
Test
SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
End-of-Course Tests (EOC)
• Students take end-of-course tests when they
complete the instruction for the course
associated with the test (e.g., Algebra I, Earth
Science). Therefore, these tests are not
associated with specific grade levels.
• To earn a verified credit students must pass the
course and the associated end-of-course test.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Federal Requirements
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Federal Requirements for
Reading and Mathematics Tests
Tests must be administered
• Annually in grades 3-8
• At least once in high school (grades 10-12)
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Federal Requirements for Science
Tests must be administered at least once in
• Elementary School (grades 3-5)
• Middle School (grades 6-9)
• High School (grades 10-12)
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Tests Administered in Elementary Schools
Mathematics
Reading
Grade 3
Grade 3
Mathematics
Test
Grade 3
Reading
Test
Grade 4
Grade 4
Mathematics
Test
Grade 4
Reading
Test
Grade 5
Grade 5
Mathematics
Test
Grade 5
Reading
Test
Shaded cells
Writing
Grade 5
Writing
Test
Science
History &
Social Science
Grade 3
Science
Test
Grade 3
History
Test
Grade 5
Science
Test
Grade 4
or Grade 5
Virginia
Studies
Test
- indicate tests required by ESEA
Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Tests Administered in Middle Schools
Reading
Grade 6
Grade 6
Mathematics
Test
Grade 6
Reading
Test
U.S. History
to 1865
Test
Grade 7
Grade 7
Mathematics
Test
Grade 7
Reading
Test
U.S. History
1865 to
Present
Test
Grade 8
Grade 8
Mathematics
Test
Grade 8
Reading
Test
Shaded cells
Writing
Grade 8
Writing
Test
Science
History &
Social Science
Mathematics
Grade 8
Science
Test
Grade 7 or 8
Civics &
Economics
Test
- indicate tests required by ESEA
Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Tests Administered at End-of-Course
English
Mathematics
Science
Reading
Writing
Algebra I
Test
Geometry
Test
Earth Science
Test
EOC
Reading
Test
EOC
Writing
Test
Algebra II
Test
Biology
Test
Chemistry
Test
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History & Social
Science
World Geography
Test
Virginia & U.S.
History
Test
World History
to 1500
Test
World History
1500 to Present
Test
SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
End-of-Course Tests
• According to Virginia’s current federal
accountability plan, all end-of-course tests in
mathematics and science are used to meet
federal requirements.
• For example, the federal accountability pass rate
for mathematics at the high school includes
students who pass the Algebra I test, the
Geometry test and the Algebra II test.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Additional Requirements for ESEA Waiver
• Requires assessments that measure “college and
career readiness.”
• To meet this requirement Virginia established
“advanced/college path” achievement levels for
the End-of-Course tests in Reading, Writing and
Algebra II.
• Waiver approved for one year.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Graduation Requirements
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Verified Credit Requirements for
Standard Diploma
Six Verified Credits Required
– 1 in reading
– 1 in writing
– 1 in mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II)
– 1 in science (Earth Science, Biology, or Chemistry)
– 1 in history (World History to 1500, World
History:1500 to the present, World Geography, or
VA & US History)
– 1 in subject area selected by student
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Verified Credit Requirements for
Advanced Studies Diploma
Nine Verified Credits Required
– 1 in reading
– 1 in writing
– 2 in mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II)
– 2 in science (Earth Science, Biology, or Chemistry)
– 2 in history (World History to 1500, World
History:1500 to the present, World Geography, or
VA & US History)
– 1 in subject area selected by student
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Substitute Tests for Verified Credit
• Substitute tests approved by the Virginia Board of
Education may be used by students in lieu of SOL
tests to earn verified credits.
• List of approved substitute tests may be found at
www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/substitute_tests/index.shtml
• Policy initially instituted at the request of local
school divisions to avoid “double testing” of
students who were taking Advanced Placement (AP)
or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests AND were
also scheduled to take an SOL test.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Computer Adaptive Testing
• In the current system, all students taking a
particular test (e.g., grade 7 mathematics) are
administered one of several versions of that test.
• Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT) customizes the
items administered to the each individual
student.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Pilots Using CAT
• Pilots using CAT for grade 7 mathematics and
grade 8 reading were conducted in 2013-2014.
• Results support moving forward with transition
to CAT.
• Timeline for transition will be dependent on
funding.
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Questions About Current Virginia
Assessment Program?
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
Characteristics of Good Assessments
• Purpose of assessment matches assessment
need
• Measures content it is intended to assess
• Covers content that students should have
learned by the time assessment is administered
• Fair to all students—does not advantage or
disadvantage any particular group
• Provides access to students with disabilities and
English language learners
• Provides consistent results
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SOL Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014