SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 2014
Virginia Assessment Program Overview
Presentation to the Standards of Learning Innovation Committee
July 15, 2014
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 20142
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
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 20143
Implementation of New Tests
• History in 2010-2011
• Mathematics in 2011-2012
• Reading, Writing and Science in 2012-2013
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 20144
Online Testing in VirginiaSOL Non-Writing Tests Administered Online
Fall 2001
Spr 2002
Spr 2003
Spr 2004
Spr 2005
Spr 2006
Spr 2007
Spr 2008
Spr 2009
Spr 2010
Spr 2011
Spr 2012
Spr 2013
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
1,700 8,50076,000
265,000
579,000
924,050
1,333,150
1,418,255
1,652,680
1,908,966
2,216,693
2,489,167
2,659,723
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 20145
Current Standards of Learning Tests
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 20146
Tests Administered in Elementary Schools
Mathematics Reading Writing ScienceHistory &
Social Science
Grade 3Grade 3
Mathematics Test
Grade 3 Reading
Test
Grade 3 Science
Test
Grade 3 History
Test
Grade 4Grade 4
MathematicsTest
Grade 4 Reading
Test
Grade 5Grade 5
MathematicsTest
Grade 5Reading
Test
Grade 5 Writing
Test
Grade 5 Science
Test
Grade 4or Grade 5
Virginia Studies
Test
Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 20147
Tests Administered in Middle Schools
Mathematics Reading Writing ScienceHistory &
Social Science
Grade 6Grade 6
Mathematics Test
Grade 6 Reading
Test
Grade 7Grade 7
MathematicsTest
Grade 7 Reading
Test
Grade 8Grade 8
MathematicsTest
Grade 8Reading
Test
Grade 8 Writing
Test
Grade 8 Science
Test
U.S. Historyto 1865
Test
U.S. History 1865 to Present
Test
Grade 7 or 8 Civics &
Economics Test
Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 20148
Tests Administered at End-of-Course
MathematicsEnglish
Science History & Social ScienceReading Writing
Algebra ITest
EOC Reading
Test
EOCWriting
Test
Earth ScienceTest
World GeographyTest
Virginia & U.S. History Test
GeometryTest
BiologyTest
World History ITest
Algebra IITest
ChemistryTest World History II
Test
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 20149
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.
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201410
Federal Requirements
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201411
Federal Requirements forReading and Mathematics Tests
Tests must be administered
• Annually in grades 3-8
• At least once in high school (grades 10-12)
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201412
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)
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201413
Tests Administered in Elementary Schools
Mathematics Reading Writing ScienceHistory &
Social Science
Grade 3Grade 3
Mathematics Test
Grade 3 Reading
Test
Grade 3 Science
Test
Grade 3 History
Test
Grade 4Grade 4
MathematicsTest
Grade 4 Reading
Test
Grade 5Grade 5
MathematicsTest
Grade 5Reading
Test
Grade 5 Writing
Test
Grade 5 Science
Test
Grade 4or Grade 5
Virginia Studies
Test
Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.
Shaded cells - indicate tests required by ESEA
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201414
Tests Administered in Middle Schools
Mathematics Reading Writing ScienceHistory &
Social Science
Grade 6Grade 6
Mathematics Test
Grade 6 Reading
Test
Grade 7Grade 7
MathematicsTest
Grade 7 Reading
Test
Grade 8Grade 8
MathematicsTest
Grade 8Reading
Test
Grade 8 Writing
Test
Grade 8 Science
Test
U.S. Historyto 1865
Test
U.S. History 1865 to Present
Test
Grade 7 or 8 Civics &
Economics Test
Tests eliminated by legislation in the 2014 General Assembly are shown in strikethrough format.
Shaded cells - indicate tests required by ESEA
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201415
Tests Administered at End-of-Course
MathematicsEnglish
Science History & Social ScienceReading Writing
Algebra ITest
EOC Reading
Test
EOCWriting
Test
Earth ScienceTest
World GeographyTest
Virginia & U.S. History
TestGeometry
TestBiology
TestWorld History
to 1500Test
Algebra IITest
ChemistryTest
World History1500 to Present
Test
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201416
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.
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201417
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.
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201418
Graduation Requirements
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 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
19
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 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
20
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201421
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.
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201422
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.
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201423
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.
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201424
Questions About Current Virginia Assessment Program?
SOL Innovation CommitteeJuly 15, 201425
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