SOL Testing

Parent/Guardian SOL Testing Refusal

Virginia does not have an assessment opt-out provision; however, parents/guardians may refuse to permit their student to participate in one, some, or all of Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments or the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP). Annual refusals must be made in writing and must be retained in the student’s Scholastic Record. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that school divisions assess students annually in Reading and Mathematics in grades 3-8 and once in Science at the elementary and middle school level. High school students (grades 9-12) must be assessed once in Reading, Writing, Mathematics, History, and Science during their high school tenure.

What Parents Should Know Before Refusing a Test

A parent should consider the following important points before deciding to refuse any test:

• If the student is in high school, refusing certain SOL tests could impact on-time graduation. Virginia requires verified credits to earn a standard or advanced studies diploma, and SOL tests are the most common way credits are verified.

• SOL tests can be used to identify appropriate placement for the student in advanced academic, enrichment, intervention, and other programs.

• If a student does not test, the school will not have academic data from the assessment to inform plans for their classroom instruction and will rely on information from other assessments and data sources.

• As more students do not participate in assessments, it can become more challenging for the school to gain a clear reflection of how it is meeting the instructional needs of its students as a whole.