Students taking the grade 5 or grade 8 SOL Reading test will complete an integrated reading and writing (IRW) component. The IRW component of the SOL Reading test has with one non-fiction reading passage followed by 4-6 of multiple-choice/technology-enhanced items and an “invitation to write” based on the passage.  

Parents/guardians may choose to refuse participation in the IRW component while still agreeing for their student to participate in the required SOL Reading test. The IRW component does not fulfill federal participation requirements or influence school accountability calculations. 

Full Text of Letter (Grades 3-8)

The following provides content from the division's state assessment notification of testing and SOL retest permission form for families of students in grades 3-8. Links to printable PDF translations are also included below. 

NOTIFICATION OF TESTING AND RETEST PERMISSION FORM

UPDATE OCTOBER 2023 - State Assessments, Grades 3-8

Dear Parents and Guardians:

State assessments measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills reflected in state standards and may also be used to measure growth in learning state standards. The format and timing of state assessments vary by grade level and content area, as noted in the table below. These include:

• Fall and winter Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA) standardized tests in reading and mathematics. More information is available on the VGA webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/43932);  
• Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) standardized tests in reading, mathematics, and science. For certain grade levels, the reading SOL tests includes an integrated reading/writing (IRW) component. More information is available on the SOL assessments webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/35021); 
• Ongoing local alternative assessments (LAAs) including performance-based assessments (PBAs) completed as part of classroom instruction in science, and social studies; More information is available on the LAA and PBA webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/45043).  

    * VGA tests are not available for students enrolled in a high school credit-bearing math course, such as Algebra 1.

The Grade Level Tests webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/student-assessment/grade-level-tests) provides information by grade level about the general assessment schedule and reporting method for each required assessment type in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). School staff will contact you with the specific dates your student is scheduled to take the standardized VGA and SOL assessments. If you have questions about state assessments, contact your student’s teacher or the school test coordinator.

SOL Parent/Guardian Permission to Retest Form

The Virginia Board of Education allows elementary and middle school students who fail their spring Standards of Learning (SOL) tests by a narrow margin to retake the test before the end of the school year. Retesting is available when a student fails their first SOL attempt with a score of 375-399. (A score of 400 is considered passing for SOL tests.) Note that retests are not offered for fall or winter Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) tests or for the integrated reading/writing (IRW) component of the grade 5 and grade 8 SOL reading tests. 

Parent/guardian permission is required for the school to retest any student in grades 3-8. If you believe that your student would benefit from a second opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills on the spring SOL test, please complete this permission form and return it to the school. A decision not to allow retesting will not impact your student’s course grade or academic record.

Directions: Return this permission form to your student’s teacher or the school test coordinator no later than ________________________. A form must be returned for each student in grades 3-8.

Student’s Name _____________  FCPS ID #_____  Grade Level _____

Parent’s/Guardian’s Name (Printed) ___________________________

Parent’s/Guardian’s Signature ___________________ Date __________

 _____    No,  do not retest my student if their spring SOL score is between 375 and 399. I understand that this decision will not impact my student’s course grade or academic record.

_____     Yes, provide my student with the opportunity to retake any spring SOL tests if they score between 375 and 399.

_____     Yes,  provide my student with the opportunity to retake only the following spring SOL tests if they score between 375 and 399 (see table above for the available SOL content areas at the student’s grade level):

     ___________________________________________________________