VDOE :: Professional Development SOL Library

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Virginia Department of Education

Standards of Learning (SOL) & Testing
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- History & Social Science
- Family Life
- Economics & Personal Finance
- Fine Arts
- Foreign Language
- Computer Technology
- Health
- Physical Education
- Driver Education
- Virginia Assessment Program
- Participation & Inclusion
- SOL Test Administration & Development
- SOL Scoring
- Alternative & Alternate Assessments
- Substitute Tests for Verified Credit
- Assessment & Achievement Data
- Other Tests
- Virginia ACCESS for ELLs
- NAEP
- Assessment & Accountability Support
- Assessment Committees
- School Improvement & Reform
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The pages for Standards of Learning & Testing are managed by several divisions and offices. See Staff Contacts.

The following resources are related to Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOL) in general. Additional resources specific to each content area may be accessed by using the navigation bar to the right.

Catalogs of SOL Instructional Materials & Training Programs
English (PDF) Mathematics (PDF) Science (PDF) History & Social Science (PDF) All Four Content Areas (PDF)	These catalogs provide listings of all documents, websites, videos and other resources created by VDOE to support SOL instruction in the four tested content areas.

Videos & Narrated PowerPoints Related to the SOL
Videos (MP4 or Flash) and narrated PowerPoint presentations – each 10-20 minutes long – provide explanations of how SOLs are developed and tested, what recent revisions have been made to the standards, resources available on the VDOE website to support the standards, as well as examples to help define “increased rigor” in the standards and assessments. All may be viewed online or downloaded for use. For the PowerPoint presentations, select “Slide Show” view, and they will advance automatically as the narration proceeds.
Topic	SOL in General	Specific to English	Specific to Mathematics	Specific to Science	Specific to History & Social Science
How the Standards of Learning (SOL) Are Developed and an Overview of Revisions	4.8 MB	56.3 MB	76 MB	17.4 MB	9.1 MB
Department of Education Resources to Support the SOL	4.8 MB	100 MB	34 MB	13.6 MB	8.7 MB
How the SOL are Assessed at the State Level	2 MB	12.2 MB	5.8 MB	26.1 MB	8.8 MB
The Meaning of Rigor in Virginia's SOL	3.6 MB	12.2 MB	5.8 MB	26.1 MB	4.5 MB
Effective Teaching Strategies to Support Rigor	5.2 MB
Rigor in Virginia's College and Career Readiness Initiative	3.1 MB
Instructional Updates		(Flash) 1.8 MB

SOL Assessment Resources
Released SOL Tests SOL Practice Items – On October 31, 2012, new items were added to the end of the existing practice items for Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry and End of Course Reading. On March 22, 2013, new items were added to the end of the existing practice items for grades 3-8 mathematics, grades 3-8 reading, and grades 3,5 and 8 science. SOL Assessment Practice Tools Demonstrations of Technology Enhanced Test Items – Narrated demonstrations of the technology-enhanced Mathematics, Reading, Writing and Science SOL test items are available on the SOL Practice Items page. SOL Testing Calendars SOL Test Blueprints English Mathematics Science History & Social Science Alternative and Alternate SOL Tests Substitute Tests for Verified Credit SOL Test Scoring and Performance Reports Using Statewide SOL Test Results to Guide Instruction The following resources are recorded versions of professional development opportunities provided to division and school staff regarding the appropriate use of SOL score reports and assessment data: Using the Student Data Extract File to Guide Instructional Decision Making – a recording of a training session focused on analyzing SOL student level assessment data to guide instructional decisions. Multiple examples and demonstrations are included using Microsoft Excel data filters, pivot tables, and graphing capabilities. Using Student Reports to Guide Remediation: The Student Performance by Question Report (MP4) – a recording of a training presentation about the SOL Student Performance by Question Report and how school staff can use the details in this report to guide remediation efforts. SOL Assessment Results

SOL Assessment Resources

Released SOL Tests
SOL Practice Items – On October 31, 2012, new items were added to the end of the existing practice items for Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry and End of Course Reading. On March 22, 2013, new items were added to the end of the existing practice items for grades 3-8 mathematics, grades 3-8 reading, and grades 3,5 and 8 science.

SOL Assessment Practice Tools
Demonstrations of Technology Enhanced Test Items – Narrated demonstrations of the technology-enhanced Mathematics, Reading, Writing and Science SOL test items are available on the SOL Practice Items page.
SOL Testing Calendars
SOL Test Blueprints
English Mathematics Science History & Social Science
Alternative and Alternate SOL Tests
Substitute Tests for Verified Credit
SOL Test Scoring and Performance Reports
Using Statewide SOL Test Results to Guide Instruction
The following resources are recorded versions of professional development opportunities provided to division and school staff regarding the appropriate use of SOL score reports and assessment data:
- Using the Student Data Extract File to Guide Instructional Decision Making – a recording of a training session focused on analyzing SOL student level assessment data to guide instructional decisions. Multiple examples and demonstrations are included using Microsoft Excel data filters, pivot tables, and graphing capabilities.
- Using Student Reports to Guide Remediation: The Student Performance by Question Report (MP4) – a recording of a training presentation about the SOL Student Performance by Question Report and how school staff can use the details in this report to guide remediation efforts.
SOL Assessment Results

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Catalogs of SOL Instructional Materials & Training Programs

Videos & Narrated PowerPoints Related to the SOL

SOL Assessment Resources