Projections show more than 50% of VA students could fail SOLs because of new cut scores

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- New cut scores could mean more Virginia students failing their SOL exams. 

As 8News reported on September 25, the Virginia Board of Education approved higher cut scores in reading and math, meaning Virginia students will have to answer more questions correctly to be considered proficient. 

Projections compiled by the Virginia Department of Education don’t show the exact number of students who will fail, however, in nearly every grade and subject (in math and reading), pass rates will plummet below 50%. 

Take fourth grade, for example. Under the current cut scores, 73% of students passed their reading SOL exam. However, under the newer cut scores, only 40% of fourth graders are projected to pass. 

In math, the projections show a similar story. The current pass rate for fourth graders in math is 73%. However, only 43% of the students are projected to pass under the new cut scores. 

With more students projected to fail under the new cut scores, it’s worth asking the question -- why did the Board of Education raise cut scores? 

“Virginia is the absolute lowest-scoring state in terms of proficiency cut score than any other state in the country,” said Board Member Amber Northern. 

The board said it’s to better align Virginia’s standards with a prominent national exam known as The Nation’s Report Card, or NAEP. 

Let’s stick with looking at fourth-grade math scores. 

The current SOL pass rate is 73%. However, the new cut scores would lower that to 43%, more in line with the 40% of Virginia fourth-graders who passed the NAEP exam, according to the most recently released data. 

“Every parent in the Commonwealth, and teacher, and principal, and superintendent, and most importantly, students will have the confidence that as they walk across that stage they know that it means that they are truly ready for the pathway that they are being called to pursue,” said Emily Anne Gullickson, Virginia’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

The new cut scores won’t go into effect right away. The Virginia Board of Education will decide on the specifics of a phased-in approach during its October meeting.