Langley students now have fewer tests to study for.

Students in AP U.S. History and AP Language and Composition will no longer have to take the SOL tests in U.S. History, as well as English Reading and English Writing.

Ms. Janice Dabroski, Langley’s Assessment Coach, has been working to exempt AP students from certain SOL tests since last year.

She spoke to Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, Peter Noonan, and Assistant Superintendent Frances Ivey to excuse AP World History students from the World History II SOL test in 2010-2011. This year, she met with Craig Herring, Director of Pre-K – 12 Curriculum and Instruction, and Kathy Oliver, Director of Testing for Fairfax County to secure the remaining exemptions.

Because of these exemptions, 750 fewer SOL tests will be administered this year. Last year, 4200 SOLs were administered. In order to fulfill state requirements, students taking AP tests instead of SOLs need to score at least a 2 to pass, and 3, 4, or 5 to score passed advanced. Students who fail their AP test will be expected to re-take them the following year.

Ultimately, Ms. Dabroski stated, “The purpose of all this is that we believe in assessment here, but we want it to matter, to have purpose.” Ms. Dabroski adds that this reduction of testing at Langley will “allow teachers a lot more time to do something different or special.”