Cut scores lowered for students with IEPs who are pursuing a Modified Standard Diploma

 

At the March 2004 Board of Education meeting, the Board decided to lower the cut scores for the 8th grade reading and math SOL tests for those students who are going for the Modified Standard Diploma.  This diploma is only offered to kids who have IEPs.  You can see more specific info about this diploma on the Department of Educaton's website at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/ForStudents/diploma-modified-std.pdf

 

They adopted a cut score of 299 for reading (the cut score is currently 400) and 360 for math (the current cut score is 400).  This will be applied retroactively.  These cut scores are based on the scaled scores and equate to roughly 25 out of 60 questions in math and between 12 and 15 out of 42 on the reading test. 

 

In other words, kids with IEPs who get approximately a third of the 8th grade SOL reading test right, will be considered "verified" to graduate with a diploma, albeit the Modified Standard Diploma.  On math, the student will only have to get 42% right.  

When the state glowingly reports "graduation rates" for kids with disabilities, keep in mind the lowered cut scores.