With the implementation of Standards-based IEPs, there is a heightened awareness of the math content, as well as raised performance expectations for students with disabilities as general and special educators collaborate on the behalf of students. Mathematics graphs, represent a trend toward closing the achievement gap that exists between subgroups and across grade levels beginning in 2002 through 2010.
These four SOL mathematics graphs, compiled by Michael Bolling, K-12 Mathematics Coordinator at the Virginia Department of Education, represent a trend toward closing the achievement gap that exists between subgroups and across grade levels beginning in 2002 through 2010. As the stories told by these graphs are examined, they illustrate both the upward trend in math achievement across the grade levels, and the narrowing gap between typical students, and subgroups such as Students with Disabilities. As teachers across Virginia have made a conscious effort to increase student engagement, embed formative assessment, plan lessons based on the Concrete-Representational-Abstract approach aimed at making conceptual understanding the goal, and create open-ended problem solving activities, Virginia’s Mathematics Standards of Learning (SOL) scores have been the beneficiary. With the implementation of Standards-based IEPs, there is a heightened awareness of the math content, as well as raised performance expectations for students with disabilities as general and special educators collaborate on the behalf of students. To continue to make a positive trend and further narrow the achievement gap, teachers will need to continue to hone both their knowledge of math content and researched based teaching practices. The 2011 Mathematics SOL Institutes website continues to support implementation of the 2009 Mathematics Standards of Learning, framed by the five goals for students becoming mathematical problem solvers, communicating mathematically, reasoning mathematically, making mathematical connections, and using mathematical representations to model and interpret practical situations. The website provides teaching and training resources that you may find helpful as you continue to work toward narrowing the achievement gap for your students.
Mathematics SOL Performance Assessment Chart
