{"id":19119,"date":"2025-11-14T08:19:46","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T13:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/?p=19119"},"modified":"2025-11-14T08:19:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T13:19:46","slug":"new-virginia-sol-cut-scores-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/news-blog\/new-virginia-sol-cut-scores-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Virginia\u2019s New SOL Cut Scores: What\u2019s Changing and How Schools Can Prepare"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In September 2025, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.doe.virginia.gov\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virginia Board of Education<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> unanimously approved new cut scores for the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.doe.virginia.gov\/teaching-learning-assessment\/student-assessment\/virginia-sol-assessment-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Standards of Learning (SOL)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> assessments. This decision follows the adoption of more rigorous academic standards in math and English, and marks a significant shift in how student proficiency will be measured across the Commonwealth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s what <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/schools-districts\/virginia\/elementary-school\/\">Virginia<\/a> educators and school leaders need to know about the changes, what to expect during the transition, and how to prepare effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Background: Why Are Cut Scores Changing?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cut scores define what a student needs to score on an SOL assessment to be considered proficient. Until now, Virginia\u2019s cut scores have been based on older standards: 2016 for mathematics and 2017 for English. Since then, the state has adopted:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>2023 Mathematics Standards<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>2024 English Standards<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These new standards require deeper conceptual understanding, stronger critical thinking skills, and more real-world application. Updating the cut scores is a natural and necessary next step to reflect the increased rigor students are already facing in the classroom.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The new cut scores align with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nces.ed.gov\/nationsreportcard\/guides\/scores_achv.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress) proficiency levels<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, providing a nationally recognized benchmark of academic readiness. This alignment allows Virginia to more accurately assess student performance compared to other states.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Timeline: When Do the New Cut Scores Take Effect?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virginia is <\/span><b>phasing in<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the new cut scores rather than implementing them all at once. Here&#8217;s what that timeline looks like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Fall 2025<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Cut scores officially approved by the Board of Education.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Spring 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: First semester of implementation begins.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>2026 to 2030<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Gradual rollout with full implementation by 2030.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this transition period, Virginia will use the <\/span><b>\u201capproaching\u201d proficiency level<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which acts as a bridge between the old and new scoring systems. This phase-in model ensures that schools and students have time to adjust before being held fully accountable under the new expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What\u2019s Changing From the Old to the New Cut Scores?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the new system, l<\/span>evels demonstrating proficiency are increasing<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across all tested areas. In other words, students will need to demonstrate higher levels of mastery to earn the same performance labels (e.g., \u201cProficient\u201d).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key goals behind this change include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reflecting the content and rigor of the new SOL standards<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing more accurate insight into student readiness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incentivizing improved instruction and evidence-based practices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supporting long-term student success across college, careers, and military pathways<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving Virginia\u2019s competitiveness in national assessments like NAEP<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthening the state&#8217;s future workforce and economic outlook<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simply put, raising the bar now helps ensure students are prepared for the real world later.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How Should Schools and Districts Prepare?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Virginia Department of Education is providing a range of support resources to help schools navigate the transition:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">A communications toolkit to inform families about the changes<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Professional development (PD) for teachers focused on evidence-based strategies<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Improved student reports to help parents and educators understand progress<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Assessment data guidance to target learning gaps<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, VDOE has highlighted how other states, such as <\/span>Illinois, Massachusetts, and Tennessee<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, experienced temporary score declines after raising expectations. However, those initial drops gave way to long-term instructional improvements and stronger student outcomes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To prepare, school leaders should:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Evaluate performance under the new standards<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: How have students done with the 2023 math and 2024 English standards so far?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Review past assessment data<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Are students trending upward or flatlining? Where are the gaps? This is important to understand where students currently stand before things start changing so you can compare appropriately.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Align instruction and materials<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Is your curriculum truly reflective of the new standards and their rigor?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ensure students have access to standards-aligned practice<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Without it, the transition will be even more difficult.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Identify which students need targeted intervention<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The earlier you can intervene, the better.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2><b>How Progress Learning Supports the Transition<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress Learning is particularly helpful in moments like this. As districts across Virginia prepare for higher expectations and a new definition of \u201cproficiency,\u201d we provide the tools and support educators need to stay ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s how:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>SOL-Aligned Content Across All Subjects and Grades<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress Learning offers fully updated content that aligns directly with Virginia\u2019s 2023 math and 2024 English Standards of Learning. No guesswork, no gaps, just consistent, accurate practice in one platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Instant Remediation and Personalized Study Plans<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When students miss a question, they\u2019re immediately guided to resources that reteach the skill. Teachers can also assign <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/solutions\/independent-practice-tool\/\">individualized study plans<\/a> to reinforce mastery at the student level.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Liftoff Adaptive Intervention<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/our-products\/liftoff-adaptive-intervention-2-8\/\">Our intervention platform, Liftoff<\/a>, uses real-time data (including NWEA MAP integration) to deliver targeted support to students performing below grade level, especially helpful for bridging learning gaps during a time of changing expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Pre-Built and Custom Assessments<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you want assessments that mirror the structure of SOLs or prefer to <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/solutions\/assessment-tool-for-teachers\/\">create your own from our 200,000+ item bank<\/a>, you\u2019ll have the flexibility to test exactly what your students need.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Comprehensive Progress Monitoring and Reporting<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Track growth from classroom to district level. <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/solutions\/progress-monitoring-tools\/\">Our tools make it easy to see how students are performing now<\/a>, during the transition, and post-implementation so you can allocate support and resources strategically.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Final Takeaways<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Raising SOL cut scores is about more than new numbers. It\u2019s about setting honest expectations that align with today\u2019s academic standards and tomorrow\u2019s opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Change can be uncomfortable but it can also be transformative. With clear guidance, intentional planning, and the right instructional tools, Virginia\u2019s schools can rise to this challenge and help every student reach their full potential.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your district is looking for a trusted partner during this transition, Progress Learning is ready to support you every step of the way. Get in touch below to see how we can help<\/span><\/p>\n<script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/js.hsforms.net\/forms\/embed\/v2.js\"><\/script>\r\n<script>\r\n  hbspt.forms.create({\r\n    region: \"na1\",\r\n    portalId: \"23272034\",\r\n    formId: \"3bd16ddb-4120-40f2-ae04-334b789b41ff\"\r\n  });\r\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In September 2025, the Virginia Board of Education unanimously approved new cut scores for the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments. This decision follows the adoption of more rigorous academic standards in math and English, and marks a significant shift in how student proficiency will be measured across the Commonwealth. Here\u2019s what Virginia educators and school [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":19120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Virginia is raising the bar! \ud83d\udcc8 New SOL cut scores are coming\u2014aligned to tougher standards and national benchmarks. What does it mean for your school? Get the full breakdown + how to prepare. #VASchools #SOL2026 #ProgressLearning","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[302],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19119","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-virginia"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Blog-Virginias-New-SOL-Cut-Scores.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19119","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19119"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19119\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19122,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19119\/revisions\/19122"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19119"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19119"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19119"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}