The SOLs are the minimum curriculum requirements for student achievement in the upgraded, more rigorous state curriculum. They were developed by the State Department of Education as a response to the fact that the level of academic achievement of students in Virginia has not been adequate for graduates to compete successfully in the international job market nor to fulfill their responsibilities as citizens of Virginia and the United States for the 21st century. The Board of Education firmly believes that all students in Virginia, regardless of their background or where they live, deserve a quality education based on the same standards. Parents and taxpayers should also be able to know how well schools are doing in meeting those standards. They also incorporate computer technology learning standards, intended to result in computer literacy for all students before they enter high school.
Accountability is to be achieved in two primary ways.
First, students must pass a minimum number of high school SOL tests in order to receive a diploma. These requirements address the problem of promoting students before they are academically ready. The requirements must also meet the demand of Virginia's business community in that all high school graduates have demonstrated ability in essential skills, such as reading, writing, and math. Second, the State Board of Education believed it would not be fair to hold only a school's students accountable for academic achievement. The school must be held accountable to students, parents, taxpayers, and employers.