The Standards of Learning (SOL) for Virginia Public Schools describe the Commonwealth's expectations for student learning and achievement in driver education, English, fine arts, health and physical education, history and social science, mathematics, science, technology, and world languages for grades K-12. Alternative assessment information: The 2014 General Assembly eliminated Standards of Learning assessments in United States History to 1865, and United States History: 1865 to the Present. Additionally, the Assembly's action required local school divisions to continue to teach the content and measure student achievement with local alternative assessments, including authentic or performance assessments. School divisions must certify annually that they have provided instruction and administered an alternative assessment, consistent with Board of Education guidelines, to students in grades and subject areas that no longer have a corresponding SOL test. PWCS has Local Alternative Assessments (LAA) that are required to be completed by the end of the school year for United States History to 1865, and United States History: 1865 to the Present. These are located in the Canvas course modules. Schools must administer and score one LAA per historical era (three per course).

SOL tests are standardized tests given at the end of the school year to students in Virginia. The tests are required by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to verify attainment of knowledge and skills in specific English, math, science, and social science courses. Additional information regarding student assessment can be found by visiting the Virginia SOL Assessment Program page on the VDOE website. Under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), students must be tested in mathematics and reading annually in grades 3-8 and once in high school (grades 9-12). In science, students must be tested once in elementary school, once in middle school, and once in high school. Students can meet the ESSA testing requirements by taking SOL tests, or in the case of students with significant cognitive disabilities, participating in the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP). The U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has required Virginia to select one end-of-course SOL test in each subject area to be used for federal accountability. Virginia selected Algebra 1 as the high school mathematics test, Biology as the high school science test, and the end-of-course reading test for high school reading. USDOE has granted Virginia a waiver so that students who have passed the Algebra 1 SOL test in middle school can use a score from the Geometry or Algebra 2 SOL test in high school to meet the federal accountability requirement in mathematics. Additionally, Virginia has been granted a waiver so that students who pass the Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 tests in middle school can use an SAT, ACT, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate test score in mathematics in high school to meet the federal accountability requirement.

This course helps students identify and demonstrate the workplace skills that employers desire in their future employees. Students analyze their personal assets, explore career clusters and career pathways, and draft an Academic and Career Plan based on their academic and career interests. Additional areas of focus include planning for academic courses, work-based learning opportunities, opportunities to earn industry certifications, and planning for postsecondary success.

This middle school computer science course explores concepts in computer programming. Students are introduced to block-based or text-based programming to review and build on computational thinking and computer science skills. Students also study the history of computers and computer science.

Students apply the engineering design process to plan, build, and communicate inventions or innovations that address contemporary technological problems facing them, their community, and the world. This hands-on course allows students to apply creativity and innovation that emphasizes working in teams and the safe use of technological and engineering tools and equipment.

Students will experience the problems and opportunities of our increasingly technological society. The class will provide hands-on learning to explore technologies and the systems of which they are composed. They also explore technologyoriented careers and project-based learning to explore technological systems.

Students use the engineering design process to guide them through various hands-on activities and projects, utilizing safe use of tools, materials, and techniques to solve problems. Students explore their relationship to technology and engineering, and how technology affects the world around them, as well as careers in the fields of technology and engineering.

This Family and Consumer Sciences exploratory course helps students develop essential knowledge and skills to lead better lives, be career-ready, build strong families, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Students deepen their knowledge and understanding of topics related to human development, interpersonal relationships, nutrition and wellness, financial literacy, leadership skills, and workplace readiness skills.

This Family and Consumer Sciences exploratory course helps students continue to build on knowledge and skills acquired in previous Family and Consumer Sciences courses to lead better lives, be career-ready, build strong families, and make meaningful contributions to their communities. Students focus on topics related to human development, interpersonal relationships, nutrition and wellness, financial literacy, textiles and apparel, child development, leadership, workplace readiness, and career exploration and planning.

This Family and Consumer Sciences exploratory course prepares students to become life-ready as they manage individual, family, career, and community roles and responsibilities. Students explore topics related to human development, positive interpersonal relationships, nutrition and wellness, financial literacy, leadership development, and workplace readiness skills.

This foundation course introduces the use of relevant and emerging technologies, tools, and applications to prepare students for current workplace practices and everyday life. Students will demonstrate information processing using a variety of hardware and software and Internet-based tools to produce and integrate data in various formats. This course is designed for students wishing to progress through more advanced business and information technology coursework.

Students are introduced to computing devices and software as problem-solving tools. Emphasis is placed on using basic touch keyboarding skills to complete a variety of projects incorporating word processing, database, presentation, and spreadsheet software. Basic Internet safety, coding, and device maintenance are components of this course.