Thanks Mama Zappa. I’ve done a bit of independant research as well on this SOL thing and your thoughts along with some others have helped be gain a better perspective on this entire SOL thing.
Anger falling… falling… falling… RISING!.. falling… falling… 
Exactly. In my life, I have taken exactly three standardized tests that had any meaning to me personally. First was the joke of a test required to graduate in New Mexico and the other two were the SAT and the general GRE. (I also took a couple SAT IIs and the Chemistry GRE, but I didn’t really need them for admission.) All the rest had no effect on me personally. I remember being a senior in high school and having to take some dumb English exam. First, it was the same exam we had to take several years ago. Second, it had no effect on us one way or the other. But we were still pleaded with to take it seriously because it mattered for the school. All the rest of the tests I ever took were only for the school and as far as I was concerned, especially later in life, all of Albuquerque Public Schools could go fuck themselves.
Talking to the principal and teacher together can help. When I was young (starting at about 7), several students from each grade were sent to “gifted” classes once a week. I did fine for years, but my fifth grade (age 10 or so) teacher decided that I was still responsible for all the work done in class that day, regardless of if I was there or not, which included in class tests and assignments, even busy work like those puzzles where you circle words in a big grid and COLORING. I had between 3 and 6 hours of homework that night, every week.
My mother got tired of the tantrums because I was so overworked, talked to the teacher and principal and got the teacher to agree I would only be responsible for tests. My grades improved and so did my attitude about homework.
If things don’t improve, going to school authorities might be a good option.
Silver lining alert: Just think of the money you’re saving in future SAT test prep!
As a child growing up in NYC I took yearly “citywides” (math and english/reading) starting in the 3rd or 4th grade and additional “statewides” in the same areas every few years.
Then, over 4 years of high school I did New York State Regents subject exams in Math (I, II, & III), English composition, Global History, American History, French, Biology, Physics, and lets not forget Chemistry. Regents aren’t required at most high schools – they distinguish between standard and Regents diplomas – but at my high school the only diplomas that were given were Regents diplomas. You only have to get 66% to pass and they’ve been doing them for generations, so my mom could console me with how she had to take Math II twice (I passed with 67%)
Also, in most high schools you hadto take DRPs (Degrees of Reading Power) at least a couple of times before graduation (we were exempted for some reason).
By the time I took my SATs, I was a test-taking machine. I had taken 2-5 standardized tests every year since I was 8.