Virginia lawmakers are working to help non-English speaking students get a fair crack at the "Standards of Learning" test or SOL.

The SOL test, given in English, is a requirement for all students, but some state educators say it's almost setting ESL students up to fail. If the school gets a bad grade then funding is withheld.

Officials decided to withhold the exam until ESL students are sufficient in English, but doing so also takes away funding.

Now state officials are taking the situation into their own hands which may help us here in the valley.

Senators John Warner and Jim Webb along with congressmen Tom Davis and Jim Moran are sponsoring bills to give school districts time to comply with the "No Child Left Behind Law."

"A one year grace period gives school districts additional time to get students sufficiently proficient to perform well on the SOL tests," says Senator Mark Obenshain, an advocate of the bill.

"It's a combination of the problem here plus it's becoming increasingly apparent that this is not just a localized problem, but one that is affecting a lot of communities across Virginia and across America." adds Obenshain.

According to Obenshain, the Harrisonburg School Board is going to Washington, DC Wednesday to discuss the issue with Congressional Representatives and our US Senators.

He says he will be doing the same. "I've also been in touch trying to coordinate individual meetings with some of these Congressional Representatives and I am hopeful that those talks are going to yield tangible results."

Obenshain did write a letter several weeks ago to the Bush Administration regarding this issue. However, he said he is still waiting for a response.

The bills would give a "hold harmless" status to school districts in states like Virginia that have had their 2006-2007 testing plans deemed invalid by the Federal Department of Education.

SOL testing this year begins May 14th through June 1st.