INFORMATIONAL

  This memo conveys an advance copy of each test blueprint for
  the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessments. 
  Blueprints are enclosed for:

       Grade 3 - English, mathematics, science, and history
                   and social science
       Grade 5 - English, mathematics, science, history and
                   social science, and computer/technology
       Grade 8 - English, mathematics, science, history and
                   social science, and computer/technology
       Algebra I
       Algebra II
       Geometry
       Earth Science
       Biology
       Chemistry
       World History to 1000 A. D. + World Geography
       World History from 1000 A. D. to the Present + World
         Geography
       U. S. History
       Secondary English, covering Grades 9-11 SOLs, including
         writing

  The SOL test blueprints serve a number of purposes.  One,
  they serve as a guide to test developers as they write test
  questions and construct the SOL tests.  Two, they serve as a
  guide to educators, parents, and students in that they show
  (a) the SOLs covered by the test and which, if any, have
  been excluded; (b) which SOLs are assigned to each reporting
  category; (c) the number of test items in each reporting
  category and on the total test; (d) general information
  about how the test questions were constructed; and (e) the
  materials that students are allowed to use while taking the
  test.   

  As was noted in the regional meetings, copies will be sent
  to each school division for distribution to each teacher. 
  These will be sent directly from Harcourt Brace Educational
  Measurement to each school building with extra copies
  shipped to your Division Director of Testing.  The SOL test
  blueprints will be printed on 3-hole-punch paper and
  separated by a colored sheet of paper.  The boxes shipped to
  schools will be labeled as containing SOL test blueprints. 
  Principals should be instructed to distribute the blueprints
  to their teachers.

  After the first of the year the blueprints will be posted to
  the Department's homepage, offering another avenue for their
  review.  

  Should you have any questions regarding the SOL test
  blueprints, please call the Division of Assessment and
  Reporting at (804) 225-2102. 

  RTL/jc

  Enclosures:    A hard copy of this memo and its enclosures
                 will be sent to the superintendent's office.