COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 159

November 15, 2002

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	History and Social Science 2001 Standards of Learning Test Blueprints

As you are aware, beginning in 2003-2004 the Standards of Learning tests will assess full implementation of the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning. In preparation for these new assessments, new history and social science test blueprints have been developed. All revised history and social science blueprints will be effective with the administration of the 2003-2004 History and Social Science Standards of Learning tests. These revised blueprints may be accessed and downloaded from http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/

Starting in 2003-2004, school divisions may choose to administer separate tests in United States History to 1877, United States History: 1877 to the Present, and Civics and Economics instead of the cumulative history test currently administered in either grade 7 or 8. The blueprints for these breakout tests may be found at the Web site referenced above.

The Standards of Learning test blueprints serve a number of purposes. One, they serve as a guide to test developers for writing test items and constructing test forms. Two, they serve as a guide to educators, parents, and students in that they show (a) the Standards of Learning covered by the test and which standards, if any, have been excluded; (b) which Standards of Learning 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 are constructed; and (e) the materials that students are allowed to use while taking the test.

The revised blueprints are being shared at this time to accommodate curriculum development and instructional planning for the coming school year. It is imperative in sharing the revised blueprints that teachers understand they do not become effective until 2003-2004.

A question and answer document that addresses issues related to the implementation of the revised blueprints may also be found at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/

Each division director of testing will receive notification of the blueprints and question and answer document in a similar memo.

Should you have any questions regarding the History and Social Science Standards of Learning test blueprints, please contact Don Marsh in the Division of Assessment and Reporting at (804) 225-2232 or dmarsh@vak12ed.edu.

JLD/SLR/DM/jc