COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 197

November 21, 2003

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Expansion of Electronic Practice Assessment Tool

I am pleased to announce the expansion of the electronic Practice Assessment Tool (ePAT), for the Standards of Learning end-of-course and grade 8 tests. Students and teachers may now access the spring 2002 Grade 8 Reading/Literature and Research and Writing (Multiple Choice) tests; spring 2001 and spring 2002 End-of-Course (EOC) English: Reading/Literature and Research and Writing (Multiple Choice) tests; spring 2001 and spring 2002 End-of-Course (EOC) Algebra I tests.

This online tutorial supports and enhances student preparation for the Standards of Learning assessments by providing interaction with released test items. Students can take the tests on the computer and receive immediate feedback regarding why their responses are correct or incorrect. Students may also download and print an answer sheet to track their answers.

I encourage you to have your students and teachers utilize the electronic Practice Assessment Tool to gain useful information and to develop some test-taking strategies prior to taking the end-of-course and Grade 8 English assessments, as well as the Algebra I assessment. The ePAT can be accessed through the Department of Education Web site at http://www.pen.k12.va.us/2plus4in2004/ and click on the icon.

For additional information about ePAT, contact Catherine Rosenbaum (crosenba@mail.vak12ed.edu), specialist for reading and language arts at (804) 225-2665 or Deborah Lyman (dlyman@mail.vak12ed.edu), mathematics coordinator at (804) 786-6418.

JLD/MH