INFORMATIONAL

  Attached to this memo is the schedule for the Literacy
  Passport Testing Program for the 1996-97 school year.  Please
  inform all personnel of these testing dates so that other
  activities can be scheduled without conflicts.  The norm-referenced 
  component of the state testing program will be
  administered in the Spring of 1997.  However, until a contract
  is awarded, no calendar will be established.
  
  Summer 1996 Literacy Passport Test Administration
  
  Dates for the summer 1996 LPT administration are July 22-27,
  1996.  The writing test is to be administered one day
  statewide, July 24, 1996.  Divisions may administer the
  reading or the mathematics tests before or after the writing
  test.  This schedule allows for arrival of test results in
  school divisions by September 26, 1996. Students who were
  classified as grade 6 or above at the close of the 1995-96
  school year are eligible to participate in the summer
  administration.  It is not intended that these students would
  be required to participate in the summer administration;
  rather, the summer administration is intended to provide an
  additional opportunity to take the LPT for those students who
  choose to participate.  With the exception of adult education
  students, there will be no charge to students choosing to take
  the LPT during the summer administration.  Adult education
  programs wishing to schedule their LPT aministration on a
  Saturday should plan for that to be Saturday, July 27, 1996.
  
  Students in grades 6-11 will respond to one writing prompt. 
  These students will respond to a different prompt as a make-up
  if they are absent on the statewide writing day.  All students
  who 1) have, or anticipate having, sufficient credits to
  graduate by August 31, 1996, and 2) are required to pass the
  LPT, and 3) have not yet passed the writing test, will respond
  to both the regular and  the make-up prompt.  All adult
  education students, regardless of whether they are slated to
  graduate in the Class of 1996,  will also respond to both
  prompts in the Summer 1996 administration.
  
      Fall 1996 Literacy Passport Test Administration
  
  The reading and mathematics tests for the LPT must be
  administered during the period October 1 through October 8,
  1996, to 1) seventh grade, eighth grade, and unclassified
  students who have not passed one or more tests during the
  previous test opportunities, 2) students in the seventh
  through twelfth grades who transferred into Virginia public
  schools after the February 1996 administration and 3) adult
  education students who are pursuing standard or advanced
  studies diplomas. Local divisions may establish reading,
  mathematics, and makeup dates to meet their local needs within
  the stated "window."  However, the writing test must be
  initially administered one day statewide, October 9, 1996. 
  Divisions are expected to schedule a full day of school on
  October 9, 1996, to accommodate this testing.  All students
  will respond to only one writing prompt on the Fall 1996 LPT. 
  This prompt will be the same statewide.  Students who are
  absent on the day of the statewide writing test will take a
  different prompt as a make-up.
  
  Adult education programs wishing to schedule their LPT
  administration on a single Saturday should plan for that to be
  Saturday, October 12, 1996.  As in previous administrations
  involving adult students, there will be a fee associated with
  their testing.
  
  Spring 1997 Literacy Passport Testing Administration
  
  The reading and mathematics tests for the LPT must be
  administered during the period February 3 through February 12,
  1997 to 1) all sixth grade students  2) seventh grade, eighth
  grade, and unclassified students who have not passed one or
  more tests during the previous test opportunities, 3) students
  in the seventh through twelfth grades who transferred into
  Virginia public schools after the Fall 1996 administration and
  4) adult education students pursuing a standard or advanced
  studies diploma. Local divisions may establish reading,
  mathematics, and makeup dates to meet their local needs within
  the stated "window."  However, the writing test must be
  initially administered one day statewide, February 13, 1997. 
  Divisions are expected to schedule a full day of school on
  February 13, 1997, to accommodate this testing.   
  
  All students enrolled in Virginia public schools who
  anticipate having sufficient credits to graduate by August 31,
  1997, who are required to pass the LPT and have not yet passed
  the writing test, will respond to both the regular and the
  make-up prompt.  All adult education students, regardless of
  whether they are slated to graduate in the Class of 1997, will
  also respond to both prompts in the Spring 1997
  administration.  All other students will respond to only one
  writing prompt.  Adult education programs wishing to schedule
  their LPT administration on a single Saturday should plan for
  that to be Saturday, February 15, 1997.  As in previous
  administrations involving adult students, there will be a fee
  associated with their testing.
  
  Spring 1997 Special Graduating Senior Administration of the
  LPT  
  
  A special administration for students slated to graduate by
  August 31, 1997 and transferring into Virginia public schools
  from out of state, private schools, or home instruction will
  be scheduled in late spring of 1997.  Specific details and
  dates are not yet available.  Information will be sent to you
  under separate cover once such decisions have been made.
  
      Summer 1997 Literacy Passport Test  Administration
  
  Specific dates and details for the Summer 1997 administration
  are not yet available.  Information will be sent to you under
  separate cover once such decisions have been made.
  
  Preliminary LPT Testing--Writing and Reading
  
  The scoring of the fourth-grade writing assessment can be
  performed by locally trained teachers or may be contracted at
  local expense.  Divisions planning to score locally may
  schedule the writing assessment at their convenience. 
  Divisions contracting for scoring must follow the schedule set
  by the contractor.  School divisions wishing to utilize the
  fourth-grade Degrees of Reading Power  (DRP) as a preliminary
  literacy test in reading at grade 4 should be prepared to pay
  for the scoring from local funds.  The Department will
  continue to supply divisions with the fourth-grade DRP
  booklets.
  
  Class of 1996 Students and the LPT
  
  Students in the Class of 1996 who have completed all
  requirements for a high school diploma except for passing the
  LPT may attempt the test(s) they have not passed in the Summer
  1996, Fall 1996, Spring 1997, or Summer 1997 LPT
  administrations.
  
  Minimum Competency Test Information
  
  The tests for the Minimum Competency Program may be
  administered to any members of the Classes of 1981 through
  1988 who completed all requirements for a high school diploma
  except for passing these tests.  Such persons are entitled to
  attempt the test(s) one time during the year.  Requests for
  such testing may be made at any time during the year, but
  should provide two weeks notice to the Virginia Department of
  Education.
  
  Questions
  
  Questions concerning these testing programs should be
  addressed to Ms. Shelley Loving-Ryder or Ms. Cameron Harris at
  (804) 225-2107.
  
  WCBJr/mwc
  
  Attachment:  This memo and its attachment will be sent to
               the superintendent's office.