INFORMATIONAL

  Seniors who anticipate having the required credits to
  graduate by August 31, 1998, and who transfer from out of
  state, private schools, or home instruction into Virginia
  public schools after the Spring 1998 Literacy Passport Test
  (LPT) administration will most likely not have had an
  opportunity to take the LPT.  Yet, these students are held
  to the LPT requirement for receiving the standard or
  advanced studies diploma in Virginia.  A reminder as to whom
  the LPT graduation requirement applies is in Attachment A to
  this memo.

  According to Informational Superintendent's Memorandum No.
  153, November 17, 1995, these students should be afforded
  the opportunity to receive their diplomas from their sending
  schools.  Should this not be possible, these students will
  be provided one opportunity to take the test prior to the
  close of the school year.  This special testing will be only
  for those seniors entering Virginia public schools from out
  of state, private schools, or home instruction, who are
  expected to have the required credits to graduate by August
  31, 1998, and will have not been tested on the LPT.

  Students will be eligible to take only those tests that they
  did not attempt during the Spring 1998 administration.  For
  example, a senior who transfers into Virginia public schools
  in time to take the writing test in February but too late to
  take the reading and the mathematics tests would be eligible
  to take only the mathematics and the reading tests prior to
  the end of the 1997-98 school year.

  Division Directors of Testing will be responsible for
  contacting the Department of Education to arrange a testing
  opportunity for the students.  The Department will handle
  the testing of these students on a case-by-case basis.  A
  materials request form and more detailed instructions for
  conducting this special testing will be sent to each
  Division Director of Testing on March 13, 1998.

  Questions regarding these special testing arrangements or
  the LPT in general, may be directed to the staff of the
  Division of Assessment and Reporting at (804) 225-2102.

  CMH/aw

  Attachment:  A hard copy of this memo and its attachment
               will be sent to the superintendent's office