INFORMATIONAL

  Seniors who anticipate having the required credits to
  graduate by  August 31, 1999, and who transfer from out of
  state, or private schools, or home instruction into Virginia
  public schools after the spring 1999 Literacy Passport Test
  (LPT) administration may 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, or private schools, or home instruction, who are
  expected to have the required credits to graduate by August
  31, 1999, and will not have been tested on the LPT.

  Students will be eligible to take only those tests that they
  did not attempt during the spring 1999 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 1998-99 school year.

  Division directors of testing will be responsible for
  contacting the Department of Education to arrange a testing
  opportunity for the students.  Test opportunities for these
  students will be handled 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 12, 1999.

  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.

  PDS/aw
  Attachment:  A hard copy of this memo and its attach-
               ment will be sent to the superintendent's
               office.


  Attachment A
  SUPTS. MEMO. NO. 55
  March 12, 1999


  A Reminder as to Whom the LPT Graduation Requirement Applies:

  In 1998 the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation
  phasing out the Literacy Passport Test (LPT).  Students in the
  class of 2003 will be the last class required to pass the LPT
  to earn a standard or advanced studies diploma.  This
  requirement to pass the LPT extends to all regular education,
  special education, and limited English proficient students
  graduating through the class of 2003.

  The LPT requirement currently extends to all adult education
  students.  Any adult student receiving a standard or advanced
  studies diploma is required to meet the LPT requirement for
  the diploma.  Adult students participating in an external
  diploma program are granted a standard diploma and thus are
  also required to meet the LPT requirement before the diploma
  can be awarded.

  Adult students, who are not enrolled in an adult education
  program, and are not eligible to be counted in the average
  daily membership (ADM) of a school division, must be treated
  as adult education students for the purposes of the LPT and
  must, therefore, pass the LPT to be eligible for a standard or
  advanced studies diploma.  (Please see Informational
  Superintendent's Memorandum No. 109, June 7, 1996, for more
  information about which students may be counted in ADM).