|
SUPTS. MEMO. NO. 184
October 8, 1999 |
| TO: | Division Superintendents |
| FROM: | Paul D. Stapleton Superintendent of Public Instruction |
| SUBJECT: | SOL History and Social Science Testing in Grades Five and Eight |
Many school divisions have elected to administer the grade five SOL history and social science test to grade four students and/or the grade eight SOL history and social science test to grade seven students. This poses an issue when students who have failed these tests move to the subsequent grade level where the SOL tests are traditionally slated to be administered. The decision regarding early administration of the SOL social studies test in grades four and seven may unfairly penalize school divisions if students who move to the subsequent grades are required to re-take any of these SOL history and social science tests they have failed in the previous year. In order to be fair, please be advised that students in school divisions that elect to give the grade five history test to grade four students, and/or the grade eight history test to grade seven students do not have to be retested in subsequent grades on the SOL history and social science tests if they fail the test. If you have questions regarding this, please call the Division of Assessment and Reporting at (804) 225-2102. PDS/CMH/jc .