COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 79

June 7, 2002

INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

 

FROM:

Jo Lynne DeMary

Superintendent of Public Instruction

 

SUBJECT:

Review of Additional Substitute Tests Approved for Verified Credit

 

The Board of Education, at its May 23 meeting, approved the IB Geography Test as an additional test that may be used for the purpose of awarding verified credit in accordance with the following provisions of Regulations Establishing Standards of Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia.

 

...The Board may from time to time approve additional tests for the purpose of awarding verified credit. Such additional tests, which enable students to earn verified units of credit, must, at a minimum, meet the following criteria:

 

  1. The test must be standardized and graded independently of the school or school division in which the test is given;
  2. The test must be knowledge-based;
  3. The test must be administered on a multi-state or international basis; and
  4. To be counted in a specific academic area, the test must measure content that incorporates or exceeds the SOL content in the course for which verified credit is given. (8 VAC 20-131-110.B)

 

A student may utilize additional assessments for earning verified credit in computer science, technology, or other areas as prescribed by the Board in 8 VAC 20-131-110.B. (8 VAC 20-131-50.B.4, Footnote 5 and C.2, Footnote 5)

 

In addition, the Board of Education approved cut scores for the Cambridge and ACT tests. Attachment A to this memo lists all tests approved as SOL substitute tests for verified credit and student-selected tests for verified credit. The additional test and newly adopted cut scores are in bold print.

 

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Dr. Patricia Wright, assistant superintendent for instruction (mailto:pwright@mail.vak12ed.edu) at (804) 225-2979 or Shelley Loving-Ryder, assistant superintendent for assessment and reporting (mailto:sryder@mail.vak12ed.edu) at 225-2102.

 

JLD/SLR/jc

 

Attachment

 

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/inf079a.pdf