COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 30

March 7, 2003

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Literacy and Numeracy Assessments for the Modified Standard Diploma

At its meeting on February 26, the Board of Education amended the guidelines governing the literacy and numeracy assessments for the Modified Standard Diploma to permit expedited retests and to allow students pursuing this diploma to substitute higher level Standards of Learning tests for the 8^th grade English (Reading, Literature, and Research) and mathematics tests. The new guidelines are as follows:

Beginning with the ninth-grade class of 2000-01, those students who pursue the Modified Standard Diploma shall be required to pass the 8^th grade Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in both English (Reading, Literature, and Research) and mathematics to meet the literacy and numeracy requirements for this diploma. Students who are in the 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th grades in the school year 2000-01 shall pass the Literacy Passport Tests (LPT) prescribed by the Board to meet the literacy and numeracy requirements for this diploma. Students may substitute a higher-level Standards of Learning test (i.e., end-of-course English [reading], Algebra I, Algebra II, or Geometry) for the 8^th grade Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in English (Reading, Literature, and Research) and mathematics or other substitute tests approved by the Board. In addition, students pursuing the Modified Standard Diploma shall have opportunities for an expedited retest on the 8^th grade tests in the same manner as prescribed in these guidelines for students earning verified credit.

The new guidelines are effective immediately. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Accreditation by phone at (804) 786-1062 or by e-mail to mailto:accredit@mail.vak12ed.edu.

JDL/cwf