COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 68

April 18, 2003

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	New History and Social Science Standards of Learning Tests

As noted in Superintendents Memorandum No. 10, February 21, 2003, legislation in the 2000 General Assembly required the development of three separate tests measuring the Standards of Learning addressed by the cumulative history test currently administered in either grade 7 or 8. These new tests are being field tested in selected school divisions in May and June 2003. The 2003 General Assembly included funding for the implementation of these new tests in the budget for 2003-2004. The new tests will be implemented beginning with the spring 2004 administration of the Standards of Learning tests.

The three new tests will cover content taught in United States History to 1877, United States History: 1877 to the present, and Civics and Economics. Blueprints for these new tests have been developed and can be accessed and downloaded from http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/. For further information on the implementation of these new tests, please see Superintendents Memorandum No. 159, November 15, 2002.

The cumulative history test, currently administered in grade 7 or 8, will also be available in 2003-2004.

Should you have questions or need additional information, please contact Mr. Don Marsh (dmarsh@mail.vak12ed.edu), at (804) 225-2232.

JLD/SLR/jc