August 29, 2003

INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

FROM:

Jo Lynne DeMary

Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:

Implementation of the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and Blueprints

Full implementation of the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning will begin in the fall of the 20032004 school year. At this time, the History and Social Science Curriculum Framework Crosswalk should be discarded. Teachers should be informed that, effective with the fall administration of the Standards of Learning tests, the entire 2001 History and Social Science Curriculum Framework content would be reflected in all assessment items including field test items.

Technical edits to the 2001 History and Social Science Curriculum Framework have recently been made. A list of those edits is attached and may be found on the departments website at: http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Instruction/sol.html

In addition, new blueprints are in effect. These blueprints are available at the following address: http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/Assessment/HistoryBlueprints03/. Please review the new blueprints with teachers as they reflect a shift in the focus of some tests. For example, twentieth-century content is now emphasized in various courses. Teachers will need to adjust their pacing to ensure adequate coverage of the newly emphasized content.

For further information, please contact Beverly M. Thurston (bthursto@mail.vak12ed.edu), history and social science specialist, Office of Middle Instructional Services, at (804) 225-2893; Colleen Bryant (cbryant@mail.vak12ed.edu),

history and social science specialist, Office of Secondary Instructional Services, at (804) 786-4640; or Betsy Barton (bbarton@mail.vak12ed.edu), history and social science specialist, Office of Elementary Instructional Services at (804) 225-3454.

JLD/BMT/yba