COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 159

August 12, 2005

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Standards of Learning Testing Requirements for Accelerated Students

As Virginia implements annual testing in reading and mathematics for grades 3-8 in 2005-2006, school division personnel have questioned the testing requirements for accelerated students who are being instructed at a higher grade level. Please be advised that accelerated students should take the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests for the grade level of the content received in instruction. For example, a third grade student who is receiving instruction in the grade four SOL in mathematics should take the fourth grade mathematics test. Students who cover content from two grade levels in one year should take the SOL test for the higher grade level. For example, students who receive instruction in the mathematics standards for grades 7 and 8 in one year should take the grade 8 SOL mathematics test.

Finally, students below the ninth grade who are enrolled in a high school credit-bearing course with a required end-of-course SOL test will not be required to take the grade-level test in which they are enrolled. For example, it is no longer a requirement that grade 8 students who are enrolled in an Algebra I course and who have not taken the grade 8 mathematics test in a previous grade take this test as eighth graders. Since there is no end-of-course test required for the Algebra I, Part I course, students in the eighth grade who are enrolled in Algebra I, Part I and who have not taken the grade 8 mathematics test will take the grade 8 test.

Questions about testing requirements for accelerated students should be addressed to the staff of the Division of Assessment and Reporting by phone at (804) 225-2102 or by e-mail at darfax@doe.virginia.gov.

JLD/SLR/cd