COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 37

February 17, 2006

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Acting Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	History and Social Science Tests Based on 1995 Standards of Learning to be Phased Out

As communicated in Superintendents Memorandum Number 60, dated April 20, 2001, the Virginia Board of Education adopted revised history and social science Standards of Learning on March 23, 2001. Testing of these 2001 history/social science standards began during the 2003-2004 school year. However, students who began their study of history under the 1995 standards and needed to retest to earn verified credits for graduation have been allowed to continue to take tests that measure the 1995 standards.

Beginning with the spring 2007 administration, tests for the 1995 history standards will no longer be offered. All students must take history tests based on the 2001 history and social science standards.

Should you have any questions, please contact Don H. Marsh, II, lead history assessment specialist, Division of Assessment and Reporting, at Don.Marsh@doe.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 225-2232.

PIW/SLR/jc