DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 52
March 7, 2008
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
|
The Department of
Education has recently received several inquiries regarding local division
policies for students changing course schedules prior to the administration of
the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. In response to these inquiries, this
memorandum is intended to serve as a reminder of guidance previously provided
in INTERPRETIVE
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 4, June 15, 2001. This memo stated
in part:
It has come to our attention that there are practices in some local school divisions that may give an impression of improprieties with the Standards of Learning end-of-course assessments and the requirements for school accountability.
Students in middle and secondary schools who are enrolled in courses for high school credit for which there are end-of-course tests are expected to take the tests during the semester in which they are expected to complete the courses. INTERPRETIVE SUPTS. MEMO NO. 2, July 24, 1998, which stated that school divisions may develop and implement policies regarding changing schedules or dropping and adding courses for middle school students who take courses for high school credit, is equally applicable to policies regarding changing of schedules or adding/dropping courses by secondary school students.
The
development and implementation of such policies is the responsibility of local
school boards. In developing such policies, please avoid giving the impression
that the requirements of the assessment and accountability programs are being
circumvented. One such policy would be one that would allow the student to
change his/her schedule or drop a course just before the test is scheduled to
be administered.
Should
you have questions, please contact the Office of Test Administration, Scoring,
and Reporting at student_assessment@doe.virginia.gov
or (804) 225-2107.
BKCJr/SLR/cd