INFORMATIONAL

  Contract Award for Summer Administration of the Literacy
  Passport Test (LPT)
  
     The Department of Education has awarded a contract to
  Data Recognition Corporation (DRC) for administration,
  scoring, and reporting services for the summer
  administrations of the Literacy Passport Test (LPT).  The
  Department will provide DRC with information about test
  materials needs for the summer 1996 administration as soon
  as this information has been received from all school
  divisions.  Test Materials Request Forms for the summer 1996
  administration were sent to division test directors on May
  13,1996, via Testing Memo No. 192.  These forms are due to
  the Division of Assessment and Reporting by June 7, 1996.
  
  Grade Classification Changes Resulting for Administration of
  the Summer LPT
  
     The Department of Education has received a number of
  questions from school divisions about when grade
  classification changes resulting from the summer
  administration of the LPT will be made.  At its February
  23,1995 meeting the Board of Education affirmed the policy
  that grade classification changes based on LPT status will
  be made on a semester-by-semester basis.  Based on this
  policy, grade classification changes resulting from the
  summer administration would not be made until the second
  semester since results of the summer administration will not
  be received until after the first semester has already
  begun.
  
  Division Superintendents
  Page 2
  June 7, 1996
  
  
  Data Collection on Students Not Graduating Because They Have
  Not Passed the LPT
  
     The Department of Education is collecting information
  from school divisions regarding those students not receiving
  a standard or advanced studies diploma solely because they
  have not passed all three parts of the LPT.  This data
  collection will occur in two phases.  The first data
  collection form, which is attached, asks only for 1) the
  number of students who will not receive a standard or
  advanced studies diploma because they have not passed all
  parts of the LPT and 2) the parts of the test not yet
  passed.  The second, detailed data collection will seek
  information regarding the characteristics of these students. 
  The information requests will include, but not be limited
  to, other academic information, special services provided,
  LEP status, special education status, mobility, and Literacy
  Development Plans.  The data collection timetable is as
  follows:
  
     June 7    School division sent request for information
               regarding only the number of such students 
               and the test not passed (attached)
  
     June 17   Above-mentioned information due to the Department
  
     June 14   Detailed data collection forms sent to school divisions 
  
     July 17   Detailed data collection forms due to the Department
  
     Every effort will be made to make this important data
  collection as efficient as possible.  We thank you, in
  advance, for assisting us in this request.
  
     Questions about the summer administration of the LPT
  should be directed to Shelley Loving-Ryder at (804) 225-2936
  or Cam Harris at (804) 225-2913.  Questions about data
  collection should be directed to Judy Singh at (804) 786-1390,
  Dan Keeling at (804) 371-2769, or Cam Harris at the
  above number.
  
  WCBJr/mwc
  
  Attachment:  This memo and its attachment will be sent to
               the superintendent's office.