INFORMATIONAL

The purpose of this memo is to provide you with additional
information on appropriate types of calculators for use with the 
Stanford 9 achievement test. 

As stated in Superintendent's Informational Memo. No. 21, dated
February 7, 1997, four-function calculators may be used on the
Mathematics Problem Solving subtest at grades 5 and 8 and on the
Mathematics subtest at grade 11.  Calculators may not be used on
the Mathematics Procedures subtest at grades 5 and 8.

Any four-function calculator (defined for use on the Stanford 9
as a calculator having only add, subtract, multiply, and divide
functions) and calculators having percent and square root
functions may be used by students taking the Stanford 9.

Calculators having any additional functions (e.g., sine, cosine,
fraction to decimal, decimal to fraction), calculators having
algebraic operating systems (AOS), and graphing calculators
should not be used by students when taking the Stanford 9.

Next school year (1997-98), Harcourt Brace Educational
Measurement will provide four-function calculators as part of the
Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessment Program. These calculators
will arrive in school divisions well in advance of the
administrations of the SOL assessments and the Stanford 9 and 

Division Superintendents
Page 2
February 14, 1997


will remain in the school division after the tests have been 
administered. School divisions may elect to use these calculators
with the Stanford 9, beginning in 1998.

As stated in Superintendent's Informational Memo. No. 21, dated
February 7, 1997, Harcourt Brace Educational Measurement has
conducted a special research study of the effects of the use of
calculators on scores on the Stanford 9.  The results of this
study showed virtually no difference in performance between those
who used four-function calculators and those who did not.  Given
this result, the use of calculators will not provide an advantage
for one group of students over another group that did not use
calculators.

Please bear in mind that four-function calculators are allowed
only on the Mathematics Problem Solving subtest at grades 5 and 8
and the Mathematics subtest at grade 11.  Calculators are not
allowed on the Mathematics Procedures subtest.  Calculators would
very likely make a difference on a mathematics procedures subtest
consisting of computational-type questions.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Division
of Assessment and Reporting at (804) 225-2102. You may direct
your questions to any of the following staff members: Cam Harris,
Shelley Loving-Ryder, Dan Keeling, Kevin Hughes, or Judy Singh.

RTL/mwc