COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120



 
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 173
September 22, 2000

INFORMATIONAL
 
TO: Division Superintendents
FROM: Jo Lynne DeMary
Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT: Designation of Race or Ethnicity by Public Elementary School Students

 
Senate Bill 224, enacted by the 2000 General Assembly, requires that public elementary school students not be required to disclose their race or ethnic status on tests or other assessment instruments. However, school personnel are not prohibited from obtaining such information from student records and placing it on the test or assessment instrument. School division personnel involved in testing students at the elementary level should make plans to comply with this code section as soon as possible. The code section is noted below for your reference.

§22.1-4.2. Designation of race or ethnicity by public elementary school students.

School board employees administering tests or other assessment instruments shall not require any public elementary school students being tested to disclose their race or ethnicity on such tests. Nothing in this section shall, however, prevent relevant school division personnel from obtaining such information from the students’ permanent record and placing such information on such test or assessment instrument.

 If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Division of Assessment and Reporting at (804) 225-2107.

JLD/CMH/atb