Superintendent's Memo #228-09

COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

August 21, 2009

TO: Division Superintendents

FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT: State Standards of Learning Writing & Grades 3 through 8 Testing Schedule for 2010-2011
DUE DATE: August 21, 2009

The state testing program schedule for the Standards of Learning (SOL) Writing tests for the 2010-2011 school year is available on the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Web site http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/test_administration/testing_calendars/2010-2011.pdf . Please inform all personnel of these testing dates so that other activities may be scheduled without conflicts. The following information will assist you in preparing for the 2010-2011 school year.

Fall 2010 SOL Writing Tests

The grade 8 and end-of-course (EOC) SOL writing tests for the fall 2010 administration are scheduled as follows:

• The multiple-choice component of the writing tests will be administered on either Monday, October 18, or Tuesday, October 19, 2010.
• The short paper component of the tests must be administered statewide on Wednesday, October 20, 2010. Students who are absent on the date of the statewide short paper component will respond to a different writing prompt during the make up period.

• Writing test will be given the alternate prompt on a later date, but not later than November 5, 2010.

Spring 2011 SOL Writing Tests

The grades 5, 8, and EOC SOL writing tests for the spring 2011 administration are scheduled as follows:

• The multiple-choice component of the writing tests will be administered on either Monday, March 7, or Tuesday, March 8, 2011.
• The short paper component must be administered statewide on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. Students who are absent on the date of the statewide short paper component will respond to a different writing prompt during the make-up period.

• Writing test will be given the alternate prompt on a later date, but not later than March 25, 2011.

Pearson and the VDOE will select divisions to administer the alternate writing prompts for equating purposes using a multi-year rotation. School divisions selected as alternate-prompt divisions for fall 2010 and those selected for spring 2011 will be notified under separate cover.

• Fall alternate-prompt divisions will be asked to schedule the administration of the short paper component for Grade 8 and EOC on Thursday, October 21, 2010.
• Spring alternate prompt divisions will be asked to schedule the administration of the short paper component for grades 5, 8, and EOC on Thursday, March 10, 2011.

Spring 2011 SOL Non-Writing Tests for Grades 3 through 8

While school divisions will continue to have flexibility in setting their own testing windows for EOC testing, superintendents must choose one of the three windows listed below for divisionwide testing in grades 3 through 8. Answer documents for paper/pencil testing are to be shipped on the last day of the selected schedule.

The following windows for SOL testing in grades 3 through 8 have been established for spring 2011.

Division Directors of Testing select the division’s testing window when entering spring 2011 participation counts in PearsonAccess.

Summer 2011 SOL Writing Tests

The EOC SOL writing test for the summer 2011 administration is scheduled as follows:

• The multiple-choice component of the English: Writing test will be administered on either Monday, July 18, or Tuesday, July 19, 2011.
• The short paper component of the EOC English: Writing test must be administered statewide on Wednesday, July 20, 2011.
• Graduating seniors who are eligible for two opportunities to take the writing test will be given the alternate prompt on a later date, but not later than July 29, 2011.

Answer documents for the EOC English: Writing test must be shipped for scoring by July 29, 2011.

Questions concerning the state testing program schedule should be directed to the student assessment staff by e-mail at Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 225-2107.

PIW / SLR / cb