COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

July 15, 2011

TO: Division Superintendents

FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT: Passing Scores Adopted by the Board of Education for the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program in History/Social Science and Writing

The chart below lists the cut scores for the proficiency levels of proficient and advanced for the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) in history/social science and writing adopted by the Virginia Board of Education at its June 23, 2011, meeting.

            VAAP History/Social Science and Writing Achievement Level Cut Scores

Content Area	Proficient	Advanced
History/Social Science Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12	9 out of 16	15 out of 16
Writing Grade 5, Grade 8 and  Grades 9-12	4 out of 8	7 out of 8

These cut scores will be applicable for VAAP collections of evidence based on the 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and the 2002 English Standards of Learning beginning with the spring 2011 administration.

If you have questions, please contact the student assessment staff by e-mail at Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 225-2102.

PIW/SLR/cd