ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 26, 1996 TAG: 9604260057
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Virginia schoolchildren will be tested on the state's new academic standards in English, math, science and history in four grades at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
The state Board of Education voted Thursday to test children in grades three, five, eight and 11 on the standards that were adopted last year. The testing also will cover computer and technology skills in the fifth and eighth grades.
Originally, state education officials hoped to test in grades three, five, seven, nine and 11. But the General Assembly provided funds to test in only four grades.
The decision on the grades came after a closed session of the board, which was meeting in Roanoke for its annual planning retreat.
Michelle Easton, board president, said the members decided to stick with the original plan to test in grades three, five and 11. The board chose to include the eighth grade because it is the final year in middle school and seems to be an appropriate time for testing, she said.
The state Department of Education will seek proposals soon from consultants to develop, administer, score and report the test results.
Based on a resolution approved by the board, the tests will measure students' achievement in acquiring and applying the knowledge included in the English, math, science, history and technology standards of learning.
The standards are the benchmarks of skills and knowledge that each student must master at each grade level. The standards are the cornerstone of Gov. George Allen's effort to improve education, and they will affect every school and student.
The drafting of the history standards was controversial, with some educators charging that Allen allies tried to slant them to a conservative ideology.
State education officials expect to begin field testing the new standards on a pilot basis in 1997, but no scores will be made public before 1998.
Under the plan approved Thursday, the test scores will be reported at the student, school, school division and state levels.
Board members said the testing format will be primarily machine-scoreable test items to ensure reliable results.
Testing at the selected grade levels will cover materials in preceding grades. Children in third grade, for instance, will be tested on knowledge and skills mandated for kindergarten through grade three.
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