When are students tested? 1
3rd grade
5th grade
6th grade
8th grade
11th grade
Certain high school courses
What subjects are tested? 1
Language
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Science
History
Computer / Technology
What types of questions are used? 1
Multiple choice
Direct writing (writing prompt)
How are test results used? 1
High school graduation (exit requirement)
Student diagnosis
Student promotion
Identification of students at risk
Improvement of instruction
Program evaluation
School performance reporting
What tests are used? 1
Standards of Learning Assessments (grades 3, 5, 8, and certain high
school courses)
Stanford Achievement Test, 9th Edition (grades 3, 5, 8, 11)
Literacy Passport Test (grade 6, and above until pass)
Are students with disabilities exempt?
2, 3
Exemptions given to students whose instructional programs have not
and will not include learning objectives on which the tests are based,
as determined by IEP teams.
Documentation that ramifications of exclusion have been explained to
and agreed upon by parents is required.
What accommodations are available so
that students with disabilities can participate? 2
Accommodations available as recommended by IEP team, based on what
is generally used during instruction (with some restrictions).
How are scores of students with disabilities
reported? 2
School, district, and statewide reports both combine ("aggregate")
and separate ("disaggregate") scores of students with and without disabilities.
Footnotes:
1 Source: PEER Project Survey to expand and update information from Annual Survey of State Student Assessment Programs: Data on 1995-96 Statewide Student Assessment Programs. (Fall 1996). Council of Chief State School Officers.
2 Source: PEER Project review of state policy documents. Documents provided by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). Information confirmed and updated by the PEER Project through direct communication with state officials.
3 NOTE: The IDEA Amendments of 1997 require that all students be included in statewide assessments.
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
804-225-2402
804-371-8796 Fax
www.pen.k12.va.us/Anthology/VDOE
Contact: Douglas Cox, Special Education Directory
dougcox@mail.vak12ed.edu
Cam Harris, State Assessment Directory
804-225-2102
Virginia Parent Center on Disability
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center
10340 Democracy Lane, Suite 206
FairFax, VA 22030-2518
703-691-7826
1-800-869-6782 in VA only
703-691-8148 Fax
peatcinc@aol.com
www.peatc.org/
Contact: Cheri Takemoto