Lawmakers oppose scrapping SOL history test for third-graders

From the Democratic chairman of the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus to the Republican majority leader of the House of Delegates, there's bipartisan bewilderment over a proposal to scrap the state's Standards of Learning history test for third-graders.

The alliance of lawmakers joins an already vocal opposition to the Virginia Department of Education's proposal to scrap the test.

The history and social science SOL assessment for third-graders includes material from kindergarten through third grade, and covers basic economics and geography lessons as well as the contributions of American Indians, George Washington, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson, among others.

"If this area is not tested, third-grade teachers will be less likely to cover this curriculum, which addresses Americans of great accomplishment from European, African and Indian descent," Del. Kenneth C. Alexander, D-Norfolk, chairman of the black caucus, wrote to Virginia Board of Education members.

"If this test is eliminated, the first exposure students may have to African-American history will be the painful subject of slavery taught in the fourth grade," he added.

That point was raised again yesterday in a House Appropriations Committee meeting, where legislators peppered State Superintendent of Instruction Patricia I. Wright with questions about the factors driving her proposal.

She cited many.

First, erasing the exam would save the state roughly $380,000 a year, as well as relieve some of the testing burdens in schools. Four other SOL history tests are given during the elementary and middle grades, and Wright said the material in the third-grade history exam would be woven into reading tests.

Further, the superintendent told committee members yesterday that the third-grade history assessment is not required by the federal government, as opposed to another test that state educators are in the process of developing.

And that exam -- a modified test for a segment of students with disabilities -- could better position the state to win part of an additional $5 billion in stimulus money that will be awarded to states most aggressively trying to improve student achievement.

Board of Education members, some of whom have reacted coolly to the proposal, are expected to vote on whether to eliminate the exam at their June 25 meeting. Concerned lawmakers will have another vetting session with Wright -- the public is invited -- before then. The House Education Committee will meet at 10 a.m. on June 22 at the General Assembly Building.

Del. M. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights, told Wright yesterday that he has been teaching for 27 years and remembers when history and government "was just the stepchild." He wants to see the instruction continued.

"Once you start chipping at that," he said, "there's a real feeling that once again it will be on the backburner."

Contact Olympia Meola at (804) 649-6812 or .