Superintendent predicts 3rd grade history SOL will remain

State Superintendent of Instruction Patricia I. Wright told lawmakers this morning that she is “very comfortable” that the Virginia Board of Education will keep the 3rd grade history assessment.

After bipartisan disapproval of Wright’s proposal to save money and cut down on testing by scrapping the 3rd grade history and social science Standard of Learning exam, Wright on Friday withdrew the idea.
Despite that withdrawal, the House of Delegates Education Committee met this morning to discuss the issue and hear from the public.

After Wright addressed the panel, representatives from some education advocacy groups spoke about the importance of the test.

The Board of Education is scheduled to formally vote Thursday on whether to keep the test, which covers material taught from kindergarten through third grade.