Officials at some of Virginia's historic attractions are voicing their opposition to a proposal to eliminate standardized history and social-science tests for third-grade students.

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's president, Colin Campbell, is among those urging the Department of Education to keep the third-grade history Standards of Learning exam. Campbell says dropping it would send the wrong message that history, American history in particular, isn't a priority for elementary education.

Virginia Historical Society officials also say they're against the measure. The state Board of Education plans to vote next week on whether to drop the test, starting in the upcoming school year. The measure comes in response to a request from school superintendents for the state to identify ways to reduce their testing load, particularly in subject exams not required by the federal government.