The Standards of Learning testing began this week in most of the Harrisonburg city schools.

Last year, the school system challenged the federal government by questioning the fairness of having ESL students take the SOL test in English when they can't read or write in English.

This year, the school gave low-level ESL students the option of the Virginia grade level assessment, which is a portfolio of their work for the whole school year.

"So even though the testing is done through a portfolio, a collection of evidence, that a teacher can collect throughout the year, it is still based on grade level work. So students still have to demonstrate the same SOL proficiency as any other student, and it still has to be on grade level," says Dr. Mike Loso, the Assistant Superintendent.

The school system will grade about 220 of these portfolios this year.