The state Department of Education is withdrawing a proposal to discontinue third-grade history and social-science accountability tests, after vocal protests from history advocates.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia Wright said Friday she has informed the Board of Education that she is withdrawing the plan to eliminate the third-grade history Standards of Learning tests. The board was to vote next week on the measure, which caused a furor among those who said cutting the third-grade test would signal the devaluing of history education in early elementary school.

The proposal came 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.