61. Assessments Information teaching to the test Controversial state standards is based on professional judgement-standards-based reforms various prior theories of learning and methods http://www.people.virginia.edu/~ehw2d/assessmentsinformation.html

Assessments Information Role of Classroom Assessment: Classroom assessment is integral to learning, crucial for several reasons: to determine a student's pre-existing base of knowledge or experience with a particular subject, to determine if the mode(s) of teaching the material is (are) sufficient and effective, and to determine at the end of the learning experiences whether the student gained the desired amount and fluency with the information. A formal definition by W. James Popham, in Classroom Assessment: What Teachers Need To Know , states, "Educational assessment is a formal attempt to determine student's status with resepct to educational variables of interest." Within the idea of formal attempts, assessment may take many forms, among them various types of tests and quizzes, projects, homework, portfolios, and assignments. Assessment includes all activities that teachers and students undertake to get information that can be used diagnostically to alter teaching and learning. Under this definition, assessment encompasses teacher observation, classroom discussion, and analysis of student work, including homework and tests. Whatever the form, the need for classroom assessment is clear.

62. Teacher Resources Each project links to National Science and NCTM math standards. teaching learning exemplary sites for teaching and learning on the web; Totware - An index http://www.arlington.k12.va.us/schools/barrett/links/teach.html

Arlington Public Schools Instructional Technology Coordinator Curriculum Kids Parents WebActivities Teacher Resources Search Technology News Reference ... Barrett Teacher Resources SOLs Math Science Language Arts ... General Education Sites Don't forget to check out the Web Activities and Curriculum Links Pages Standards Of Learning Virginia Standards Of Learning - The SOLs on the Internet Virginia SOL Tests - The SOL tests from 2000 have been released and are available in pdf format. Virginia DOE Home Page Commonwealth of Knowledge - Find a lesson plan or submit yours for recertification points. Math Harcourt School - Math Advantage National Council of Teacher's of Math Figure This! Math Challenges Science APS Science Department Language Arts PALS Activities That's A Fact Jack! Read - These CDs review literature using an interactive game format. Titles at Barrett Publisher page Social Studies APS Social Studies Department Study About Geography - Prep for SOL test Daily Press SOLutions - Daily cartoons about VA SOL related topics. Check out the archives for elementary topics. Technology Integration APS Instructional Technology Integration - Sue has links to sites and describes software available in the Demo lab Inspiration - Webcast by APS ITC Dan Redding - provides great introduction to Inspiration and integration ideas in all core subjects. the first link uses QuickTime which you can use from school. If you are at home, you may want to use the

63. VIRGINIA'S READING RESOURCES Writing Test Teacher Resource Notebook Resources for teaching writing and preparingstudents for Virginia’s standards of learning writing assessments http://richmond.k12.va.us/readamillion/virginiasreadresour.htm

Sample the best of what Virginia has to offer in books and materials for teaching the reading SOL. Booklists and Reading Incentive Programs Jefferson Cup Awards Outstanding historical books for children and young adults, awarded annually by the Library of Virginia since 1983. Read Aloud Virginia Organization sponsored by the Library of Virginia to promote reading in families and schools Virginia Young Readers Reading incentive program sponsored by the Virginia State Reading Association. General information. Virginia Young Readers A website created by Richmond Public Schools featuring the nominated books for 2002-2003 with curriculum links and lesson plans. Instructional Resources for Teachers A Commonwealth of Knowledge Lesson plans and resources for teaching the SOL established by the First Lady of Virginia. Governor's Best Practice Centers Information from the Virginia Department of Education about the Governor’s Best Practice Centers.

64. Testimony Of Ms. Jane Massey-Wilson Consultants have worked with teachers on teaching the standards of learning andon interpreting and With the new standards of learning assessment, we are http://edworkforce.house.gov/hearings/106th/ecyf/esea6999/massey-wilson.htm

Prepared for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce ACADEMIC ACCOUNTABILITY IN WEST POINT PUBLIC SCHOOLS REASONS FOR SUCCESS Jane Massey-Wilson, Ed. D. Superintendent West Point Public Schools West Point, VA 23181 June 1999 Mr. Castle, Members of the Committee Thank you for inviting me to speak on "Academic Accountability." It is a topic near and dear to my heart, and I appreciate the work you are doing to improve academic accountability in our schools. I come to you today in support of high academic standards, high expectations, and accountability in public schools. Our students deserve no less. American businesses deserve no less. Our children are our most valuable resource for the future. We want to make certain that our students are competitive in the state, the nation, the world. We keep hearing from the business world that students are not prepared in the basics and that businesses are spending large amounts of money teaching recent high school graduates to read and write. We keep hearing from businesses that we need to teach the core academics, and they will train employees in specifics of the job. We must make certain that our students are well educated and have a competitive edge. I support the Virginia K-12 Education Reform to raise student achievement.

65. Standards Of Learning, Standards Of Accreditation aligned with the standards of learning and we and the impact of these standards onevery work ethic, tremendous students, outstanding teaching, strong parent http://www.henrico.k12.va.us/GeneralInformation/solsoa.html

3820 Nine Mile Road Richmond, Virginia 23223-0420 Virginia Standards of Learning and Standards of Accreditation A Guide for Parents History of Virginia's new education standards In 1994, Governor George Allen charged the state legislators to do four things: establish rigorous Standards of Learning (SOL) for students develop a plan of action for meeting the new standards hold school systems accountable for the performance of their students Henrico County Public Schools has embraced and is well on the way to implementing these new standards of student performance and school accountability. What's the purpose of these NEW standards? In an effort to improve public education in Virginia, legislators are eager to hold students and schools accountable for academic performance. Students, no matter where they live in Virginia, must pass the same content tests for core subjects. This concept will ensure consistency in the academic preparation of all students upon graduation from high school. When will my child take the tests?

66. NewsHour Extra: SOL Testing - September 12, 1999 the testThat's how many students feel about the standards of learning (SOL are designedto measure how well teachers are teaching and students are learning. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec99/sol.html

NewsHour Links: Are you ready for 12th grade? Take the SOL test Are the tests working? Should failing students be forced to repeat a grade The Clinton administration proposes requiring schools to meet tougher standards to receive federal funds. Pass or Fail Too tough a test. That's how many students feel about the Standards of Learning (SOL) program in Virginia. SOL tests are designed to measure how well teachers are teaching and students are learning. Students who don't pass, don't graduate. For some students, the possibility of having to repeat a grade is scary. "It's a really big test because if you fail you have to repeat the third grade," says nine-year-old Genny Miller. "I want to go on to the fourth grade with my friends and I just want to pass it so it will be over with." The pressure is so intense it's giving some students headaches, stomachaches and other stress-related illnesses.

67. TfHS Virginia Science for the standards of learning for your been carefully referenced to the standards,as demonstrated instruction on fractions with teaching customary measurement http://www.tfhs.net/vascience.htm

Samples from the Tests for Higher Standards in Science All files are in Adobe Acrobat .pdf format. Grade-Level Tests Any use of the TfHS Grade-Level Tests will do at least two things: · provide students with practice for the state-mandated SOL tests, and · give teachers the chance to see SOL content embodied in actual test items. Test Coverage The Tests for Higher Standards Grade-Level Tests in the areas of Mathematics, Science, English (Reading and Writing), and History and Social Science for grades Kindergarten through eleven have been developed to help teachers focus instruction on the content and processes of the Virginia Standards of Learning. Because TfHS Grade-Level Tests closely match Virginia Standards of Learning, their value is to help teachers plan, teach, and assess, providing information about student and program strengths and weaknesses. Test Description TfHS Grade-Level Tests are criterion-referenced, four-alternative, multiple-choice tests. Each test generally contains some fifty to eighty items - three to six items per Standard - and can be administered in one or two sittings. Each test Item (question) has been designed to measure one or more aspects of a single Standard. The resulting TfHS Grade-Level Tests are content valid in that test items are clearly referenced to individual Standards and measure them directly.

68. New Page 1 field trips to support SOL teaching and incorporating receive the same opportunitiesfor learning and achievement by holding him or her to lower standards. http://davealbo.bigstep.com/generic.jhtml?pid=41

69. Citzenship In The Digital Age priorities within some schools are such that teaching and learning administratorsreported that their concern for achieving standards of learning often is http://www.knowledgeway.org/works/citizenship/admingroup.html

Strategic Initiatives: Home KnowledgeWayWORKS Citizenship in the Digital Age Citizenship in the Digital Age Introduction Administrator Focus Group Summaries Instructional Technology Specialist Focus Group Summaries Teacher Focus Group Summaries ... Next Steps Administrators Focus Group The purpose of the Administrator Focus Group session was to gain a greater understanding of their views on the current environment in which schools are operating, the ideal environment for undertaking a collaborative effort, and the potential challenges and opportunities in undertaking this project. A summary of the findings follows below. Current Environment The following essential themes emerged during the discussion of the current environment in which schools are operating: Key measures for success: Standards of Learning, not technological ability Performing up to state standards is a major concern for administrators. The administrators from Virginia, in particular, recently received testing information on the social studies Standards of Learning (SOLs) that indicated low performance. There was consensus among participants that performance on the SOLs would have to be addressed before any other initiatives are considered. Other districts, such as DC, use different tests that should also be reviewed, such as the Stanford-9. Sometimes state standards, such as the SOLs in Virginia, and other initiatives, such as technology integration, are seen as competing priorities within the schools. Administrators found this very frustrating. However, there was some agreement that technology might be used to help performance on the SOLs by using computers for drill exercises on social studies state test materials. These types of drills apparently are available for other subject areas.

70. Testing Tests The Washington Times because the system already has clear standards in place. of student learning and emphasizeteaching to the They acknowledge students are learning more but say http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20020310-14983352.htm

71. Mark Warner On Education While Mark supports teachers being accountable for teaching the standards of learning,and students being accountable for learning, he knows that often http://issues2002.org/Governor/Mark_Warner_Education.htm

72. SOL Study Links http//www.richmond.edu/academics/a s/education/solsites/ Internet resources supportingthe teaching of the Virginia standards of learning (SOL's). http://www.thoroughgoodes.vbcps.k12.va.us/sollinks.html

Where Seagulls Learn to Fly Successfully http://www.pen.k12.va.us http://www.roanoke.k12.va.us/schools/raleigh/SOL/test.html Links to over 300 practice tests! http://www.oceanlakeses.vbschools.com/OEA.htm Practice tests on all subjects http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/PolicyPub/Parents/ Questions Parents Frequently Ask about Virginia's Standards of Learning http://www.virginiasol.com/ Offers practice tests in history, math, science, English and computer technology. http://www.pen.k12.va.us/go/Sols/home.shtml All Virginia SOL's are published online Internet resources supporting the teaching of the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL's) http://eclipse.cps.k12.va.us/public/IT/training/vasol.htm Links to sites that focus on Virginia SOL's http://www.knowledge.state.va.us/sol.html

73. State Information responsible for setting the standards of learning reviewed the in which they caneffectively integrate curricula, standards, and teaching methods that http://www.nssb.org/states/virginia.htm

State Skill Standards Information Virginia Contact Person / Locator Information Preston Wilhelm Director, Workforce Services Division Department of Business Assistance 707 East Main Street, Suite 300 Richmond, VA 23219 Phone: (804) 371-8132 Fax: (804) 371-8137 Email: pwilhelm@dba.State.va.us State Skill Standards Board / Panel / Credentialing Council None at present. State Agency Responsible for Skill Standards on a Daily Basis None at present. Current State Skill Standards Legislative Measures / Policies/Initiatives None at present. Certificate of Mastery Basics Included in High School Graduation Requirements None at present. State Education Standards In 1995, Virginia adopted Standards of Learning (SOLs) in the core academic subjects of English/language arts; mathematics; science; and history/social science. SOLs are structured on a grade-by-grade and course-by-course basis. State Academic Assessments Since adoption of the Standards of Learning, Virginia has been establishing a new assessment system to measure student competencies aligned with State standards. In Spring 1998, the State began administering new SOL tests to public school students in grades 3,5, and 8 in English, mathematics, history, and social sciences.

74. High Standards & Accountability Featured In Newsletter & Town Meeting Therefore, Tidewater Park employs innovative methods for teaching children that off. For more information about Virginia's standards of learning, visit http http://www.ed.gov/MailingLists/EDInfo/msg00619.html

EDInfo Mailing List Archive Prev Next Main Index To Subject From Date : Wed, 13 Jun 2001 16:27:25 -0400 Reply-To : edinfo@inet.ed.gov Sender : owner-edinfo@inet.ed.gov http://registerevent.ed.gov/downlink/event-flyer.asp?intEventID=140 http://www.ed.gov/G2K/community/ http://www.pen.k12.va.us . To learn more about the success of Tidewater Park, visit http://www.nps.k12.va.us/schools/tidewaterpark/index.htm , or call 757-628-2500. =========================================================== To subscribe to (or unsubscribe from) EDInfo, address an email message to: listproc@inet.ed.gov Then write either SUBSCRIBE EDINFO YOURFIRSTNAME YOURLASTNAME in the message, or write UNSUBSCRIBE EDINFO (if you have a signature block, please turn it off) Then send it! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Past EDInfo messages: http://www.ed.gov/MailingLists/EDInfo/ Search: http://www.ed.gov/MailingLists/EDInfo/search.html Past ED Initiatives: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EDInitiatives/ Prev by Date: Notices Inviting Applications (June 15, 2001)

75. GeoLibrary - Websites Library Style: Resources For Teachers Bibliography The SOLAR (standards of learning and Resources at JMU Developing Educationalstandards Virginia Virginia bu grade and subject teaching the VA http://www.geocities.com/cybermediaspec/teacher.html

GeoLibrary does not take responsibility for ads appearing here or endorse the sponsoring site. GeoLibrary Resources for Teachers This page has links for teachers to websites that address educational issues such as SOLs, instructional delivery, testing and assessment, lesson plans, block scheduling, and websites that may have content which could be developed into lessons. Websites with general resources often are divided into specific curriculum areas, so it may be worth your time to explore them. Specific curriculum areas follow the general resources. Teachers are also encouraged to investigate the links in the Dewey area(s) appropriate to their subject(s). (If this is your first time using GeoLibrary, please read the Suggestions for using GeoLibrary . Also note that there is a website to help you determine if a work came from an Internet source Jump to specific areas General Education Resources Lesson Plans - General Business and Economics Education English ... Miscellaneous There are links at the bottom of this page and every page on GeoLibrary to link to other GeoLibrary pages. Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools Teaching Virginia SOL Virginia - Standards of Learning First Lady Roxane Gilmore The SOLAR (Standards of Learning and Resources) Classroom Ed Media Labs at JMU Developing Educational Standards - Virginia Virginia SOL Assessments - 1998 Samples Sample tests bu grade and subject Teaching the VA SOLs - University of Richmond Item banks using VA SOLs so far for grades 2 - 8

76. Untitled Document early October, and the standards of learning were making particular, have been ambivalentabout the new standards. Dan Kent, who has been teaching history for http://www.broadrun.org/spartanonline/November/news-SOL.htm

SOLs Provoke Mixed Feelings by Daniel Jackson, news section editor It was early October, and the Standards of Learning were making news again. According to the October 6 edition of The Washington Post, Virginia was paying nearly $1 million to advertise the SOLs on television. Many people complained that the ads were helping the senatorial bid of George Allen. Although Allen campaign workers claimed the ads were not political, Republican Governor James Gilmore stopped airing the advertisements. Whether the ads contributed to Allen's victory is debatable. The SOLs are not universally embraced by Virginians; in fact, a survey done a few months ago found that a full quarter of Virginians thought that the SOLs should be abolished entirely, with more of the opinion that the standards needed to be revised. Loudoun County Public Schools, in particular, have been ambivalent about the new standards. According to Sharon Ackerman, Loudoun County's deputy superintendent of instruction, much of the opposition to the SOLs stems from the tests given to students at the end of selected grades, and how these tests are being used. "We were first given to believe that the [test] scores would [simply] be sent back to the schools, where they would be used to make [any necessary] changes in instruction," she said. "But [the SOL tests] have been highly publicized, and people who are not getting the real details are using them to judge schools."

77. CEPI - Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute for “Reading First” grants, $52.1 million for teaching quality grants Over $1.7million is included for developing standards of learning (SOL) history http://www.edpolicyvcu.org/ga/2002/ga2002edbudgethighlight.html

The 2002 General Assembly: EDUCATION BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS OVERVIEW While no teacher salary increases are included in the first year of the 2002-2004 budget, the spending plan provides $101.4 million in a reserve account to be used for second-year pay increases for state employees, faculty, state-supported local employees and school teachers. Legislators are expected to address the second-year salary issue during the 2003 session. An additional $2.4 million is provided for awarding first-time grants and continuing bonuses for teachers who are certified by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. Also, an additional $9.9 million in lottery proceeds in FY03 and $10.0 million in FY04 is anticipated, 60% of which pays for a portion of the state share of basic aid costs, with the remaining 40% distributed to school divisions. JLARC RECOMMENDATIONS REDUCTIONS FEDERAL FUNDING DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION E-mail Response Questions or More Information? Please

78. Test Usage Information Links Research, articles, and information about high stakes tests and their misuse from group opposing Virginia Category Society Issues Standardized Testing State Testing...... ETS Study Links Effective teaching Methods to TestScore Gain. Position Paper on theStandards of learning prepared by the Faculty of the Graduate School of http://home.rica.net/airedale/test_usage_information_links.htm

SOL -Standards of Learning PAVURSOL SOL Reform Test Usage Information Links: January, 2003 "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." -Albert Einstein "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi "I don't ever want you to forget that there are millions of God's children who will not, and cannot get a good education, and I don't want you feeling that you are better than they are. For you will never be what you ought to be until they are all that they ought to be." -Martin Luther King Jr. "The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." H. L. Mencken. Please contact me regarding any corrections and/or additions needed for this page. Lowell L. Fulk

79. State's SOLs Pass Another Test (Pilot Online/HamptonRoads.com) improvement on other test measures has accompanied the (sols) or standards of Learningtests. Yes, Virginia must discourage teaching narrowly to a single test http://www.pilotonline.com/opinion/op0102eda.html

Apartments AutoPilot CareerConnection Classifieds ... More... SEARCH Local Search Net Search News Search Yellow Pages CHANNELS: Opinion TalkNet boards Recent articles Columnists Dave Addis Roger Chesley Bronwyn Lance Chester Kerry Dougherty ... Weather LOCAL GUIDES Ask an Expert Best of HR City Guides Contests ... Print This Page State's SOLs pass another test The Virginian-Pilot Every reform has its backlash. High-stakes testing in public education is no exception. Nor should it be. The consequences are too great for states across the nation to turn to radical new models of accountability and expect that every version in every state will turn out right the first time. Assessment and revision should be constants in any reform. To that end, a broad new study performed by researchers at Arizona State University and financed by teachers unions must be considered carefully, as must other studies that are sure to follow in the years ahead. Billed as the largest study to date, the report suggests that rigorous testing linked to tough consequences does little to improve achievement and may even worsen academic performance and dropout rates. The study reviewed student performance on SAT and ACT college entrance exams and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is administered nationally every four years. While scores were going up, sometimes dramatically, on the high-stakes state tests, the study found that more states were slipping against the national average on the independent exams than were gaining. The conclusion of the study's authors is that ``teachers are focusing so intently on the high-stakes tests that they are neglecting other things that are ultimately more important.''

80. Teacher Corner of Education to provide sample resource materials and teaching strategies for toassist in their implementation of the Virginia standards of learning. http://www.poquoson.org/pes/teachercorner/

Home Administration Area Schools Class Pages ... Student Corner Teacher Corner VA SOL Aid Awesome Library The Awesome Library organizes the Web with 14,000 carefully reviewed resources, including the top 5 percent in education. Blackboard.com Blackboard.com is a FREE service that enables instructors to add an online component to their classes, or even host an entire course on the Web. Without knowing any HTML, you can quickly create your own course Web site - a Web site that brings your learning materials, class discussions, and even tests online. Dr. Labush's Links to Learning A terrific site with links to activities, lesson plans, research in education, and more. Education World "Where Educators Go To Learn" - Searchable site. Topics include archives, administrators, books in education, curriculum, great sites, lesson planning, school issues, site reviews, special themes, teacher lessons, and technology in the classroom. Communities include: counseling, early childhood ed., higher ed., preservice ed., projects, special ed., students, and vocational ed. Hot Potatoes The Hot Potatoes suite includes six applications, enabling you to create interactive multiple-choice, short-answer, jumbled-sentence, crossword, matching/ordering and gap-fill exercises for the World Wide Web.

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