COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 229

November 18, 2005

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Nominations for the 2006 Standards of Learning Assessments End-of-Course Content Area Bias/Sensitivity Review Committees

The Division of Assessment and Reporting is accepting nominations for membership on the 2006 Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessments End-of-Course (EOC) Content Area Bias/Sensitivity Review Committees. Fifteen members are needed for each of the four EOC content areas: English, mathematics, history and social science, and science. The bias/sensitivity committee members are responsible for reviewing test items for stereotyping or terms that might be offensive to any particular gender, ethnic, religious, political, age, or socio-economic group. The schedule for these committees is as follows:

English July 31 – August 2

Mathematics July 31 – August 1

History and Social Science July 31 – August 1

Science July 31 – August 1

The committee selection process permits a partial rotation of membership on an annual basis. This rotation provides an opportunity for more teachers to contribute to the bias/sensitivity review process of the SOL assessments while retaining the experience and knowledge of veteran committee members.

Bias/Sensitivity committee members will be chosen based on the following criteria:

· training and experience in issues of stereotyping, equity, and fairness;

· in-depth knowledge of the SOL;

· instructional/supervisory experience with students of varied learning styles, abilities, and aptitudes, including students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency; and

· balanced regional representation.

Committee members selected for the 2006 SOL Assessments EOC Content Area Bias/Sensitivity Review will be expected to:

· serve a one-year term with the option of applying for a second term in 2007;

· sign a Non-Disclosure/Conflict of Interest Agreement;

· participate in one committee meeting scheduled by the Virginia Department of Education;

· examine test items for stereotyping regarding any particular gender, ethnic, religious, political, age, or socio-economic group;

· determine if test items are fair to all students who have taken a particular course in Virginia schools, regardless of the student’s gender, ethnicity, religion, or socio-economic status;

· review field test data to determine if students of different groups perform differently and identify possible reasons for differential performance; and

· recommend whether items are to be included in the test item bank.

Committee members will be provided the following:

· reimbursement for meals and travel expenses in accordance with state travel policy and guidelines;

· lodging;

· honorarium of $100 per meeting day for committee members not under contract with a school division at the time of meeting; and

· certificate for recertification points (pending local approval.

Individuals may initiate the application process or be nominated. In either case, all nominees who wish to serve on the SOL assessment bias/sensitivity review committees must complete the Web-based application. The application submission window will be available February 1-28, 2006.

All applicants who have previously served on these committees must also complete the Web-based application. The Web-based application process will still require two professional references and approval from the division superintendent. Procedures for submitting the Web-based application process will be posted at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Assessment/home.shtml by February 1, 2006.

You are invited to nominate one distinguished educator in your division for each of the four bias/sensitivity committees. Completed applications are due to the Virginia Department of Education via the Web-based submission process by February 28, 2006.

If you have questions, please contact Ronald Sutton, assessment specialist, Division of Assessment and Reporting, at Ronald.Sutton@doe.virginia.gov

or by phone at (804) 225-2913.

Your continued support of this effort is greatly appreciated.

JLD/SLR/jc