DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 243
November 16, 2007
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Nominations
for the 2007-2008 Standards of Learning Assessments End-of-Course Content
Area Bias/Sensitivity Review Committees |
The Office of Assessment Development is accepting
nominations for the 2007-2008 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, science, and history/social
science. The bias/sensitivity committee
members review test items for stereotypical content or terms that might be
offensive to any gender, ethnic, religious, political, age, or socio-economic
group. The schedule for these committees is as follows:
English July 28-31
Mathematics July 28-29
History and Social
Science July 28-29
Science July 28-29
Each school principal will be mailed
recruitment posters. We ask that the recruitment posters be displayed
prominently in the school building.
School divisions are encouraged to nominate one or more representatives
for each bias/sensitivity committee.
Bias/sensitivity committee
members will be chosen based on the following criteria:
·
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 2008 SOL
Assessments EOC Content Area Bias/Sensitivity Review will be expected to:
· serve
a one-year term;
·
sign a Non-Disclosure/Conflict
of Interest Agreement;
· participate
in the committee meetings scheduled by the Virginia Department of Education;
· examine
test items for stereotyping regarding 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; and
·
review data to determine if students of different
groups perform differently and identify possible reasons for differential
performance.
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).
All individuals who wish to
serve on the 2008 SOL assessment bias/sensitivity review committees, including
those who have previously served, must complete the Web-based application. The
Web-based application process requires a professional reference and approval
from the division superintendent or designee. Procedures for submitting the Web-based
application are available at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Assessment/home.shtml.
You are invited to nominate one
or more distinguished educators in your division for each of the four
bias/sensitivity committees. Completed applications are due to the Virginia
Department of Education through the Web-based submission process by January 31,
2008.
If you have questions, please
contact the Office of Assessment Development at Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov
or by phone at (804) 225-2918.
Your continued support of this
effort is greatly appreciated.
BKCJr/SLR/cd