ADMINISTRATIVE

  The purpose of this memo is to seek nominations for
  membership on an Assessment Policy Advisory Committee and
  Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessment Content Review
  Committees.  While no contract award has yet been made, the
  Department wishes to establish the membership of the
  committees so that development of the SOL assessments may
  begin upon award of a contract.  
  
  With input from the Board of Education, committee membership
  will be determined by the State Superintendent on the basis
  of policy or content expertise, local assessment
  implementation experience, representativeness of Virginia's
  constituencies, and familiarity with the content and intent
  of the SOLs.
  
  Assessment Policy Advisory Committee
  
  An Assessment Policy Advisory Committee will be established
  to review and advise the Department of Education on the
  development and implementation of the SOL Assessment and 
  norm-referenced components of the Virginia Assessment
  System.  Committee members will be reimbursed for travel,
  lodging, and meals.
  
  Persons nominated from your division should have expertise
  and experience in assessment or assessment related policy
  development.  Please forward a copy of the attached
  Assessment Policy Advisory Committee Application to the
  individual you have nominated.  Note that the application
  requires your signature of approval.  Applicants should
  submit completed forms to the Division Superintendent for
  return to the Department of Education by October 11, 1996.
  
  
  
  
  ADMIN. SUPTS. MEMO. NO. 64
  Page 2
  September 20, 1996
  
  Content Review Committees
  
  As outlined in the Request for Proposals, five Content
  Review Committees (i.e., one committee each for English,
  history and social science, mathematics, science, and
  technology) will be established to assure that the
  assessments accurately reflect the SOLs.  The purpose of the
  Content Review Committees is to provide content-area
  expertise on SOL assessment development.  The committees
  will include representatives of special populations,
  including members with expertise in educating students with
  disabilities and students with limited English proficiency.
  Committee activities will include providing advice and
  recommendations on test blueprint and item specifications
  development, and reviewing test blueprints, item
  specifications, items, scoring criteria, and test forms. 
  Each of the five Content Review Committees shall be convened
  at various points in the development of the tests, to
  include:  
  
   (a)  Determining the relative emphasis assigned to
        particular content strands, and providing
        recommendations on the cognitive skill levels and
        item formats for particular standards;
   (b)  Reviewing item specifications;
   (c)  Reviewing final test blueprints;
   (d)  Reviewing items, associated materials (e.g.,
        reading passages, charts, maps), and test forms
        prior to field testing and any pilot testing of
        items;
   (e)  Reviewing operational test forms for the match to
        test blueprints and item specifications.
  
  Content Review Committee members will be required to sign
  non-disclosure statements regarding secure test items and
  forms.  Committee members will be reimbursed for travel,
  lodging, and meals.
  
  Please identify one or more distinguished educators in your
  division and forward a copy of the attached Content Review
  Committee Application to each of the people you have
  nominated.  Note that the application requires your
  signature of approval.  Applicants should submit completed
  forms to the Division Superintendent for return to the
  Department of Education by October 11, 1996.
  
  If you have questions about these committees, please contact
  Doris Redfield or Cam Harris at 804/225-2102.  Thank you in
  advance for you effort and assistance.
  
  RTL/krh
  Attachments:  This memo and its attachments will be sent to
                the superintendent's office  Assessment Policy 
                Advisory Committee
  
  Application for Membership 
  
  
  First Name _____________ Mid. Init. _____ Last Name ___________________
  
  Position
  _______________________________________________________________________
  
  School Name
  _______________________________________________________________________
  (if applicable)
  
  Division Name
  _______________________________________________________________________
  (if applicable)
  
  Work Address: _________________________________________________________
  
                ______________________________________________________
  
  Home Address: ______________________________________________________
  
                ______________________________________________________
  
  Work Ph: ______________ Home Ph: _______________ Fax No: ___________
  
  Please check each of the following that apply:
  
  _____ Female         _____ American Indian or Alaskan Native
  
  _____ Male           _____ Asian or Pacific Islander
  
                       _____ Black (Not of Hispanic Origin)
  
                       _____ Hispanic
  
                       _____ White (Not of Hispanic Origin)
  
  
  What responsibilities for assessment have you had during the
  past five years?  What experience do you have with assessment policy
  development?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Please describe your knowledge of and experience with
  assessment policy and implementation.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  What expertise and experience do you in assessment of
  students with disabilities and/or limited English
  proficiency?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Please explain why you are interested in working as a member
  of the Policy Advisory Committee.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Please include any additional information about yourself
  that should be considered.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Please provide a professional reference:
  
  Name:
  ________________________________________________________________________
  
  Title:
  ________________________________________________________________________
  
  Telephone No.
  ________________________________________________________________________
  
  Applications should be returned to the division
  superintendent who will forward them to the Virginia
  Department of Education by October 11, 1996.
  
  
  Approval of Nomination: ___________________________________
  Date: ___________             Division Supt. Signature
  
  
  
   For delivery by U.S. Mail:     Division of Assessment
                                      and Reporting
                              Virginia Department of Education
                                      P. O. Box 2120
                                   Richmond, VA 23218-2120
  
   Fax Number:            804/371-8978
              SOL Assessment Content Review Committees
                               
                 Application for Membership 
                                
  
  For which Committee are you applying?  (check one):
  
  _____ English   
  _____ History and Social Science
  _____ Mathematics
  _____ Science
  _____ Technology
  
  First Name _______________ Mid. Init. _____ Last Name __________________
  
  Position
  ________________________________________________________________________
  
  School Name
  ________________________________________________________________________
  (if applicable)
  
  Division Name
  ________________________________________________________________________
  (if applicable)
  
  Work Address:   ______________________________________________________
  
                  ______________________________________________________
  
  Home Address:   ______________________________________________________
  
                  ______________________________________________________
  
  Work Ph: _______________ Home Ph: _______________ Fax No: ____________
  
  Please check each of the following that apply:
  
  _____ Female            _____ American Indian or Alaskan
                                Native
  _____ Male              _____ Asian or Pacific Islander
                          _____ Black (Not of Hispanic Origin)
                          _____ Hispanic
                          _____ White (Not of Hispanic Origin)
  
  
  
  
  
  Current Assignment:  _____ Teacher:      Grade(s)  __________
  
                          Subject(s)  ____________________________
  
                                      ____________________________
  
                       _____ Supervisor:    Grades   __________
  
                          Subject(s)  ____________________________
  
                                      ____________________________
  
      _____ Other (Please specify):   ____________________________
  
  
  What other subjects have you taught in the last five years? 
  Please include the number of years you taught each subject.
  
  ________________________________________________________________________
  
  What other grades have you taught in the last five years? 
  Please include the number of years you taught each subject.
  
  ________________________________________________________________________
  
  In the last five years, have you taught students with
  disabilities?
  
  Please Check:        Yes _____  No _____
  
  In the last five years, have you taught students with
  limited English Proficiency or who speak English as a second
  language?
  
  Please Check:        Yes _____  No _____
  
  In the last five years, have you supervised instruction for
  students with disabilities?
  
  Please Check:        Yes _____  No _____
  
  In the last five years, have you supervised instruction for
  students with limited English Proficiency or who speak
  English as a second language?
  
  Please Check:        Yes _____  No _____Please describe your 
knowledge of and experience with the Standards of Learning in 
the content area of the committee on which you wish to serve.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Please explain why you are interested in working as a member
  of a Content Review Committee.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Please include any additional information about yourself
  that should be considered.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Please provide a professional reference:
  
  Name:
  ________________________________________________________________________
  
  Title:
  ________________________________________________________________________
  
  Telephone No.
  ________________________________________________________________________
  
  Applications should be returned to the division
  superintendent who will forward them to the Virginia
  Department of Education by October 11, 1996.
  
  
  Approval of Nomination: ___________________________________
  Date: ___________            Division Supt. Signature
  
  
  
   For delivery by U.S. Mail:     Division of Assessment
                                       and Reporting
                             Virginia Department of Education
                                       P. O. Box 2120
                                   Richmond, VA 23218-2120
  
   Fax Number:  804/371-8978