INFORMATIONAL

  The Department of Education has contracted with Virginia
  Commonwealth University (VCU) to design and conduct the
  evaluation of the SOL Training Initiative.  Dr. James
  McMillan is the Principal Investigator for the
  evaluation, and Dr. Judy Singh is the Project Director. 
  A copy of the SOL Training Initiative Evaluation Plan is
  enclosed.

  Your SOL Training Initiative Contact Person has
  designated an evaluation contact person for your
  division.  VCU staff will communicate evaluation-related
  information directly to that person. Please remind your
  training initiative contact persons about the importance
  of complying with requests from the evaluators.

  The SOL Training Initiative legislation (Appropriation
  Act for 1998-2000, Item 138 C.6) states:

     ...to receive training funds from this
       appropriation, school divisions must agree to
       participate in monitoring and evaluation
       activities to be coordinated by the Department
       of Education. Evaluation data must include
       documentation of the training process, teacher
       participation rates, and changes in teacher
       competencies as determined by the Department of
       Education. School divisions shall also collect
       and analyze formative evaluation data during
       the program, and may use the data to modify
       their training plans, with such modifications
       approved by the Department of Education in
       advance.

  If you have questions about the evaluation, please
  contact Dr. Judy Singh at (804) 828-0469.  If you have
  questions about other aspects of the SOL Training
  Initiative, please call Dr. Patricia I. Wright, Director
  of Secondary Instruction, at (804) 225-2880.

  PDS/piw

  Enclosure:   A hard copy of this memo and its attach-
               will be sent to the superintendent's
               office.