Analyzing Standards of Learning Test Data Regional Workshops

COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2120
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 79
May 25, 2001

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Analyzing Standards of Learning Test Data Regional Workshops

Recognizing the importance of making school-level,

data-based decisions in adjusting instructional programs to increase student achievement, the Department of Education will offer a series of one-day regional technical assistance workshops to help school teams and central office administrators analyze Standards of Learning test data. The workshops will focus on practical issues and will use school divisions’ most recent test data, which participants will bring with them.

The workshops are designed to increase skills in achieving the following objectives:

recognizing typical data patterns and their implications;
analyzing trend data, reporting categories and the "Student List Report";
identifying potential causes of instructional program weaknesses through guided questions, and the analysis of sample data;
analyzing the Standards of Learning test blueprint and applying the results to increase program alignment to the standards;
using test data to evaluate the success of program changes; and,
using data to design effective remediation programs.

Although teams from all K-12 schools are welcome, priority will be given to participants from schools accredited with warning or provisionally accredited. To defray the cost of breaks, lunch, and materials, a registration fee of $30 will be charged for each participant. Regional workshops are scheduled on the dates listed below. Registration is being handled by Virginia Tech’s Division of Continuing Education. Upon registration, Virginia Tech will send confirmation of the workshop location, along with data forms that the school team will use to plot test results in advance and analyze later.

Region 1 - June 25, Elementary/Middle Schools,Fulghum Center
June 26, High Schools, Fulghum Center

Region 2 - Prior arrangements for registration have
           Been made with the Region 2 Best Practice
           Center. Interested participants who have
           not registered, should contact the center. Region 3 - August 16, Fredericksburg Area

Region 4 - August 15, Manassas City
Grace Metz Jr. High School

Region 5 - August 1, Augusta County
Stuarts Draft High School

Region 6 - August 3, Franklin County
Center for Applied Technologies

Region 7 - August 30, Abingdon
Southwest Virginia Higher
Education Centr

Region 8 - August 2, Nottoway County
Nottoway High School

Please forward the attached registration form to schools that you would like to participate. The Governor’s Best Practice Centers also will publicize this opportunity within their regions, select the regional workshop sites, and host the workshops. Best Practice Centers staff members will be available during and after the workshops to assist participants with individual data analysis issues.

If you have any questions regarding the content of the workshops, please contact James Heywood (mailto:jheywood@mail.vak12ed.edu), director of elementary school instructional services, at

(804) 225-2865.

JLD/JSH/pl

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