Superintendent's Memo #331-09
COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education
December 11, 2009
TO: Division Superintendents
FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT: Nominations for the 2010 Standards of Learning Assessments Review Committees for Special Test Forms and Plain English Mathematics Test Forms
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Assessment Development is accepting nominations through January 29, 2010, for participation in the following committees:
- 2010 Standards of Learning Assessments Special Test Forms Review Committee, and
- 2010 Standards of Learning Assessments Plain English Mathematics Test Forms Review Committees (three separate committees).
You are invited to identify educators in your division for each of these four committees. Twelve members will be selected for each committee. All nominees, including those who have previously served, must submit an application through the Web-based process, Assessment Committee Application Processing Systems (ACAPS). The application will require a professional reference and division approval. An Internet browser must be used to access ACAPS at https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/acaps/.
Descriptions of the Committees
The Special Test Forms Review Committee will be responsible for reviewing test items on the Braille and large-print forms for students who are visually impaired. Committee nominees should be educators with expertise in the instruction of students with visual impairments and experience with the administration of Braille and large-print test forms. The schedule for this committee is as follows:
| Session 1 | July 26-29, 2010 |
| Session 2 | November 2-5, 2010 |
The Plain English Mathematics Test Forms Review Committees will be responsible for reviewing test items on Plain English mathematics test forms. The Plain English mathematics tests incorporate the same content as the regular mathematics tests, but items have been modified to reduce the language load. There will be three separate committees to represent grades 3, 4, and 5, grades 6 and 7, and grade 8 and Algebra I. Committee nominees should be educators with expertise in limited English proficiency, experience in the instruction of mathematics (at one or more grade levels, 3 through 8 or Algebra I) and in-depth knowledge of the Standards of Learning. The schedule for these committees is as follows:
Grades 3, 4, and 5 |
October 5, 2010 |
Grades 6 and 7 |
October 6, 2010 |
Grade 8 and Algebra I |
October 7, 2010 |
Committee Members’ Responsibilities
All members selected for these committees will be expected to:
- serve a one-year term;
- sign a Non-Disclosure/Conflict of Interest Agreement; and
- participate in the committee meeting(s) as scheduled by the Virginia Department of Education.
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 the meeting; and
- certificate for recertification points (pending local approval).
If you have questions, please contact the student assessment staff at Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-2918.
Your continued support of this effort is greatly appreciated.
PIW/SLR/LBH/aw