COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

September 10, 2010

TO: Division Superintendents

FROM: Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT: Nominations for Standard Setting Committees for the History/Social Science Standards of Learning Tests Based on the Revised 2008 Standards of Learning

The Office of Assessment Development is accepting nominations for standard setting committees for the History/Social Science Standards of Learning (SOL) tests.  Standard setting is necessary because of the implementation of new test blueprints based on the revised 2008 History/Social Science SOL in 2010-2011.  The committee meetings will be held at the Hilton Richmond Hotel, Richmond, Virginia as follows:

November 2-4, 2010

• End-of-Course (EOC) Virginia and United States History
• EOC World History I
• EOC World History II
• EOC World Geography

February 1-3, 2011

• Grade 3 History/Social Science
• Virginia Studies
• United States History to 1865 (US History I)
• Unites States History: 1865 to the Present (US History II)
• Civics & Economics

The standard setting committees are responsible for recommending scores that reflect students' proficient or advanced status. These recommendations will be submitted to the Board of Education, which will then decide the cut scores for pass/proficient and pass/advanced status. Approximately 20 teachers will be selected to serve on each of the nine committees. School divisions are encouraged to nominate a representative for each committee.

Committee members will be chosen based on the following criteria:

• instructional training and experience in the history/social science content area;
• in-depth knowledge of the History/Social Science Standards of Learning
• instructional experience with students who have disabilities and/or students with limited English proficiency; and
• balanced regional representation.

Committee members will be provided the following:

• reimbursement for meals and travel expenses in accordance with state travel policy and guidelines;
• lodging; and
• attendance certificate for recertification points (pending local approval).

All nominees who wish to serve on the standard setting committees must complete the Web-based application using the Assessment Committee Application Processing System (ACAPS). The Web-based application process requires a professional reference and division-level approval. Procedures for submitting the Web-based application are available at https://p1pe.doe.virginia.gov/acaps/

Completed applications should be submitted to the Virginia Department of Education using ACAPS by September 30, 2010.

If you have questions, please contact the student assessment staff by e-mail at Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 225-2918.

PIW/SLR/aw