COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
Department of Education

January 11, 2013

TO:  Division Superintendents

FROM:  Patricia I. Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction

SUBJECT:  Nominations for Praxis II Standard-Setting Committees: Middle School English/Language Arts, Middle School Mathematics, English Language, Literature and Composition: Content Knowledge, Mathematics: Content Knowledge

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) that develops and facilitates assessment requirements for Virginia licensure has informed the Virginia Department of Education that it is revising the following Praxis II assessments.

• Middle School English/Language Arts (0049/5049);
• Middle School Mathematics (0069);
• English Language, Literature and Composition: Content Knowledge (0041/5041); and
• Mathematics: Content Knowledge (0061/5061).

The revisions will require new standard-setting studies to be conducted for the newly- aligned assessments.  New editions of the Middle School English/Language Arts (0049/5049), Middle School Mathematics (0069),  English Language, Literature and Composition: Content Knowledge (0041/5041), Mathematics: Content Knowledge (0061/5061) will be administered by ETS beginning in fall 2013. The current edition of the assessments will no longer be available in fall 2013.

I am requesting your assistance to nominate middle school English teachers, middle school mathematics teachers, high school English teachers, and high school mathematics teachers to serve on a one-day study panel (see the nomination form attached).  Panels will be held on March 21 and March 22, 2013, in the Richmond area.   I would appreciate receiving your nominations as soon as possible, but no later than January 31, 2013.

Individuals must hold a full, valid Collegiate Professional License or Postgraduate Professional License, be available to travel to Richmond and attend a study on either March 21 or 22, 2013, and meet the following endorsement criteria and teaching experience criteria to be nominated for the study:

Praxis II Assessment	Endorsement	Teaching Experience for a Period of Three to Ten Years
Middle School English/Language Arts (Meeting on March 21, 2013)	Middle Education 6-8: English	Middle school English/language arts teacher
Middle School Mathematics (Meeting on March 21, 2013)	Middle Education 6-8: Mathematics	Middle school mathematics teacher
English Language, Literature and Composition: Content Knowledge (Meeting on March 22, 2013)	English	High school English teacher
Mathematics: Content Knowledge (Meeting on March 22, 2013)	Mathematics	High school mathematics teacher

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) will be facilitating the study.  ETS will reimburse panelists for travel and pay for lodging for up to two nights, if panelists need overnight lodging.  The standard-setting studies will be conducted in Richmond, Virginia, but the exact location has not been confirmed.

We are seeking nominees from all eight Superintendents’ regions of the state.  Please remind nominees that all individuals may not be selected to participate as we need to ensure statewide representation.

Please fax the attached nomination form to Ms. Tamika Claiborne at (804) 530-4510 by January 31, 2013.  We will contact candidates and the nominating school division to confirm whether they are selected, and we will provide further directions regarding registration with the Educational Testing Service.

I very much appreciate your assistance in nominating teachers to participate in these studies.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Mark Allan, director of licensure and school leadership, at (804) 371-2471 or Mark.Allan@doe.virginia.gov.

PIW/ma

Attachment:

1. Praxis II Standard-Setting Committees Nomination Form (Word)