61. Kupek's Den These tests are a measure of student performance, not necessarily school wake upand realize, that in its current form, the standards of learning will not http://filebox.vt.edu/users/scschnei/schneid/sol2.html

SOLs: More of the same Proponents and supporters of the illustrious Standards of Learning were bracing themselves. While we were enjoying a day off of school, the failure rate for all Virginia schools on the SOL were released. They were preparing for the kidney-punch from hell, but instead they got kicked in the teeth. Hard. Ninety-seven percent of all Virginia schools failed to meet state standards. Ouch. That’s a whopping total of 39 schools that met the grade. Statewide. And this includes elementary, middle, and high schools. Ouch. Anyone up for hearing how well Fairfax County high schools did? No? I didn’t think you would be. Too bad, this is the reality the state educators have in store for us, and like it or not, it’s time to face it. One (Toe Jam) high school in the entire (Tom Jones) county met the standards: Thomas Jefferson High School, a place that is more strict in its admittance than some colleges. This brings up a curious point. Fairfax County (or so we’ve been told) is one of the wealthier counties in the state and country, with an educational system to be envied. So would someone like to explain to me just how it is that no high school (Jefferson hardly counts, as they can literally pick and choose who they accept) in this county passed the tests? It almost appears that the release of all SOL results have been choreographed—the raw scores early in the school year, the failure rates (notice it wasn’t "passing rates") for each subject, and now the culmination, the failure rates of individual schools. Almost seems like someone knew a few hearts would have given way had all of this been released at once, with a failure rate that high.

62. About Marc Fisher's Column In Virginia, where the standards of learning tests are much of the things she saysshe has had to eliminate from her classroom since the SOL tests took over http://www.greentequila.com/2001_05_12anecdote.html

About Marc Fisher's column The column I am referring to appeared in Thursday, May 10, 2001's edition of The Washington Post , Metro section, page B01. It was titled "Schools Find Wrong Answers to Test Pressure." The column is available from the Post's website for fourteen days after publication at this address For convenience, the article is reproduced here: Schools Find Wrong Answers to Test Pressure by Marc Fisher The fifth-grade girl stands in the foyer of Bethesda Elementary School, capsized in tears. "What's the matter, sweetie?" a concerned mother asks. "Can I help?" The girl sobs and sobs. She cannot speak. Finally, she gulps: "I'm a few minutes late, I missed the bus and now I can't go on the playground." The mother: "They won't let you go on the playground if you miss the bus?" Girl: "No, not the regular playground. There's a special MSPAP playground, but you can't go on it unless you come on time and bring your special red pen." It has come to this. The MSPAP Maryland School Performance Assessment Program is Maryland's state-mandated standardized test for children in grades 3, 5, and 8. It is used to compare how well schools perform. It is, therefore, something principals and teachers desperately want students to take seriously. How desperately? Bethesda Elementary set up a special playground with triple the usual time for students to play and an array of extra games. "If you're on time every day, are here every day, and do your best on the test, you qualify for the MSPAP Playground," says Principal Michael Castagnola. "It's a motivator. The kids get penalized if they miss a day of the test. They know that if you work hard, you're going to have fun."

63. NSTA - Education News To Encourage Field Trips, VA Museums Tailor Programs to State tests Feb 22 exhibitscan help students study for the state's standards of learning (SOL) exams http://www.nsta.org/educationnews/&category_ID=196

Delaware a Leader in Teaching Evolution Feb 26 2003 - The News Journal (Dover, DE) State and national education experts have labeled Delaware as one of America’s leaders in teaching evolution in public schools. Lawrence Lerner, a California State University professor emeritus who issued a report card of how states teach evolution to students in 2000, said he would give Delaware a “perfect score” for its efforts. Meanwhile, Delaware has implemented a new five-week curriculum to teach tenth-graders about evolution. Teachers Will Explain Evolution Only Feb 21 2003 - The Charleston Gazette (West Virginia) West Virginia science teachers are celebrating after their state school board recently voted to endorse the teaching of evolution in schools. Creation scientists and “intelligent design” supporters had recommended the board revise their science standards, saying teachers and students should examine evolution more critically. John Calvert, managing director of the Intelligent Design network in Kansas, said “board members might have voted differently if they had more time to study intelligent design.” Science Standards Set, But the Teaching is Still Evolving

64. SOL Testing Virginia's standards of learning (SOL) program is a increasingly concerned aboutVirginia's highstakes standards. the students have passed the tests in each http://www.lee-high-alumni.org/sol-testing.htm

Home SOL Testing Reunion Reunion Reunion Join Now ... 50's SOL More to it Than Testing © 1999 The Washington Post Company By Daniel A. Domenech Thursday, April 27, 2000; Page A27 Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOL) program is a little like the hotel bathroom scale that says you're five pounds overweight even though you know you've been watching your diet. Sure enough, when you get home, you find you haven't gained an ounce. When the results of the first round of SOL tests were made public a little over a year ago, fewer than 3 percent of the state's public schools met the accreditation standards imposed by the state. In Fairfax County, where we are proud of our schools and the performance of our students, only 7 percent of the schools had met the standards. Like the traveler on the hotel bathroom scale, we immediately ran home to look at our results on such measures as the College Board's SAT program and the nationally standardized Stanford 9 exams. With a sigh of relief, we observed that our school system had not suddenly changed overnight. Like the traveler, we concluded that the problem was not with our scale but rather with the state's. Virginia is looking forward to the third administration of the SOLs. Last year the statewide percentage of schools "passing" went from 3 percent to 7 percent. In Fairfax County, we went from 7 percent to 20 percent. It is fair to say that we can expect improvement, but in all probability, the percentage of schools passing statewide will not exceed 20 percent. Is this an accurate reflection of the status of education in Virginia? We don't think so.

65. American Association Of School Administrators - The School criticism against Virginia's standards of learning tests has to do Unlike NAEP, thestate tests are used to The setting of standards, cutoff points and passing http://www.aasa.org/publications/sa/2000_12/domenech.htm

66. A Dinner Discussion With Dr. Daniel Domenech Domenech decided to use the SOL tests as a way problem with having the students meetthe standards in 2004 outdated in terms of providing the learning kids need http://www.aypf.org/forumbriefs/1999/db061599.htm

A Dinner Discussion with Dr. Daniel Domenech, Superintendent of Fairfax (VA) County Public Schools Dr. Daniel Domenech, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), provided his thoughts on education reform, the process of change, and the implementation of the Virginia Standards of Learning to a group of education policymakers on Capitol Hill. FCPS is the 12 th largest school system in the United States and consists of 234 schools and centers with 157,000 students. The system has approximately 40 percent minority students with approximately 20 percent on free and reduced price lunch. The average SAT score for FCPS is 1095; at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology it is 1450. But the overall number for the County is misleading: while the upper and middle-income (generally white) students are achieving at high levels, there are large clusters of poor (generally minority) students who are failing. The demographics of Fairfax County are no different than those of the District of Columbia or New York City. The SOLs did demonstrate, however, a discrepancy in achievement between majority and minority students. Domenech decided to use the SOL tests as a way to determine which schools needed the most help in ensuring high academic achievement for all students. He said he wanted to instill an attitude of equal

67. December 30, 2002 the state requirements change regarding standards Of learning (SOL) tests, schoolofficials Left Behind Act also requires schools to reach standards for all http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/Archive/2002/Dec '02/d123002.htm

December 30, 2001 After a dour report, city schools aim to improve (Editor's note: This is the second article in a series assessing how area schools fared on the state Standards of Learning tests and what they are doing to prepare for the next tests.) By LES TRACEY Bulletin Staff Writer Martinsville' mayor has seen firsthand how standardized test scores can have effects far from the classroom. "I was talking to a man from New York who moved down here for a job and decided to live in a community south of here," said Gene Teague at a joint city council and school board meeting in December. "He said it was because of the test scores he saw on the Internet. "This is the way people use these scores. For people who think they aren't important, they are." School officials agreed, saying accountability is here to stay, and the stakes only will get higher. "We are living in an era of school accountability," said Pam Heath, the city schools' director of accreditation services. "The public wants to know how well the schools are doing the job. And they have every right to know." With only one year before the state requirements change regarding Standards Of Learning (SOL) tests, school officials are working to beat the clock.

68. Schools Find Wrong Answers To Test Pressure (washingtonpost.com) In Virginia, where the standards of learning tests are much more deadening Mountainof tests Slowly Crushing School Quality (The Washington Post, 5/8/01). http://sauv.free.fr/archives2/A6947-2001May9.html

Home Register Web Search: News Home Page News Digest Nation World ... Donna Britt Marc Fisher Dr. Gridlock Homeroom Inside PG Colbert King ... Site Index Schools Find Wrong Answers To Test Pressure Marc Fisher can be reached by e-mail at marcfisher@washpost.com or by phone at (202) 334-7563. Discuss this and other columns on the Marc Fisher Message Boards E-Mail This Article Printer-Friendly Version Subscribe to The Post By Marc Fisher Thursday, May 10, 2001; Page B01 The fifth-grade girl stands in the foyer of Bethesda Elementary School, capsized in tears. "What's the matter, sweetie?" a concerned mother asks. "Can I help?" The girl sobs and sobs. She cannot speak. Finally, she gulps: "I'm a few minutes late, I missed the bus and now I can't go on the playground." The mother: "They won't let you go on the playground if you miss the bus?" Girl: "No, not the regular playground. There's a special MSPAP playground, but you can't go on it unless you come on time and bring your special red pen." It has come to this. The MSPAP Maryland School Performance Assessment Program is Maryland's state-mandated standardized test for children in grades 3, 5, and 8. It is used to compare how well schools perform. It is, therefore, something principals and teachers desperately want students to take seriously. How desperately? Bethesda Elementary set up a special playground with triple the usual time for students to play and an array of extra games. "If you're on time every day, are here every day, and do your best on the test, you qualify for the MSPAP Playground," says Principal Michael Castagnola. "It's a motivator. The kids get penalized if they miss a day of the test. They know that if you work hard, you're going to have fun."

69. YHS Spirit March 2000 of students who need to pass the standards test for of our students’ success reflectsreal learning and how SOL resource information and sample tests can be http://yhspatriot.yorktown.arlington.k12.va.us/pta/Spir0003.html

Yorktown Spirit - March 2000 Contents Note from the PrincipalThe SOL: No Easy Answers President's Perspective SHORT Takes Coming Up Note from the Principal Editor's Note: The following article by Dr. Pasi was published in the current issue of Educational Leadership, and is reprinted for your information. The SOL: No Easy Answers Before the Virginia Board of Education adopted the new Standards of Learning (SOL), math teachers at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia, taught the same topics that they teach now but in a different order. Teachers used explorations, labs, and group work in their classes, but they did not collaborate often. Most math teachers did not hesitate to spend more time on a concept that students found difficult to grasp, even if it meant that they might not have time to cover other topics. Since the board adopted the SOL, teachers more often use direct instruction instead of group activities to cover all of the new standards curriculum. Teachers now feel greater pressure to keep to a schedule; whether students grasp a concept or not, the class must move on. However, the increased demand for successful test results means that teachers collaborate more to learn from one anther's instructional strategies. A Mixed Bag Less time for certain types of creative, group activities but increased interest in professional collaborationthe Standards are a double-edged sword. Although much of the criticism of and praise for end-of-year tests has been expressed in black-and-white terms, the Standards are a mixed bag: neither a cure-all for education's shortcomings nor the disaster initially feared. But because the Standards are here to stay, the time for us to argue about their merits has passed.

70. Education Week - Registration - Access Restricted scores, many older students who aren't required to pass the tests to graduate don classon a recent school day had ever heard of the standards of learning. http://www.edweek.org/ew/ewstory.cfm?slug=14va.h20&keywords=teaching AND reform

71. Education And Higher Learning: Assessment And Evaluations: Standards And Testing list of schools not require standardized tests for admission Department of Educationstandards of learning Information Guide as the best state standards in the http://www.buzzle.com/chapters/education-and-higher-learning_assessment-and-eval

Translate This Page: French German Italian Portuguese ... Assessment and Evaluations Standards and Testing Subscribe to our FREE Education and Higher Learning magazine! Click here for details... View a run-down of the chapters or their sub-chapters... Know of a web site that would be appropriate for this chapter? Click here for details on suggesting a site. Select a Chapter Animals and Pets Arts and Literature Business and Finance Children and Family Computers and the Internet eCommerce and Shopping Education and Higher Learning Entertainment and Media Food and Drink Government and Politics Health and Fitness History and the Human Experience Hobbies and Special Interest Home and Lifestyle Philosophy and Religion Science and Technology Sports and Recreation Travel and Tourism What's the Buzz Escape Hatch: Cartoons and Comics Jokes and Funnies Open Mic Poetry Bee Short Fixion Standards and Testing Assessments and evaluations in educational circles are complementary terms but are not interchangeable for each other. Assessments are formal means of determining the skills and learning potential of students. Evaluations are ratings that mark the proficiency level of learning or measure the amount and degree of learning that a student. The same professionals also perform evaluations. The most standard form of educational evaluations is standards tests and subject matter tests. Educational measurement is the use of tests and other devices to determine students' abilities, their achievements, and the effectiveness of educational programs. Below are links to standards and testing information.

72. High Standards & Accountability Featured In Newsletter & Town Meeting criteria, which requires that 70% of students pass the tests in order or get off. For more information about Virginia's standards of learning, visit http http://www.ed.gov/MailingLists/EDInfo/msg00619.html

EDInfo Mailing List Archive Prev Next Main Index To Subject From Date : Wed, 13 Jun 2001 16:27:25 -0400 Reply-To : edinfo@inet.ed.gov Sender : owner-edinfo@inet.ed.gov http://registerevent.ed.gov/downlink/event-flyer.asp?intEventID=140 http://www.ed.gov/G2K/community/ http://www.pen.k12.va.us . To learn more about the success of Tidewater Park, visit http://www.nps.k12.va.us/schools/tidewaterpark/index.htm , or call 757-628-2500. =========================================================== To subscribe to (or unsubscribe from) EDInfo, address an email message to: listproc@inet.ed.gov Then write either SUBSCRIBE EDINFO YOURFIRSTNAME YOURLASTNAME in the message, or write UNSUBSCRIBE EDINFO (if you have a signature block, please turn it off) Then send it! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Past EDInfo messages: http://www.ed.gov/MailingLists/EDInfo/ Search: http://www.ed.gov/MailingLists/EDInfo/search.html Past ED Initiatives: http://www.ed.gov/pubs/EDInitiatives/ Prev by Date: Notices Inviting Applications (June 15, 2001)

73. Paper on the curriculum framework of the standards of learning schooling becomes all aboutpassing tests, it becomes a a building into a world of complete learning. http://coe.jmu.edu/martindm/ECED 510 Web Resource File/Lisa's Paper.htm

74. The Socrates Institute: Press Release March 6, 1999 Virginia Tech, gave the state's new standardized tests, the standards of learning,a verbal The SOL tests also eventually will be used to determine whether http://www.socratesinstitute.org/vision/press3_6_99.htm

THE SOCRATES INSTITUTE Raising Extraordinary Questions in Education June 3, 1998 June 15, 1998 Oct. 17, 1998 Mar. 6, 1999 ... x March 6, 1999 Tech professor criticizes use of SOLs / Says test shouldn't control graduation, accreditation Saturday, March 6, 1999 BY JON POPE Times-Dispatch Staff Writer Dr. Lawrence H. Cross can't believe the massive changes he's seeing in the state's public education arena. Standardized tests to determine whether a student will receive a high school diploma? Ludicrous, Cross said. Standardized tests to determine whether schools are doing their jobs correctly? Ridiculous, Cross said. Standardized tests being used as a way to raise academic standards? Absurd, Cross said. Cross, a professor of educational research and measurement at Virginia Tech, gave the state's new standardized tests, the Standards of Learning, a verbal thrashing yesterday. He made his comments during a small group session of the Virginia Educational Research Association's annual conference, which was held in Chesterfield County. About 35 educational researchers attended the conference. The association is a nonprofit group with about 100 members whose mission is to serve the research and evaluation needs of professional educators in Virginia. Cross said the SOL tests are no better and no worse than any other standardized tests. "It's not the test that's the bad guy, it's the use to which it's being put." His criticism comes at a time when educators, students and parents apparently are trying to make sense of the new tests, which are based on a tougher curriculum approved by the state Board of Education in 1995.

75. Little River Academic Programs The Continental Math League tests are given once a month during November complementto the language arts, science, and social studies standards of learning. http://www.loudoun.k12.va.us/schools/littleriver/academics.htm

Little River Academic Program Little River Elementary School is committed to providing a safe and nuturing learning environment so that all our children can grow to their full potential. Our Community Pledge LCPS Report Cards Standards of Learning Enrichment Programs Technology Education Character Education Little River Community Pledge The Little River Elementary School is committed to providing a safe and nuturing learning environment so that all of our children can grow to their potential. We realize that this is a collablorative effort in which we as a partnership work together. We promise to greet students each morning with the expectation that each day will be positive and productive. Will you learn about the school program, so that you can show the same enthusiasm? We promise to prepare informative and motivating lessons. Will you assure that your children come to school on time and well rested to appreciate them?

76. Carver Elementary School, Newport News, VA Carver Collaborative Calendar, Virginia standards of learning.com. Apple learningInterchange. Lesson Plans Page.com. Tabb Elementary SOL Practice tests. http://carver.nn.k12.va.us/Teachers.html

Teacher Resources Carver Resources Rubric Sites Periodicals Lesson Plan ... Materials Carver Resources Equipment Request NNPS Intranet Tech Request NNPS TRC ... Back to Top Rubric Sites RubiStar Home Class Participation Rubric Maker Listening Rubric Generator General Rubric Generator ... Back to Top Periodicals Weekly Reader Scholastic News The Teachers' Helper The Mailbox ... Back to Top Lesson Plan Resources ABC teach Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators Apple Learning Interchange Lesson Plans Page.com ... Back to Top SOL Practice Test Materials Third Grade Reading (Texas State Assessments) Third Grade Math (Texas State Assessments) Fourth Grade Reading (Texas State Assessments) Fourth Grade Math (Texas State Assessments) ... Virginia SOL.com Practice Test Site

77. Mark Warner On Education concerns about the history and social studies tests. Virginia’s standards shouldbe tools to improve SOL system should promote real learning and analytical http://issues2002.org/Governor/Mark_Warner_Education.htm

78. Cluster Springs Elementary School Practice SOL tests, Smiling Hearts, Welcome to Virginia. standards of learning. EducationalResources for the US DOE. learning Disabilities Association of Virginia. http://www.myschoolonline.com/folder/0,1872,51613-47113-53-27374,00.html

Home Page Calendar Announcements April 2003 News ... Arts and Crafts Education Resources Exercise your Brain Family Activities Grade 4 SOLs Grade 5 SOLs ... Nominate this site for the Showcase Cluster Springs Elementary School Virginia Edcational Resources Educational Resources for Virginia Virginia Department of Education Welcome to Virginia Standards of Learning Educational Resources for the US DOE ... PRIVACY

79. Mrs. Wilborne's SOL Testing Page In the spring, all third grade students will be tested on K3 Standardsof learning. Review for the SOL tests with Jeopardy! http://web.dps.k12.va.us/ParkAve/soltest.htm

Back Just One More Question Right Can Make You Pass the SOL Test! Danville Public Schools Mrs. Wilborne's SOL Testing Page New Test Site Review for SOL Test Online: Math Science Social Studies English Tech Quizzes Online funbrain.com Virginia SOL 1998 Sample Tests English Math History Science Grade 3 English Grade 3 Math Grade 3 History Grade 3 Science ... Yum-Yum! Multiplying With Jelly Beans! Power Point Presentation Latest Release of Test Items Grade Three Resource Guide For Social Studies Start Your Own Homonyms List and Learn Homonym - One of two or more words spelled and pronounced alike but different in meaning Homophone - One of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or spelling Homograph - One of two or more words spelled alike but different in meaning or pronunciation Our third grade curriculum is based completely on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs). The SOLs are the curriculum. Please make yourself familiar with them and work to master each. In the spring, all third grade students will be tested on K-3 Standards of Learning. All fifth grade students will be tested on 4-5 SOLs. Language Arts Standards of Learning for Third Grade Mathematics Standards of Learning for Third Grade Science Standards of Learning for Third Grade Social Studies Standards of Learning for Third Grade ... Pacing the Third Grade Virginia SOLs Many of our SOL studies are integrated into Health and Physical Education, Library

80. Mathematics Consistent high academic standards for all development providing access to technology,current curricula, and methodology for the varied learning needs of http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/AnnandaleHS/SchoolPlan/schoolplan.htm

Fairfax County Public Schools School Improvement Plan For Annandale High School Committee Chair Don Clausen Committee Members: Name Position Don Clausen Principal Benita Toler Assistant Principal Tom Pratuch Department Chair (Science) Pam Feil Department Chair (English) Jackie Sabine Department Chair (Social Studies) Gail Chumra Department Chair (Mathematics) Susan Taylor Guidance Counselor Janet Pfeifer Librarian Judy Miller Parent Andrea Sobel Parent Kathy Hermann Department Chair (ESOL) Cluster Director (Name): John English Cluster Coordinator (Name): Cecy Krill School Mission Statement Fairfax County Schools Vision and Mission Statement: The vision of Fairfax County Public Schools is “to provide a gifted-quality education to every child in an instructional setting appropriate for his or her need.” The vision is supported by a mission “to educate all students to meet high academic standards and to prepare all students to be responsible citizens in the 21 st century.” Annandale High School Mission Statement: Annandale High School Will stimulate intellectual curiosity, challenge the abilities of the students to develop competence in all curricular areas, improve ethical decision making skills and emphasize worthy moral character development. Educational experiences will take place in a safe, clean environment respecting all areas of diversity and promoting positive self-images.

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