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    Issues and Answers: What's Going On in Your Association?

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    The document summarizes information presented at a Campbell County school board meeting about new alternative assessments that will replace some Standards of Learning (SOL) exams in Virginia. It notes that while the alternative assessments are a better measure of student understanding, they require more work from teachers to develop. Specifically: - New alternative assessments will replace some multiple choice SOL exams and require students to demonstrate understanding through open-ended questions. - Developing the assessments requires significant time and training from teachers, which was an unfunded mandate from the state. - The assessments are meant to provide multiple measures of student learning over the course of a school year rather than a single high-stakes test.

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    Issues and Answers: What's Going On in Your Association?

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    The document summarizes information presented at a Campbell County school board meeting about new alternative assessments that will replace some Standards of Learning (SOL) exams in Virginia. It notes that while the alternative assessments are a better measure of student understanding, they require more work from teachers to develop. Specifically: - New alternative assessments will replace some multiple choice SOL exams and require students to demonstrate understanding through open-ended questions. - Developing the assessments requires significant time and training from teachers, which was an unfunded mandate from the state. - The assessments are meant to provide multiple measures of student learning over the course of a school year rather than a single high-stakes test.

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    november 2015

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    The document summarizes information presented at a Campbell County school board meeting about new alternative assessments that will replace some Standards of Learning (SOL) exams in Virginia. It notes that while the alternative assessments are a better measure of student understanding, they require more work from teachers to develop. Specifically: - New alternative assessments will replace some multiple choice SOL exams and require students to demonstrate understanding through open-ended questions. - Developing the assessments requires significant time and training from teachers, which was an unfunded mandate from the state. - The assessments are meant to provide multiple measures of student learning over the course of a school year rather than a single high-stakes test.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    256 views5 pages

    Issues and Answers: What's Going On in Your Association?

    Uploaded by

    api-320886833
    The document summarizes information presented at a Campbell County school board meeting about new alternative assessments that will replace some Standards of Learning (SOL) exams in Virginia. It notes that while the alternative assessments are a better measure of student understanding, they require more work from teachers to develop. Specifically: - New alternative assessments will replace some multiple choice SOL exams and require students to demonstrate understanding through open-ended questions. - Developing the assessments requires significant time and training from teachers, which was an unfunded mandate from the state. - The assessments are meant to provide multiple measures of student learning over the course of a school year rather than a single high-stakes test.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 5

    LOCAL

    ASSOCIATION
    PRESIDENTS

    Elicia Bryant,
    Amherst

    Issues and Answers


    V O L U M E

    X X X I I

    N O V E M B E R

    Local Alternative Assessments: Better Tests, but More


    Work for Teachers

    Valerie York,

    Source: http://www.newsadvance.com

    Appomattox

    Local alternative assessments


    that replace eliminated state
    Standards of Learning exams
    are a better kind of test, but take
    time and money to prepare,
    Campbell County school officials said in a presentation to the
    school board Monday.

    Cindy McKinney,
    Bedford Co.
    Christel Coman,
    Campbell Co.
    Connie Finney,
    Lynchburg

    2 0 1 5

    Ultimately, its a more worthwhile assessment, said Barbara


    Wickham, the divisions director of assessment. To be able to
    have teachers create these assessments at the local level, to
    give these students the opportunity to demonstrate understanding its a better assessment that will drive instruction,
    a more purposeful assessment.

    The number of SOL tests


    required in elementary and
    middle school drops from 22
    to 17 this year following a
    September 2014 state Board
    of Education vote. The eliminated tests are Grade 3 History, Grade 3 Science, Grade 5
    Writing, United States History to 1865, and United States
    History: 1865 to the present.
    The legislation change requires local alternative assessments which eventually will
    count toward state accreditation. The assessments, which
    are being given for the first
    time this year, require students to demonstrate understanding rather than complete

    a multiple choice test. The division will administer them four


    times per year.
    The idea behind this is that
    rather than having a one-shot
    multiple choice SOL test in the
    month of May you need to
    have multiple pictures of their
    learning to really see if they
    understand, Wickham said,
    giving examples from a thirdgrade test, similar to thought
    experiments, that require students to apply multiple skills to
    explain a solution.
    To come up with the rubric,
    teachers on the team that generated the tests took the tests
    themselves, selected their own

    Whats Going On In Your Association?


    Amherst is continuing to

    Bedford has formed a

    circulate their petition for an


    elected board

    compensation committee
    and is working on a presentation and proposal for the
    coming weeks

    Appomattox has conducted a compensation survey and is advocating for


    better compensation for
    members

    Campbell continues
    regular building visits to

    schools and transportation


    promoting the association

    Lynchburg continues to
    meet with the superintendent
    on a regular basis, advocating for member issues as
    well as system-wide issues

    PAGE

    VEA EVENTS
    IPD
    Conference:
    Nov. 20-21
    VEA Lobby
    Day Richmond:
    February 1
    VEA Sparks
    Weekend
    Wintergreen:
    March 11-13
    VEA
    Delegate
    Assembly
    April 7-9

    Alternative Assessments...continued from p.1


    best answers, and then tweaked the assessments based on their discussion.
    The division expected this move before the
    legislation was final and has started looking at preparing assessments for a couple
    years, Superintendent Robert Johnson said,
    finalizing this years batch last summer.

    However, Johnson said, the tests are a good


    thing.

    Theres a lot of work that went into that.


    This is training that teachers had not had,
    Johnson said. This is not something that
    normally you would get in your prep program.

    Its what we had needed. It requires thinking


    and problem solving. I think youre going
    to see more of this to come but its a lot of
    work for our teachers, it really is.

    The training and teacher time required is


    not something supported by the state, he
    said.

    Written by Katrina Dix

    For more
    information: http://
    www.veanea.org/
    home/upcomingevents.htm

    ISSUES

    When the General Assembly took away the


    SOL tests and said you must create these
    local assessments, it was an unfunded mandate, he said. No money came along for the
    training that had to occur.

    New Members FY 15/16


    Amherst +7
    Appomattox +3
    Bedford +7
    Campbell +3
    Lynchburg +6

    AND

    ANSWERS

    VOLUME

    XXXII

    PAGE

    Local Association Memos


    Campbell County Education Association
    We hope that you have found the true why of what we do every day. The upcoming Virginia Journal of Education
    has a section planned just on that topic..with your colleagues around the state sharing their own why
    dont miss it.
    You have all received your most updated membership information. Please share that with your colleagues, especially
    those that have not yet realized the importance of being a member. Its your 5-minute discussion that makes the difference. Also, please take the business card included in that packet and place it in your wallet or wherever you keep the
    important things. It gives you the phone numbers and e-mails you need to contact us Fred or myself.when
    SITUATIONS happen.
    I know you are ALL more tech savvy than I am, so PLEASE set up your member benefit login ..if you havent already. If you roll coins, clip coupons, and count dollars and cents as I do, I really cant imagine not wanting to take
    advantage of all that is out there for you from VEA and NEA.
    Finally, a shout out to two of our members, Noren Bonner and Kristin John, who were selected to serve on special
    committees for VEA. They represented Campbell County during All Committee Weekend Sept. 12-13.
    With my continued thanks for all that you do ..each day..for our students..
    Christel Coman,
    CCEA President

    Lynchburg Education Association


    We will host our general membership meeting as per our by-laws on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. It will be an open house at
    the CenVaServ office beginning at 4:30 until 6:30. All members are invited to stop by, check out information about the
    local association work and enjoy a small holiday snack/punch. We hope to see you there.
    We have been pleased to add almost 40 new members for this school year through the opportunity to present the association to new employees at the orientations held all through the summer. Be sure to tell you colleagues why you are a
    member and ask them to join as well.
    Dont forget to check out the member benefits website at www.neamb.com for discounts, deals and to make sure that
    your NEA life insurance beneficiary is up to date.
    Kathy Hudson,
    LEA Co-President

    VOLUME

    XXXII

    PAGE

    VEA Sparks Weekend 2016

    If you are new to the profession, like to have fun, and want to learn more about the Virginia Education Association
    (VEA), Sparks is for you!
    Sparks is a free, fun and rewarding weekend event for teachers and support professionals who are new to Virginias
    public schools and who have little or no experience with VEA or NEA. The purpose of Sparks is to make a positive
    connection with newer members. Through Sparks, participants learn skills and make connections with other members
    that help them in their profession, while gaining a better understanding of their Association.
    Want to attend? Mark the dates, March 11-13, 2016, in your calendar. Online applications now available at
    www.veasparks.org. Applications due December 18. If you have questions, please contact Sonia Lee at
    [email protected].
    Here are answers to some of your questions about Sparks:
    What happens at Sparks?
    The Sparks program is adaptable to what you want and need. Sparks lets you make discoveries about your fellow educators and your Association on your own, related to your own priorities. You make those discoveries while learning
    about the issues relevant to you.
    What else is different?
    We strive to have a diverse group of Sparks participants to help build connections and create a climate in which you
    can feel comfortable having meaningful discussions around issues arising from individual differences in your professional lives.
    Preference is given to VEA members within the first five years of their career so that we can help form bonds that
    will last for a full career. Sparks is a one-time only event. No repeat Sparkers!
    We keep in touch with you after the initial Sparks weekend is over. We emphasize that VEA is here to support you
    throughout your career. And we ask that you participate in engaging other members in your age group.
    We have fun. No advance agenda is provided. Participants will take part in group activities. Be prepared to learn from
    and with your colleagues and you will be rewarded.
    Why do participants like VEA Sparks?
    We focus on your needs and desireseven your fears and concerns about your profession. We cater to you during the
    weekend. We listen to you. We create a safe environment for you to share scary issues. We help you understand that
    you are not the only one going through the perils of being new in this career. And, we have fun.

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