81. KING AND QUEEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS VIRGINIA STANDARDS OF LEARNING A team of educators has developed tests, which are based on the content that hasbeen established as the Virginia standards of learning for each of the http://www.kqps.net/sol_accreditation.htm

KING AND QUEEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS History of Virginia’s new education standards In 1994, Governor George Allen charged the state legislators to do four things: Establish rigorous Standards of Learning (SOL) for students Establish new Standards of Accreditation (SOA) for schools and School Systems Develop a plan of action for meeting new standards Hold school systems accountable for the performance of their students King and Queen County Public Schools have embraces and are well on the way to implementing these new standards of student performance and school accountability. What’s the purpose of these new standards? In an effort to improve public education in Virginia, legislators are eager to hold students and schools accountable for academic performance. Students, no matter where they live in Virginia, must pass the same content tests for core subjects. The concept will ensure consistency in the academic preparations of all students upon graduations from high school. When will my child take the test? May 8-23 2002, students in grade 3,5,and 8 will take SOL tests in the four core content areas of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. In grades 5 and 8 a technology test will be given. These tests will cover material taught up to that grade, i.e. the third grade math test will cover all math curriculum content in kindergarten, grades 1,2, and 3.

82. Pre-Session 2000 Survey civics and economics) and incorporates computer technology learning standards. Testswere developed to measure student progress towards learning the (sols). 12. http://www.mcquigg.com/Pre00res.htm

Pre-Session 2000 Survey Results I want to thank everyone who returned a survey. 367 surveys were returned. I appreciate all of the comments. (All numbers are rounded.) Tobacco Funds As part of the settlement, Virginia has determined that 60% of $4 billion plus $339 million will be used to assist tobacco growers and to eliminate or prevent the use of tobacco products by minors. The Governor has proposed using the remaining funds for priority transportation projects. Over the years some money did not go to transportation because the State had to pay for smoking related illnesses. Do you support using some of the tobacco settlement money on transportation? 73% yes 19% no $$$ for Transportation Would you support any of the following tax increases for Northern Virginia if the money was used to pay solely for a list of transportation improvements designed to reduce congestion in Northern Virginia: a) 1% increase in sales tax? 33% yes 58% no b) 8 cents/gal increase in gas tax?

83. Manassas City Public Schools Current News percent or above, on English, history, mathematics and science SOL tests administeredto to meet the needs of our students and the standards of learning.”. http://www.manassas.k12.va.us/newsinfo/currentnews.htm

Current News Administration Instructional Schools Human Resources ... Technology Current News Attention Parents : If your emergency contact information has changed and needs to be updated on your child's Emergency Card, please contact your school's front office. March 27, 2003 ...One of the strategies in the Manassas City Public Schools strategic plan states, “We will ensure the highest quality employees to achieve our mission and objectives”. In line with this strategy, we would like to acknowledge seven of our outstanding educators for being selected as finalists for the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award. The nominees are: Mrs. Donna Bartholomew, Mrs. Pamela Belch, Mrs. Margaret Everett, Mrs. Linda Jenkins, Mrs. Connie Judd, Mrs. Maria Martinez and Mrs. Ann Mizelle. These educators were selected based on their ability to instill in students a desire to learn and achieve, understanding of the individual needs of students, thorough knowledge and ability to share that knowledge, cooperative relationships, and outstanding leadership. Parents, colleagues, and students provided wonderful commentary and reflections on why each of these nominees should be considered the Teacher of the Year. The 2002-2003 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Manassas City Public Schools is Mrs. Ann Mizelle. Mrs. Mizelle is a nineteen year veteran with Manassas City. Mrs. Mizelle is a Math teacher at Osbourn High School. She received her bachelor’s degree from Bemidji State University in Minnesota and her master's from George Mason. Mrs. Mizelle has covered many subjects at Osbourn such as General Math, Algebra 1 and 2, Trigonometry, Statistics and SAT prep. She is currently the Supervisor for the Osbourn Mathematics Department. She is the coordinator of SOL remediation programs including 8

84. State And International Assessment by administering the standards of learning (SOL) test in that covers all of the standards’content areas Virginia SOL tests affect the classroom by providing http://education.cortland.edu/teach/papers/vaassessment.html

State and International Assessment Assessment is the driving force behind every aspect of teaching today. There is an increasing focus on grades, as well as a growing concern for US performance, in schools compared to others abroad. As a result, standards of learning have not only been developed for each state, but are now being strictly enforced as well. This has caused much controversy over the effectiveness and legitimacy of the standards and over their consequences. By examining various educational resources, in addition to speaking with teachers and administrators, contrasting views become clearer. Speaking with various educators from the greater Charlottesville area paints a less than perfect picture of SOL assessment. "SOLs truly drive the curriculum. Now, teachers teach to the standards. They even go as far as teaching the students test taking skills," says a local administrator. This view is shared by all those interviewed. Educators assert that the SOLs are not age-appropriate and that they monopolize instruction as well. Knowledge and skills necessary in the real world take a back seat to preparing students for the end of the year assessment. When asked whether the science SOLs are traditional or innovative, one classroom teacher’s response was "SOLs are neither traditional nor innovative. They think they’re innovative, but they are a return to rote memorization. They test facts rather than concepts."

85. WSLS.com - Poll Shows Mixed Feelings About SOL's The majority of people do support the standards, Jones said. for what goes on andthe learning that takes two percent agreed that the SOL tests are putting http://www.wsls.com/news/education/MGBVHL2521D.html

86. Standards Of Learning Additional Resources An informative column on standards of learning Trade Booksby This Web site also includes the Spring 2000 tests and answers. NEW! http://www.answerpoint.org/subpage.asp?category_id=71

87. Virginia School Report Card Downloadable Files each grade level and in certain high school courses is outlined in the Standardsof learning ((sols)). The (sols) form the basis for the SOL tests administered to http://va-reportcards.vipnet.org/html/glossary.html

Virginia School Report Cards Glossary Dropouts —Students in grades 7-12 who leave school before graduation and do not transfer to another school are considered dropouts. Dropout information is reported for any school with a grade 7 or higher. General Educational Development (GED) Certificates —This number indicates high school students who earned a GED. Adults earning a GED certificate through adult education programs are not included in these numbers. Limited English Proficient —Students who are identified as limited-English-proficient (English as a Second Language) are expected to take and pass the SOL tests; however, these students may be granted an exemption from taking the tests for one grade level only at grades 3, 5, or 8. For School years 1997-98 and 1998-99, LEP students’ scores will not be included in the calculation and reporting of school-wide scores. Paired Schools —School accreditation is based on student performance on the SOL tests. SOL tests are administered to students in grades 3, 5, 8, and high school. Schools that do not house these grades or offer courses for which SOL tests exist are paired with another school in the division housing one or more of the grades or courses in which SOL tests are administered. The pairings are at the recommendation of the division superintendent. Standards of Learning (SOL) —In June 1995, the Virginia Board of Education adopted new, more rigorous student academic standards in the four core content areas of English, mathematics, science, and history and social science. What a student is expected to know and be able to do at each grade level and in certain high school courses is outlined in the Standards of Learning (SOLs). The SOLs form the basis for the SOL tests administered to students in grades 3, 5, 8, and in 11 high school courses.

88. 10/24/01 -- More Va. Schools Hit Mark On Exams Used For Ratings -- Education Wee Read all about the Virginia standards of learning, including the statewidepassing rates for the Spring 2001 tests. http://www.edweek.org/ew/newstory.cfm?slug=08sol.h21

89. Education Week - Registration - Access Restricted On the Web Read all about the Virginia standards of learning, includingthe statewide passing rates for the Spring 2001 tests. http://www.edweek.org/ew/ew_printstory.cfm?slug=08sol.h21

90. Reservoir Middle School, Newport News, VA Reservoir Reaches Success on Virginia (sols). Reservoir's results on the 2000Standards of learning tests are a source of pride for staff and students! http://reservoir.nn.k12.va.us/sol.shtml

Questions Parents Frequently Ask Test Information School Report Cards Standards of Learning (SOL) Information Reservoir Reaches Success on Virginia SOLs Reservoir's results on the 2000 Standards of Learning tests are a source of pride for staff and students! Not only did Reservoir improve in all subject areas, we showed more growth than any other middle school in Newport News in most areas (See table below.) Reservoir's faculty and staff have worked hard to prepare a plan that will again result in increased student performance on the 2001 SOL tests. This school improvement plan is available for review by parents; any teacher or administrator is available to provide further information about the plan and its implementation. We encourage you to visit Reservoir and review a copy of the plan in its entirety; however, some of the highlights are as follows: Each teacher has developed long-range plans to help ensure that all SOL material is taught prior to testing. Administrators will meet with grade-level teams on a weekly basis to monitor progress toward SOL goals. Pacing conferences will be held each marking period to review student performance, pacing, and additional resources needed to meet goals.

91. Sol Gloucester County Public Schools PRACTICE tests for SOL ASSESSMENT http//page TazewellCounty Public Schools Virginia standards of learning http//tazewell http://www.geocities.com/pattiehunt2001/sol.html

Virginia SOL Resources Virginia Beach Computer/Technology Student Proficiencies Review Fifth Grade Computer Technology http://www.oceanlakeses.vbcps.k12.va.us/sol/tech/techsol.htm SOL Resources for Grades 4-5 education/solsites/elem.html Virginia 5th Grade Science Practice Test http://members.aol.com:/gandlt7/practicetests/SOLTest.htm Raleigh Court Elementary School Virginia Standards of Learning practice tests http://www.roanoke.k12.va.us/raleigh/SOL/test.html Poquoson Elementary's Virginia Standards of Learning Practice Quizzes http://www.wehavenews.com/solprac.htm VirginiaSol http://www.VirginiaSOL.com Gloucester County Public Schools PRACTICE TESTS for SOL ASSESSMENT http://page.gc.k12.va.us/public/gets/soltests.htm SOL LINKS http://marg.mhost.com/SOL/solpages.html Tazewell County Public Schools Virginia Standards of Learning http://tazewell.k12.va.us/sites/sols.htm 4th Grade Virginia History Revisited http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/jr/4thgradereview.html http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/lessonjmu.htm Buena Vista City Public Schools Using the Web for Virginia SOLs http://www.bv.rang.k12.va.us/SOL.htm

92. Article By Carter Thomas - Fairfax County Public Schools Virginians approve of the standards of learning and the standards of Accreditation test,1 math test, one social studies test, two English tests and one http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/9155/thomas50.html

A Conservative's View By former School Board Member Carter Thomas April, 2000 For the life of me, I can't figure out why conservatives generally support the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) and liberals continually attack them. Could it be they are philosophically against a sound knowledge-based education and in favor of whole language, critical thinking, and higher order skills without the necessary knowledge base? Recently I attended a local meeting sponsored by a group called PAVAURSOL. PAVAURSOL is an acronym for "Parents Across Virginia United to Reform the SOLs." At the meeting it became very obvious that the word "reform" in PAVAURSOL's name is a euphemism for abolish. Despite its name, this group has no intention of helping to reform the SOLs. From the presentation and the discussion that followed, it became quite clear that PAVAURSOL's main function is to attack the SOLs and to put political pressure on the General Assembly to abolish them. PAVAURSOL's guest speaker for the evening was Dr. Ray Brandt. Dr. Brandt told me personally that he disagreed with standards-based and knowledge-based education. He is part of the education establishment that supports only less rigorous, integrated curricula. The group's founder, Ms. Mickey VanDerwerker, was more demure. When asked if she supports standards, her answer was always yes, but... PAVAURSOL attacks the SOLs, not on substance, but rather on esoteric things such as feelings. Instead of taking an honest - albeit wrong - stand against standards, the group wondered how many Virginia students will drop out of school because they fear the test and they wondered if it is fair to hold students to the same standards if they have not had the

93. Standards Of Learning Page A great resource to review information covered on the tests. Virginia's Departmentof Education Division of Instruction standards of learning Index A list http://www.augusta.k12.va.us/bmms/sol/

Thank you for visiting our SOL Practice Test site. Teachers have created some SOL practice tests to aid our students as they prepare for these tests. Other sites and resources are listed as well. Please check back to view updated tests and links. PRESOL Tests "Preparing, Reinforcing, Educating for the SOL" Choose the grade level content area test by clicking on the corresponding box. These interactive tests enable you to receive instant feedback on correct answers and scoring. Sixth Grade Seventh Grade Eighth Grade Here are some other resources to assist students and parents with SOL practice. Mrs. Cash's Math Tutorial Mrs. Tracy Cash, eighth grade math teacher at Stewart Middle School, and her classes have developed this math page to help you prepare for the SOLs. When you visit, click on the area in which you need additional help. SOL Tests from SMS This is another test developed by the Stewart Middle School staff to provide practice for the SOL test. SOL Tests from SDMS Visit this link to SOL tests from Stuarts Draft Middle School.

94. Test Usage Information Links Research, articles, and information about high stakes tests and their misuse from group opposing Virginia Category Society Issues Standardized Testing State Testing...... HighStakes tests Ensuring Accurate Reflections of Student learning. Position Paperon the standards of learning prepared by the Faculty of the Graduate http://home.rica.net/airedale/test_usage_information_links.htm

SOL -Standards of Learning PAVURSOL SOL Reform Test Usage Information Links: January, 2003 "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." -Albert Einstein "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi "I don't ever want you to forget that there are millions of God's children who will not, and cannot get a good education, and I don't want you feeling that you are better than they are. For you will never be what you ought to be until they are all that they ought to be." -Martin Luther King Jr. "The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." H. L. Mencken. Please contact me regarding any corrections and/or additions needed for this page. Lowell L. Fulk

95. New Page 1 schools on the bases of SOL tests scores alone all children receive the same opportunitiesfor learning and achievement by holding him or her to lower standards. http://davealbo.bigstep.com/generic.jhtml?pid=41

96. Paul Fleisher--standardized Testing Whatever doesn't fit within the standards gets eliminated. Lockstep learning frustratesboth groups of students local schools did best on last year's SOL tests. http://www.richmond.infi.net/~pfleishe/SOLessay.html

For those of you from outside Virginia, this articles refer to a standardized testing program our politicians have instituted to "raise educational standards". Beware. It may happen in your locality too. The Educational Assembly Line The SOLs are limiting our children's education. by Paul Fleisher What should we expect from our schools? Certainly we want children to read, write and compute. We want them to be able to think analytically and solve problems, to know basic information about our world, and become responsible citizens. They should learn to work together, and solve conflicts peacefully. We want them to develop an appreciation of the arts, and respect for cultures different from our own. We want children to learn skills that make them employable. We want to be sure they're healthy and well-fed, and want them to find life-long interests to make them happy. How do we in Virginia determine whether our schools are meeting these expectations? We give kids a multiple choice test. The Virginia Standards of Learning may be the most destructive thing politicians have done to public schools since "massive resistance." The problem is not so much the standards themselvesalthough they are written with far too much inflexible detail. (For example, one standard insists that students learn to use interactive video-discs, a technology that was obsolete five years ago.) It's the testing that is making the lives of Virginia educators and schoolchildren miserable, and robbing them of a first-rate education.

97. SOL Tests four things establish rigorous standards of learning (SOL) for a plan of action formeeting the new standards; High school students will be given tests in the http://www.powhatan.k12.va.us/programs/soltests.htm

The Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests Why? In 1994, Governor George Allen charged state legislators to do four things: establish rigorous Standards of Learning (SOL) for students develop a plan of action for meeting the new standards hold school systems accountable for the performance of their students In an effort to improve public education in Virginia, legislators are eager to hold students and schools accountable for academic performance. Students, no matter where they live in Virginia, must pass the same content tests for core subjects. This concept will ensure consistency in the academic preparation of all students upon graduation from high school. When? May 10-21, 1999 Who? Students in grades 3, 5, and 8 will take SOL tests in the four core content areas of English, Math, Science, and Social Studies. In grades 5 and 8 a Technology test will be given. These tests will cover material taught up to that grade, i.e. the third grade math test will cover all math curriculum content in kindergarten, grades 1, 2, and 3. High school students will be given tests in the four core content areas of English, math, science, and social studies including the following subjects:

98. No1Education In speaking of the 97 percent failure rate on last year’s standards of learning(SOL) tests, she said If we look at this process as a journey, then http://www.cblpolicyinstitute.org/journey.htm

The Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute's dual missions are to prepare young women for effective conservative leadership and to promote school choice opportunities for all K-12 children in America. Join our free e-mail list! Your e-mail address: For the Media Donate Online Campus Speakers Program ... Links All pages © Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute, 1993-2002 Virginia Can Become No.1 in Education And, Yes, Top Even That By Michelle Easton, printed in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on March 29, 1999 I was pleasantly surprised to read a recent statement on Virginia’s new Standards of Learning (SOL) test scores by the president of the Virginia Education Association (VEA) union. In speaking of the 97 percent failure rate on last year’s Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, she said: "If we look at this process as a journey, then we are at the beginning. The scores from the first round of the SOL assessments should provide each school the information they need to select the appropriate path for their journey." Schools would prefer a perpetual "improvement model" which allows schools to retain accreditation as long as they show an improvement each year in test scores – even if it took decades for a school to reach a 70% pass rate. That’s the system that is being used until 2007. But this would make state accreditation as meaningless as it has been until now. Deadlines are necessary incentives to changing the status quo.

99. VA-Dissecting The Virginia State Tests Dissecting the Virginia State tests. THE TEST The Virginia standards of LearningAssessments are criterion-referenced tests administered by the State http://peoplespublishing.com/standards_help/VA/VAtests.html

Books Tests Practice Tests State Links ... PPG Dissecting the Virginia State Tests THE TEST COMPONENTS SCORING - The multiple choice questions are scored using a single-answer scoring guide. The Writing prompts are scored using grade specific rubrics that have been developed to evaluate the student responses; these are the Composing rubric, the Written Expression rubric and the Usage/Mechanics rubric. These rubrics follow a 4-point scoring model. Student scores are released by the State Department of Education and are sorted by school. These scores are available to view online at www.pen.k12.va.us Back

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