Date:   July 12, 2004 
Contact: Irene Cromer
703-791-8720 

Four Prince William County Public School teachers have been selected by the Virginia Department of Education to serve on the 2004 Standards of Learning Assessment Content Review Committees for their subject and grade levels.  Nancy Groves, math specialist and teacher at Rippon Middle School, will serve on the Grade 7 Math Committee.  Judy Orazi, a third grade teacher at Enterprise Elementary School, will serve on the Grade 3 History Committee.  Bill Horan, sixth grade social studies teacher at Bull Run Middle School, will serve on the U.S. History to 1877 Review Committee.  Jane Dodge, sixth grade math teacher at Saunders Middle School, will serve on the Grade 6 Math Committee.  

According to the Virginia Department of Education, committee members are chosen based on criteria such as grade-level and content area expertise and experience; in-depth knowledge of the Standards of Learning; instructional/supervisory experience with students of varied learning styles, abilities, and aptitudes, including students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency; and balanced regional representation.  Members serve a one-year term beginning June 2004 and they have the option to apply for a second or third-year term.  

The Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools describe the Commonwealth's
expectations for student learning and achievement in grades K-12 in English, mathematics, science, history/social science, technology, the fine arts, foreign language, health and physical education, and driver education.  These standards represent a broad consensus of what parents, classroom teachers, school administrators, academics, and business and community leaders believe schools should teach and students should learn. 

In the four core areas of English, mathematics, science, and history/social science, a curriculum framework also is provided that details the specific knowledge and skills students must possess to meet the standards for these subjects.  As a part of the review committee, members review the Standards of Learning test forms for alignment with the test blueprints; examine test items to confirm a match with the Standards of Learning and review items for appropriateness and fairness; examine field test data for potential test items; and recommend items to be included in the test item bank, edited to be field tested, or dismissed from further consideration.  To learn more about SOL Review Committees, go to the Virginia Department of Education’s website at the following address:  http://www.pen.k12.va.us/VDOE/suptsmemos/2003/adm065a.doc.