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

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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

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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
slee@veanea.org.
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.