Update and Implementation: 2008 History and Social Science

Standards of Learning and

Online Instructional Resources

The Standards of Learning Program

The Virginia Standards of Learning set reasonable targetsreasonable targets and expectationsexpectations for what teachers are expected to teach and what students are expected to learn. These academic standards are used to inform parents and teachers of what students are learning and to make schools accountableaccountable for teaching the content found in the Standards of Learning.

Two Components of the Standards of Learning Program Two Components of the Standards of Learning Program

• Standards of Learning

• Standards of Learning Assessment

In 1995, the Board of Education of the Commonwealth of Virginia took an important step to raise the expectations for all students in

public schools by adopting new Standards of Learning in the areas of English, mathematics, history and social science, science, and

computer/technology.

Virginia Standards of Learning Program

§ 22.1-253.13:1. Standard 1. Instructional programs supporting the Standards of Learning and other educational objectives.

The Board of Education shall establish educational objectives known as the Standards of Learning, which shall form the core of Virginia's educational program, and other educational objectives, which together are designed to ensure the development of the skills that are necessary for success in school and for preparation for life in the years beyond.

http://leg1.state.va.us/000/src.htm

Standards of Quality (SOQ)

• Constitutional and statutory regulations governing education in Virginia

• Prescribed by the Board of Education • Legislated by the General Assembly• Program requirements for school divisions• Enforceable law• Drive the state funding available to localities for

educational programs

Standards of Accreditation (SOA)• Policy regulations as applied to schools in Virginia• Approved by the Board of Education• Related to areas such as:

– student achievement– school instructional program– school and instructional leadership– school facilities and safety– school accreditation

The Journey of Educational Reform in Virginia

• Standards of Learning – Content standards since mid-1980s– 1995 revised SOL approved for the four core areas

• academic• rigorous• measurable• jargon-free

• Standards of Learning Review Schedule– State law requires that Standards of Learning be reviewed every 7 years.

• History and Social Science 2008• Mathematics 2009• Science 2010 • English 2010

2008 HSS SOL Revision - Steps In accordance with the plan, the Department of Education took the following steps to produce a draft

of the proposed revised History and Social Science Standards of Learning for the Board’s first review:

• Solicited online comments from stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and administrators;• Selected a review committee that consisted of recommended individuals solicited from school

divisions as well as other stakeholder groups (representatives from professional organizations;• Met with the review committee July 10 and 11, 2007;• Received additional comment from academic experts throughout the summer;• Contacted selected review committee members in September 2007 to review the draft document;

and• Developed a draft of the proposed revised History and Social Science Standards of Learning.

The majority of public comments related to the repositioning of the Civil War and Reconstruction to United States History: 1877 to the Present.

Additional areas of comment included:

2008 HSS SOL Revision – Public Comment

• Concern over volume of content within a course;• Decisions on the relative importance of historical events and people;• Debate over competing historical sources and which academic

expert sources to follow;• Support for inclusion of more women and information on Latin

America;• Inclusion of contemporary leaders and events; and• Financial impact on school divisions that would necessitate major

curriculum revisions and new textbooks.

The major elements of the revised History and Social Science Standards of Learning include:

2008 HSS SOL Revision – Major Elements

• Edits to enhance clarity, specificity, rigor, alignment of skills and content, and a reflection of the current academic research and practice;

• Emphasis on encouragement of civic participation and increased knowledge of local and state government;

• Addition of events relating to history, geography, economics, and civics since the 2001 revision; and

• Increase in international and global emphasis.

2008 HSS SOL Revision - Overview

• Two online public comment periods were held during 2007– January to February: 248 online public comments were received– October to November: 517 online public comments were received– Letters and Faxes received: 34

• Four public hearings were held on November 26, 2007– 32 speakers and 34 letters

• 192 nominations for the 2008 HSS SOL/CF review committees• Representation on the 2008 HSS SOL/CF review committee

– 42 % teachers, 21% division leadership, 21% academic experts, 11% higher education, 5% retired specialist

The Approved

2008 HSS SOL Posted Online with Strike-throughs and

Underlines

In accordance with the plan, the Department of Education took the following steps to produce a draft of the proposed revised Curriculum Framework for the 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning for the Board’s first review:

Curriculum Framework for the 2008 History and Social Science SOL Revision - Steps

• Selected a review committee that consisted of recommended individuals solicited from school divisions as well as other stakeholder groups (representatives from professional organizations, universities, etc.) to participate in the process;

• Met with the review committee March 10 and 11, 2008; received additional comments from academic experts throughout the spring;

• Contacted selected review committee members in April 2008, to review the draft document; and

• Developed a draft of the Curriculum Framework for the 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning.

The majority of public comments related to a review of information on Hinduism and Indian history that included the treatment of religions to ensure balance and congruity.

Additional areas of comment included:

Curriculum Framework for the 2008 History and Social Science SOL Revision – Public

Comment

• Concern over volume of content within a course;• Decisions on the relative importance of historical events and

people;• Debate over competing historical sources;• Inclusion of contemporary leaders and events;• Clarification and consistency of economics terms and skills;

and• Addition of more global perspectives.

The major elements of the proposed revised Curriculum Framework for the 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning include:

Curriculum Framework for the 2008 History and Social Science SOL Revision – Major

Elements

• Edits to enhance clarity, specificity, rigor, alignment of skills and content, and a reflection of the current academic research and practice;

• Emphasis on encouragement of civic participation and increased knowledge of local and state government;

• Addition of events relating to history, geography, economics, and civics since the 2001 revision; and

• An increase in international and global emphasis.

• One online public comment period during 2008– May to June: 392 online public comments were received– Letters and faxes received: 6

• One public hearing was held on June 19, 2008– 11 speakers

• 192 nominations for the 2008 HSS SOL/CF review committees• Representation on the 2008 HSS SOL/CF review committee

– 42 % teachers, 21% division leadership, 21% academic experts, 11% higher education, 5% retired specialist

Curriculum Framework for the 2008 History and Social Science SOL Revision - Overview

The Curriculum Framework for the 2001 and 2008 History and Social Science SOL Online

History and Social Science Standards of Learning Implementation Schedule – Supts Memo

• The Department of Education’s goal is for full implementation of the newly revised History and Social Science Standards of Learning at all levels beginning in fall 2010.

• Recognizing that curriculum alignment efforts require planning, time, staff development, and resources, school divisions should begin to:– review and align history and social science curricula with the revised standards;– review current resource materials and correlate them with the revised standards;– develop new materials where needed; and– provide staff development for teachers.

• The History and Social Science Standards of Learning assessments will continue to be based on the 2001 History and Social Science Standards of Learning through the summer 2010 test administration.

• Field-test items on the spring 2010 History and Social Science Standards of Learning assessments will include the new content of the revised 2008 standards.

• In the 2010-2011 school year, the Standards of Learning assessments will be based upon the revised 2008 Standards.

• Local school divisions will decide on the implementation of the 2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning.

• Selected Virginia teachers are currently working with Department of Education staff to write lessons for the new K-12 History and Social Science content to be included in the Enhanced Scope and Sequence.

• It is anticipated that the K-3 Enhanced Scope and Sequence will be posted online in late spring 2009.

• Additional Enhanced Scope and Sequence lessons for new content will be posted upon completion.

• The Board of Education will decide the textbook adoption process by early 2009. The textbook and instructional materials adoption schedule has been approved by the Board of Education.

2008 History and Social Science Standards of Learning Implementation

The Virginia Department of Education offers online resources for

teachers, students, and parents.

Standards of Learning

SOL Curriculum Framework

SOL Enhanced Scope and Sequence

Assessment Information SOL Content Resources for English,

Mathematics, Science, and History and Social Science

Web sites for: K-3, Virginia Indians, Mali, Virginia Studies, United States History, Global Learning, Archaeology: Ice Age Discoveries, and Everyday Civics

Go to: www.doe.virginia.gov

Look for the Blue SOL

General Resources for

All Content Areas

The Curriculum Framework amplifies the Standards of Learning and defines the content knowledge, skills,

and understandings that are measured by the Standards of Learning tests.

Teachers can use the Essential Questions to develop and frame the unit of study. Essential Knowledge provides

the identified minimum content that all teachers should teach and all students should learn for the course

assessment.

The Essential Skills describe the intellectual skills students need to use through their course of study. The

Essential Understandings identify the big picture the students need to know for the unit of study.

The Enhanced Sample Scope and Sequence provides sample

instructional activities, sample

assessments, follow-up

extensions, and related

resources.

Each topic has sessions

and instructional activities to

support the content of

the Standards of

Learning.

Map Resources for Virginia

Studies

Documents of American

History

Virginia Studies Ready Resources for the Classroom

http://vastudies.pwnet.org/

Instructional Links for Virginia Studies Teachers

Reading Strategies to Use in History Instruction

Interactive Virginia Studies Foldables

Test Blueprints

The blueprints serve as a guide to teachers, parents, and students in that they show Standards of Learning covered by a test, reporting categories of test items, number of test items, and general information about how the test questions are constructed.

Assessment Resources at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/Assessment/home.shtml

Virginia Studies Blueprint Summary Table

History and Social Science Released Test Items

The Division of Assessment and Reporting yearly recruits

Committee members will be expected to :

• teacher and specialist nominations for the Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessments Content Review Committees; and

• fifteen members are needed for each of the 45 content committees.

• review the SOL test forms for alignment with the test blueprints; • examine test items to confirm a match with the SOL; • review test items for appropriateness and fairness; • examine field test data for potential test items; and• recommend whether items are to be included in the test item bank.

History resources

for elementary,

middle, and

high school

Teaching and Learning Virginia K–3 History and Social Science Standards of

Learning

Mali Ancient

Crossroads of Africa

Virginia Studies

Ready Resources

for the Classroom

Virginia’s First People

Past and Present

Global Learning Virginia Standards

of Learning

Ice Age Discoveries Recent

Archaeology Discoveries

United States History

Connecting the Past to the

Present

Teacher Resource

Catalogue for United States History I and II and Civics and

Economics

Everyday Civics

Civics education in Virginia emphasizes the importance of

citizen involvement in all levels of government and promotes the study of state and local

government among the Commonwealth's citizens. 

United States History

Connects An Online

Course

Geography Connects

An Online Course

Thank you!

Please contact us if

we can be of any

further assistance!

Betsy Barton E-mail: Betsy.Barton@doe.virginia.gov

Beverly Thurston E-mail: Beverly.Thurston@doe.virginia.gov