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Virginia schools test 21st-century skill sets of students
A number of Virginia schools are testing students on problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, communication and the use of technology -- all considered to be 21st-century skills. One county is beginning testing this year with its eighth-graders, while another county has been using portfolio assessments during the past five years to test the skills of younger students. "We want to go beyond what NCLB is asking, beyond what the Standards of Learning tests assess, to really ensure that we're preparing our students for a global economy," one Henrico County official said. (from ASCD)


Thank you Henrico County for wanting to go above and beyond the SOLs and NCLB by including those important skills in your teaching!

Wash. program will help create innovative teacher evaluations
School districts in Washington state should take advantage of a statewide two-year pilot program to help develop new and innovative ways to evaluate teachers and principals, the editorial board of the Seattle Times writes. Comprehensive systems with multiple layers that account for student achievement and include peer reviews and third-party observations are needed, the board writes.

Love that too!