EDUCATION PROGRAM SUMMARY & GOALS

Revised 11/21/2011

For additional Information and to get our e-mail list contact: team@pwcvateaparty.com

Review Standards of Learning, Textbooks, Supplemental Materials, Web sites and Test Instruments 

Assist  State, County and Independent Jurisdictions in selection of educational materials.

Confirm that educational materials do not contain statements of religious, philosophical or political opinion as objective facts.

We want balance and fairness. Example below:

If a textbook covers Islam there should be equal coverage of  Judeo, Christian, Hindu beliefs, etc.

We do not demand or expect that some narrowly held religious or political opinion replace that which we find offensive.

If we find a text or other source material that we might recommend be removed we will offer an alternative that would be subject to the normal review and approval process. 

This is not intended to be an adversarial process. We will meet with members of the education community to explain what we are doing and why. We want to give them the opportunity to have input to our process. We want them to feel that they are part of the solution. 

The subject areas covered by our project include: US History to present, World History to present, Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Civics/Government.

Prepare legislation that will make the text book review and selection process more transparent; that will allow for citizen involvement; and that will increase the frequency of review to make text books more relevant to the times. 

HOW TEXT BOOKS ARE SELECTED IN VIRGINIA

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)Recommends which books should be used by Subject Area. 

Text books selected for use must support the Standards of Learning.

Text books and supporting materials help teachers to achieve a desired learning outcome.

Outcomes are measured by test results.

VDOE uses a panel of experts to help make book selections.

Recommended list of text books is sent to each county and political jurisdiction that have a school system.

Local school boards with input from school department can choose from VDOE supplied list the books they want to use.

In Prince William County School Department with community input influence the book selection process.

In Prince William County short list is sent to the individual schools where they can make their choice of books or decide to use previous books. They could also recommend alternative books. If the latter decision is made the alternative book must be approved by the School Board.

(I mentioned Prince William County here because this process may differ from County to County)

RECOMMENDED APPROACH
 (How to actually review textbooks discussed in another section) 

Build Interest via your web site, e-mail, newsletters.

Get community support for your review project. (More about that later).

Develop a relationship with your school board and school department.

Work in small three person teams.

Three people review one book.

Review Standards of Learning First.

Get the approved list of books for your county or political jurisdiction.

Get access to the books.

Review the books.

Document your findings.