Welcome to the 2024-25 school year! VASSP will be providing updates each Monday throughout the school year.
State Articles of Interest
National Articles of Interest
How a California high school takes a team approach to boost attendance | K-12 Dive
Team Approach to Boost Attendance
What will the Supreme Court’s October 2024 term bring for K-12?
Summer Reading: The Title IX final rule’s bumpy road | K-12 Dive
CDC finds early signs of mental health improvement among teens | K-12 Dive
DOE Updates
Reminder: Alternative Assessments to the Virginia Growth Assessment Submission Forms
Article: 2024-31-310
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Teachers, School Test Coordinators
Contact: Katie Carroll, Deputy Superintendent of Student Performance and Support, Katie.Carroll@doe.virginia.gov
Senate Bill 345/House Bill 1076 passed by the 2024 General Assembly permits school boards to administer alternative assessments, aligned to the Standards of Learning, to the Virginia Growth Assessments during the 2024-2026 school years. To assure alignment to the SOL, the Virginia Department of Education has developed submission forms for: (1) vendors to provide information on alternative assessments; and (2) divisions to indicate review and use of the alternative assessments. Below is the process for alternative assessments to the VGA:
- Assessment vendors with alternative assessments to the VGA submit to VDOE a completed form and required documentation indicating alignment to the SOL. Download the vendor VGA alternative assessment submission form here.
- We encourage assessment vendors to submit their form and requirements as soon as possible to allow divisions to review documents and submit their own forms to VDOE.
- VDOE will share with school divisions vendors that have provided documentation and assured the alternative assessment is aligned to the SOL.??
- School boards may review assessment vendor submissions to determine if the school division will use an alternative assessment in lieu of the VGA.??
- VDOE will extend no-cost contracts with assessment vendors that successfully submit assurances and documentation.???
- School divisions will submit to VDOE a form indicating which alternative assessment(s) the division will use and a review of all assurances.??Download the division VGA alternative assessment submission form here.
All submission forms should be sent to Katie Carroll (Katie.Carroll@doe.virginia.gov). Please submit your alternative assessment form by August 15 if your division is planning to use an alternative to the VGA.
New SOL Mathematics Test Blueprints Based on the 2023 Mathematics Standards of Learning
The Virginia Board of Education adopted the 2023 Mathematics Standards of Learning in August 2023. Full implementation of the 2023 Mathematics Standards will occur in the 2024-25 school year. The assessments measuring the Standards will be administered for the first time in the spring 2025 test administration in grades 3 through 8 and end-of-course. To support preparation for implementation, the new mathematics test blueprints are available online on the VDOE Test Blueprints website. Contact Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov with any resource questions.
Updates for Science Leaders
The VDOE Science program has instructional updates regarding the Standards of Learning and upcoming safety training. For more information, see:
Article 2024-30-286 Science Standards of Learning Review
Article 2024-30-296 Science Safety Training for Division Leaders webinar on August 14Virginia Literacy Act Update
VDOE has released an extensive update on the Virginia Literacy Act. Read more from Article 2024-30-289 August Virginia Literacy Act Updates. Details are in the Professional Development section of the update.
