Assessment Information

What We Do:

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) requires all students, including those with disabilities, to be assessed on statewide accountability measures.These assessments can be taken with or without accommodations as determined by the IEP team. In Virginia, students with disabilities participate in statewide assessments in grades 3-8 and at the end of certain high school courses. Diploma options are determined in part by student performance on high school end-of-course state assessments. Statewide alternative and alternate assessments are explained in the Crosswalk of Alternate and Alternative Assessments.

Elementary/Middle School
Students at the elementary and middle school levels participate in statewide assessments, or Standards of Learning assessments (SOLs), in grades 3-8. Students who require an alternative grade level assessment to the SOLs may participate in the Virginia Grade Level Alternative (VGLA) Assessment in grades 3-8.

VGLA support sessions will be available to assist teachers in the collection of evidence. Please contact your PRS and/or ISRT for the dates and locations of these sessions.

High School
Students in high school participate in End of Course Standards of Learning assessments. Students who require alternative end of course assessment to the SOLs may participate in the Virginia Substitute Evaluation Program (VSEP).

VSEP support sessions are available upon request to assist teachers in the collection of evidence. Please contact your PRS and/or ISRT for the dates and locations of these sessions.

Alternate Assessments
States are required to create alternate assessments for students who are unable to take the general statewide assessments. In Virginia, students who are working in the Aligned Standards of Learning curriculum may participate in the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) in grades 3-8 and 11.
VAAP support sessions will be available to assist teachers in the collection of evidence.