Teacher Resources

State legislation required the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to implement new assessments to measure student growth in reading and mathematics beginning in September 2021. The first administration of the Fall Growth Assessments was designed to identify any unfinished learning from last school year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as collect data to pace and enrich instruction. The Student Detail by Question (SDBQ) reports from the Fall Growth Assessments for students in grades 3-8 (except students enrolled in Algebra I in 2020) show the academic standards on which the student was assessed and whether the test item was answered correctly, without assigning a passing or failing score.

These resources are intended to guide teachers in interpreting the Fall Growth Assessment reports, including the vertical scores, and how to use them to inform instruction in the classroom:

Fall Growth Assessment – FAQs & Resources for APS Staff: This document offers answers to frequently asked questions and resource links for staff and teachers.

Information for Teachers: Grades 3-8 Reading and Mathematics Growth Assessments, The YouTube video released on 11/17/2021, is a recorded webinar that addresses the following questions: 

• What are the Grades 3-8 Reading and Mathematics Growth Assessments, and why are we administering them?
• What information is available for teachers about each student’s performance on the growth assessments?
• What information will parents receive about their child’s performance?

Overview of the Student Detail By Question (SDBQ) Report: This document provides a general overview of the SDBQ Report.

Interpreting Fall 2021 Vertical Scaled Scores: Grades 3-8 Reading Growth Assessments (PDF)

Interpreting Fall 2021 Vertical Scaled Scores: Grades 3-8 Mathematics Growth Assessments (PDF)These documents apply to the vertical scaled scores reported on the Fall 2021 Grades 3-8 Reading and Mathematics Growth Assessments. Both documents are available on the VDOE website.