Assessment Information for CES

Dear CES friends and families:

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) adopted iReady assessments as an academic universal screener for all elementary school students in grades 1-6. In addition to the iReady assessment, all elementary school students in grades 1-6 complete the Developmental Spelling Analysis (DSA).

The purpose of iReady assessments is to identify students who may have gaps in foundational literacy and mathematics skills. iReady tests are also used to measure student progress in reading and mathematics skills. The purpose of the DSA is to measure the development of spelling skills.

The iReady assessment includes a reading test and a mathematics test. In grades 1-3, teachers also assess students’ oral reading fluency to fulfill state testing requirements. Based on test results, some students may require additional assessments to further diagnose specific skills that may need support.

All students complete iReady and DSA in fall and spring each year. Depending on fall performance, a student may take an assessment again in the winter. iReady and DSA are delivered within the classroom instructional block. Schools set the specific dates for testing in each class. Your student’s teacher or the school test coordinator will share the specific dates scheduled for testing. You can find information about general timing of iReady and DSA testing on the grade level tests webpage https://www.fcps.edu/student-assessment/grade-level-tests

Additional information can be found at the iReady Universal Screener webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/us). If you have further questions about these assessments, please contact your student’s teacher or Sarah Boudart, Assistant Principal.

VGA and SOL testing

State assessments measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills reflected in state standards and may also be used to measure growth in learning state standards. The format and timing of state assessments vary by grade level and content area, as noted in the table below. These include:

• Fall and winter Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA) standardized tests in reading and mathematics. More information is available on the VGA webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/virginia-growth-assessments);
• Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) standardized tests in reading, mathematics, and science. More information is available on the SOL assessments webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/sol-assessments);
• Ongoing local alternative assessments (LAAs) including performance-based assessments (PBAs) completed as part of classroom instruction in science, writing, and social studies; More information is available on the LAA and PBA webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/45043).

The Grade Level Tests webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/student-assessment/grade-level-tests) provides information by grade level about the general assessment schedule and reporting method for each required assessment type in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS).  

The VGA assessments will be administered between the dates of September 11 and September 29 with specified dates determined by the grade-level team.   

Your child’s teacher will share the specific dates scheduled for VGA assessments. If you have questions about state assessments, contact your child’s teacher or Columbia Elementary School's test coordinator at sboudart@fcps.edu

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