Updates to Language Arts grading

This year, FCPS has new ways of teaching reading and writing to our students. We also have new ways to know if students need extra support and how we can best help them.  Starting in November, your child’s progress reports will look different. The progress reports are different because of these changes: 

  • New Language Arts curriculum (Benchmark Advance) 
    • Before: the FCPS Planning and Pacing Guide covered different standards each quarter. 
    • Starting school year 2024-25: Benchmark Advance covers all standards each quarter, building towards mastery.
       
  • New K-3 Literacy Screener (VALLSS)
    • Before: PALS for K; iReady for Grades 1-6.
    • Starting school year 2024-25: VALLSS in K-3 shows more specific areas your child may need extra support.
       
  • New Virginia Standards of Learning (see VDOE site)
    • Before: Measured overlapping skills on any text.
    • Starting school year 2024-25: Measures separate skills using grade level text.

Our progress reporting will still use the same 4-point scale below.  Please refer to the Grading Guidelines for more details.

4

Consistently demonstrates understanding of content and skills of standard taught this quarter.

3

Usually demonstrates understanding of concepts and skills of standard taught this quarter.

2

Sometimes demonstrates understanding of concepts and skills of standard taught this quarter.

1

Seldom demonstrates understanding of concepts and skills of standard taught this quarter.

It’s important to know that students are not expected to master all of their grade-level standards until later in the year. By monitoring grades in each standard over the course of the whole school year, you can get a clearer picture of areas where they need to grow most, as well as their overall progress in literacy. Please contact your child's teacher with any questions about your child’s progress report.