Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLSS)

A reading screener is a kind of test that tells us whether a student needs extra help to make progress in reading skills.  If a student has or is at risk for developing language and reading difficulties, that means that they need extra instruction (intervention) to help them make more progress in their reading development.

For students in Grades K-3, VALLSS screening may result in a reading plan being put into place for the student ensuring the student receives reading intervention to address any reading areas in need of strengthening.

For students in Grades 4-8, VALLSS screening will inform the creation of a reading plan that will make sure the student receives reading intervention to address reading area(s) in need of strengthening. All students who scored below basic or basic on the VDOE reading standards of learning test will have a reading plan.

Language development is the ability to understand and use spoken language. Literacy means that someone can read and write. The goal of reading is to be able to understand (comprehend) what you read. To read, people need to be able to:

• decode – blend sounds together to read words
• encode – spell words
• understand and use language

As skills improve in these three areas, people develop fluency (reading words quickly and correctly) and reading comprehension (understanding what is read).

• Grade PreK | VALLSS is required for all PreK students (3-year old and older) in fall, winter, and spring unless the student has an individualized education program (IEP) that exempts the test. For students who tested in fall, the winter test only rechecks students' continued learning of letter names. 
• Grades K-2 | VALLSS is required for all students in fall, winter, and spring
• Grade 3 | VALLSS is required in fall for students new to Virginia public schools and students in high-risk on the spring 2^nd grade VALLSS assessment. Students that demonstrated a need for support in the fall VALLSS assessment will take the VALLSS again in winter and spring.
• Grade 4-8 | VALLSS is required for all students who scored below basic or basic on the VDOE reading standards of learning test and all students new to Virginia whose reading data from their previous school system shows that the student may benefit from a reading screener to determine needs. VALLSS is administered in the fall and mid-year. Students who passed the reading SOL using read-aloud or audio accommodations will also be screened with VALLSS.

Parents/guardians of grade 4-8 students whose child scored pass or pass advanced on the VDOE reading standards of learning test may contact their child’s school to request VALLSS screening for the student, if desired, even though the student’s performance on the SOL test does not indicate need for reading screening.

Parents/guardians of grade 4-8 students whose child scored below basic or basic on the VDOE reading standards of learning test may contact their child’s school to request that the student not receive VALLSS screening, although the student’s performance on the SOL test does indicate need for reading screening.