Virginia Literacy Act
Overview
The Virginia Literacy Act legislation, passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2022 to improve literacy outcomes for Virginia’s learners, goes into effect for the 2024-2025 school year in coordination with subsection G of § 22.1-253.13:2 of the Code of Virginia. ACPS has been working to continuously improve its literacy instruction to align with the requirements of this legislation and the latest reading research. Here are some key requirements of the Virginia Literacy Act:
- Programs/Resources: “a program of literacy instruction that is aligned with science-based reading research and provides evidence-based literacy instruction to students in kindergarten through grade eight.”
- Reading Specialists Ratio: One reading specialist per every 550 students division-wide in Grades K-5
- Student Reading Plan (SRP): “Students will receive evidence-based instruction and intervention, as outlined in an individualized student reading plan, if they do not meet literacy benchmarks.”
- Division Literacy Plan (DLP): “The division-wide comprehensive plan shall also include a division-wide literacy plan for pre-K through grade 8.”
- VDOE Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) Webpage
The Science of Reading
From the VDOE:
What is the Science of Reading?
There is over 50 years of research from a variety of career fields that support how the brain learns to read and speak and how we should be taught. More recently the connection between these fields of research has become more apparent and talked about in educational settings.
Science of reading. A term that refers to a corpus of objective investigation and accumulation of reliable evidence about how humans learn to read and how reading should be taught.
As reported in the National Reading Panel and later recognized in CCSSO’s A Nation of Readers report, additional research has shown the significant impact of instruction that explicitly addresses all five pillars of reading.
- Phonemic Awareness
- Phonological Awareness
- Fluency
- Vocabulary
- Comprehension
Division Literacy Plan
ACPS is thrilled to announce that our Division Literacy Plan (DLP) is approved by the VDOE. A committee of over 40 stakeholders from across the division provided feedback on the 5 components of the plan and included teachers, administrators, coaches, Central Office staff (EL, Sped, Technology, AAS, leadership, etc.), and community members.
Evidence-based Literacy Resources
Teachers utilize core, supplemental, and intervention literacy instructional resources that have been approved by the VDOE in alignment with science-based reading research and are identified as High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM).
At the elementary level, core and intervention resources include Bookworms Reading & Writing (K-5) and Really Great Reading (K-2). At the secondary level, intervention resources include Read 180.
Student Reading Plans
Divisions will develop, implement, and monitor Student Reading Plans for students in Kindergarten through Grade 3 beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Students who are identified as high-risk on VALLSS (Virginia Assessment of Language & Literacy Skills Screener) will require a Student Reading Plan. Their intervention services “shall consist of evidence-based literacy instruction, align with science-based reading research, and be documented for each student in a written student reading plan.” (§ 22.1-253.13:1 G)
Reading Specialists
ACPS staffs at least one reading specialist for every 550 students in Kindergarten–Grade 3 throughout the division.
Last Name | First Name | Job Class Description | Location | Type Description | Area Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Britt | Kisha | Reading Specialist | Chance for Change Academy | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Lebuhn | Kelsey | Student Improvement Teacher | Charles Barrett Elementary School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
McGuire | Meghan | Student Improvement Teacher | Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Angelo | Jessica | Student Improvement Teacher | Douglas MacArthur Elementary School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Kuehn-Follum | Kristin | Student Improvement Teacher | Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Simmons | Rosina | Intervention Teacher | Francis C. Hammond Middle School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Hudson-Lansdell | Kristin | Student Improvement Teacher | George Mason Elementary School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Martini | Christina | George Washington Middle School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist | |
Harrington | Kathryn | Student Improvement Teacher | James K. Polk Elementary School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Means* | Michelle | Student Improvement Teacher | Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School | In Progress | VDOE Reading Specialist Micro-credential |
Ross* | Matthew | Literacy Coach | Jefferson-Houston PreK-8 IB School | In Progress | VDOE Reading Specialist Micro-credential |
Nettleton | Michelle | Student Improvement Teacher | John Adams Elementary School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Kay | Karrie | Student Improvement Teacher | Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Bryson | Lisa | Student Improvement Teacher | Mount Vernon Community School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Calhoun | Sarah | Student Improvement Teacher | Naomi L. Brooks Elementary School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Kelley-Tuggle | Carla | Student Improvement Teacher | Patrick Henry K-8 School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Loomis | Brandy | Student Improvement Teacher | Samuel W. Tucker Elementary School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Altieri | Kristi | Student Improvement Teacher | William Ramsay Elementary School | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Robash | Emma | Dyslexia Advisor | Central Office | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Wooster | Carolyn | Dyslexia Advisor | Central Office | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Schell | Kimberly | Dyslexia Advisor | Central Office | Endorsement | Reading Specialist |
Required Professional Development
As part of the VLA, K-8 educators are required to receive training in evidence-based literacy instruction aligned to science-based reading research.
In 2023, the VLA was expanded from the original requirements of training for elementary school teachers, elementary school principals, reading specialists, and special education teachers to include training for EL teachers, middle school teachers, and middle school principals.
VDOE contracted with the University of Virginia (UVA) to design, develop, and facilitate a statewide, knowledge-based professional development training at no cost for Virginia educators. As part of this training, Canvas courses designed for different audiences are being offered beginning June 2024. The courses will focus on building a strong literacy knowledge base on key topics but also will focus on the application of instructional practice in the classroom.
2024-25 Virginia Literacy Act Canvas Courses
Contact Us
Elementary Literacy - Dr. Carolyn Wooster, carolyn.wooster@acps.k12.va.us
K-12 Literacy Coordinator & Secondary Literacy Instructional Specialist- Ms. Kimberly Schell, kimberly.schell@acps.k12.va.us
Important Links
- VDOE Virginia Literacy Act Website—check for monthly updates from VDOE
- VDOE Student Reading Plan Example
- VDOE VLA May Update
- VDOE Literacy at Home