Virginia Growth Assessments

In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation requiring "through-year" or growth assessments for reading and mathematics in grades 3-8. The legislation required reading and math Virginia Growth Assessments (VGA) growth assessments to be administered in the fall and winter, while the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests continue to be administered in the spring.

In 2024, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation allowing school divisions to administer alternative assessments in lieu of the VGA so long as those alternatives are aligned to the Standards of Learning and approved by Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). This legislative update applies to the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years. Falls Church City Public Schools will use STAR Reading and Math assessments to satisfy the state requirement for measuring student growth in the fall and winter. Additional information can be found on the Assessments by Grade Level and STAR Assessments pages.

VDOE Resources

• VGA Alternative Assessments

• Growth Assessments

• Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Assessment Program