VGA scores - “At risk”

[Anonymous]

My 7th now didn’t take VGA math in 6th as she was talking Pre-Algebra

As 7th taking Algebra Intensified she also only took VGA reading and no math.

He did both MAP Reading & Math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 7th now didn’t take VGA math in 6th as she was talking Pre-Algebra

As 7th taking Algebra Intensified she also only took VGA reading and no math.

He did both MAP Reading & Math.

Kids in pre-algebra should be taking the VGA. MY 6th grader is in pre-algebra kid took the VGA this year. They take the 8th grade one (since that is the SOL they are taking). I don't know what one they take for Algebra, but I assume there is an Algebra SOL and hence a corresponding VGA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7th now didn’t take VGA math in 6th as she was talking Pre-Algebra

As 7th taking Algebra Intensified she also only took VGA reading and no math.

He did both MAP Reading & Math.

Kids in pre-algebra should be taking the VGA. MY 6th grader is in pre-algebra kid took the VGA this year. They take the 8th grade one (since that is the SOL they are taking). I don't know what one they take for Algebra, but I assume there is an Algebra SOL and hence a corresponding VGA.

There is an algebra SOL (& a geometry SOL), but I think the VGA is just grades 3-8, so not sure if kids take it once they hit algebra.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 7th now didn’t take VGA math in 6th as she was talking Pre-Algebra

As 7th taking Algebra Intensified she also only took VGA reading and no math.

He did both MAP Reading & Math.

Kids in pre-algebra should be taking the VGA. MY 6th grader is in pre-algebra kid took the VGA this year. They take the 8th grade one (since that is the SOL they are taking). I don't know what one they take for Algebra, but I assume there is an Algebra SOL and hence a corresponding VGA.

There is an algebra SOL (& a geometry SOL), but I think the VGA is just grades 3-8, so not sure if kids take it once they hit algebra.

Ah okay, that makes sense. So, no VGA once they start algebra but there is one for pre-algebra as my kid just took it.

[Anonymous]

It was explained to me that the MOY exam basically covers the same content as the EOY test whereas the BOY covers the previous year’s content. Keep in mind these tests were taken almost 2 months ago so the progress is quite outdated also. Also the benchmarks are artificially high IMO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They shouldn’t be comparable, yet parents are literally given a graph showing how much the score changed from fall to winter…..

Yeah, that is what irks me. The graph should show Winter 2023 and Fall 2023, which cover the same material to see if there was improvement for the last grade level. But comparing Fall 2023, which covers last years material, with winter 2024, which covers this years materials, it just stupid. My kid was above the threshold for both tests but I see a line showing that his score dropped by 100 points in both areas, that is going to cause me concern.

At the very least, drop the graph, which is a bogus comparison, and explain the scores. Have a fall section, with the chart that shows what they got right and wrong. Explain that the fall test is a check on what they learned in the previous school year. Have a winter section, with the chart that shows what they got right and wrong. Explain that the winter test tests on all concepts, even ones not yet taught, for the current school year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They shouldn’t be comparable, yet parents are literally given a graph showing how much the score changed from fall to winter…..

THIS!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Middle school ELA teacher here. If your student is one that regularly struggles in those classes, or has been a “bubble” kid in terms of standardized testing, then I would reach out to the teacher about additional support (interventions or the like) that is available. Otherwise, if your student is normally average/high achieving (SOL scores around 425+) I wouldn’t be concerned. At my school, we had almost four straight weeks of testing in January between the VGAs for English and math, and the insane NWEA mid year assessments for ELA/math that took almost an entire week to complete due to the length. Kids were BURNED OUT. Even my highest achieving students were simply not invested, and while they still did well, many scores went down because of fatigue or lack of buy-in.

TOO MUCH TESTING.

VGAs are redundant and should be dropped.

Ummmm… that’s a state-mandated test. Hence the V for Virginia in VGA. The NWA MAP, on the other hand… I’m curious as to whether that’s just an Arlington thing. Many school districts use it but not all. But I certainly agree with you, PP — these are redundant and we don’t need both.