VGA arrived in mail today

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Back in the day, they used to have a chart that showed what number of questions you had to get right in order to get a passing score of 400. This was before they changed them to computer adaptive tests. If you actually calculated the percentage that you needed to score in order to get a 400, it was around 60%. So, yes, the bar is low. These test are designed to show that you've learned the essential skills, not every, single, little thing that is taught in your math or reading class.

Re the SOL tests, in response to viewpoints such as these, they've been making them harder and harder.

I don't know what that means wrt the new VGA test though.

But the Nation’s Report Card still says VA has the easiest reading test in the nation as of 2019. 321 they lowered the score needed to pass reading, so it hasn’t gotten harder. VA is middle of the pack for rigor on the math test.

Can you provide the link? I found something different on their website.

https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/statemapping/

Curious what you found. I find it embarrassing to see V A hanging out way below basic like in this graph (grade 4 or 8 reading): https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/statemappingtool/#/subject-grade

The report isn't about rigor. It's about alignment/mapping, and since VA explicitly didn't adopt Common Core, it's not surprising that the SOLs are not well aligned.

As for the actual NAEP scores, they're good. Better than CA, worse than MA.

https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/reading/states/scores/?grade=4

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had the same question and found this by googling:

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/parent-resources/fall-2021-vertical-scaled-scores-math.pdf

Sorry, I posted the wrong link. This one was much more useful: https://p9cdn4static.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_340140/File/Accountability/Testing/A%20Guide%20to%20Understanding%20the%20Fall%202021%20Virginia%20Growth%20Assessment.pdf

I know I'm going all the way back to a PP from page 1 but thanks for this link. Is this chart a sample or the actual chart? Assuming so, I guess score for 6th grade in the 1700-1900 are no cause for concern which agrees with no real problems areas identified by iReady.

Why on earth if it is this simple did FCPS fail to include copy or link or anything to this info?

[Anonymous]

I’m confused, my 6th grader scored 1956 on Reading but the graph the PP posted doesn’t go that high. Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused, my 6th grader scored 1956 on Reading but the graph the PP posted doesn’t go that high. Why?

I'm the poster immediately before you - my 6th grader scored the same.

My understanding is that it is not the graph only plots the red line and blue line, which are "low proficient" and "high basic" respectively. The text basically lays these out as boundaries roughly equivalent to passing and in need of support, respectively. So score higher than the red low proficient line are all in that general "passing" range. Similar to pass on iReady, and with no similar "pass advanced" score region identified.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused, my 6th grader scored 1956 on Reading but the graph the PP posted doesn’t go that high. Why?

I'm the poster immediately before you - my 6th grader scored the same.

My understanding is that it is that the graph only plots the red line and blue line, which are "low proficient" and "high basic" respectively. The text basically lays these out as boundaries roughly equivalent to passing and in need of support, respectively. So score higher than the red low proficient line are all in that general "passing" range. Similar to pass on iReady, and with no similar "pass advanced" score region identified.

corrected

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused, my 6th grader scored 1956 on Reading but the graph the PP posted doesn’t go that high. Why?

I'm the poster immediately before you - my 6th grader scored the same.

My understanding is that it is that the graph only plots the red line and blue line, which are "low proficient" and "high basic" respectively. The text basically lays these out as boundaries roughly equivalent to passing and in need of support, respectively. So score higher than the red low proficient line are all in that general "passing" range. Similar to pass on iReady, and with no similar "pass advanced" score region identified.

corrected

Just more information- On the HS reading VGA, it’s a bit different. It’s a “current score” (with info showing the end of year expected grade level range, to compare) and a “current performance level.” The performance level can be “Advanced.”

[Anonymous]

What a stupid test.

[Anonymous]

I have a fourth grader

Reading: 1657 (14/17)
Math: 1578 (18/24)


Based on the chart he is good to go until 8th grade. Not sure really what to take away from all of this.

[Anonymous]

These two pdf's explain it all. I don't know why fcps didn't just add this to the letter they sent or link these two pages. So dumb.

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/parent-resources/fall-2021-vertical-scaled-scores-math.pdf
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/parent-resources/fall-2021-vertical-scaled-scores-reading.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m confused, my 6th grader scored 1956 on Reading but the graph the PP posted doesn’t go that high. Why?

I'm the poster immediately before you - my 6th grader scored the same.

My understanding is that it is that the graph only plots the red line and blue line, which are "low proficient" and "high basic" respectively. The text basically lays these out as boundaries roughly equivalent to passing and in need of support, respectively. So score higher than the red low proficient line are all in that general "passing" range. Similar to pass on iReady, and with no similar "pass advanced" score region identified.

corrected

Just more information- On the HS reading VGA, it’s a bit different. It’s a “current score” (with info showing the end of year expected grade level range, to compare) and a “current performance level.” The performance level can be “Advanced.”

The VGA report FCPS sent me in the mail did not have any info showing any end of year expected range, though I have seen that on iReady reports. They have only provided vertical scaled score ad number correct per reporting category (as well as test name and date).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a fourth grader

Reading: 1657 (14/17)
Math: 1578 (18/24)


Based on the chart he is good to go until 8th grade. Not sure really what to take away from all of this.

I thought the material was grade specific (except 3rd).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a fourth grader

Reading: 1657 (14/17)
Math: 1578 (18/24)


Based on the chart he is good to go until 8th grade. Not sure really what to take away from all of this.

I thought the material was grade specific (except 3rd).

I was joking about his being good until 8th grade but if you look at the scores, my 4th graders scores would put him in the proficient category for an 8th grader. I suspect that is not how we are suppose to read the graph but it makes me chuckle.

Looking at the PDF the other poster linked, the score tells me that he is ready to learn the material taught in 4th grade. But looking at the score would he be ready to learn 8th grade material because his 1578 is just under the score they list as ready for 8th grade. His i Ready scores are similar, he is in the 99th percentile and if you look at his score on the larger scale he is in the 90th percentile up into 8th grade. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he is ready for 8th grade academically. I don't. He is a smart kid but he is not ready to skip 4 grades, or even one grade. So I am not sure what to make of these scores. And the explanations they give don't help. The best I can do is that he learned the third grade material and is most likely going to be fine with the 4th grade material.

Looking at the specific scores break down I have no clue what to take from this. The test is adaptive so I don't know what to make of the fact that he got 4 out of 6 correct for number and number sense, 7 out of 7 for computation and estimation, 3 out of 6 for measurement and geometry and 4 out of 5 for probability, stats, patterns, functions, and Algebra. Or that he scored a perfect score on the nonfiction part of reading but missed 3 on the fictional text part. Is that a gap or was he asked harder questions in the areas that he had mistakes and so I should expect him to get them wrong? This is my issue with an adaptive test, the number of right or wrong answers tell me nothing and there really is no way to be able to compare them.

I am thankful that he has been exposed to the idea that it is ok to not know the correct answer because these tests sound awful for kids who think they should know the answers and then are tested on material that they have never seen before. So they are taking these things 3 times a year? Ugh

[Anonymous]

Seriously how hard would it be to add some context. Include the info with the graph pp helpfully posted. I had no idea what I was looking at for my 3rd grader. She missed questions and were freaking out until we read the graph and realize she is way beyond the red line. So now we’re like what do the missed questions even mean if she scored so high? This test was stupid, but FCPS failing to include any helpful information to allow us to put the numbers in context was even dumber. Gatehouse proves itself more competent with each passing day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had the same question and found this by googling:

https://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/sol/parent-resources/fall-2021-vertical-scaled-scores-math.pdf

Sorry, I posted the wrong link. This one was much more useful: https://p9cdn4static.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_340140/File/Accountability/Testing/A%20Guide%20to%20Understanding%20the%20Fall%202021%20Virginia%20Growth%20Assessment.pdf

I know I'm going all the way back to a PP from page 1 but thanks for this link. Is this chart a sample or the actual chart? Assuming so, I guess score for 6th grade in the 1700-1900 are no cause for concern which agrees with no real problems areas identified by iReady.

Why on earth if it is this simple did FCPS fail to include copy or link or anything to this info?

You're welcome! I am pretty sure it's the actual chart, because the first thing I linked to was the same chart on the VDOE website but for math only and without the context.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone fallen under the ready to learn at the grade level threshold? I am assuming yes