What to Know:
- HCPS is implementing the Virginia Literacy Act, which the General Assembly passed in 2022, this school year as we continue our work to improve literacy among our students.
- Among other changes, kindergarten through third grade students will take a new state-approved literacy screener three times per year. Fourth and fifth grade students will continue to take diagnostic assessments at the end of each quarter.
- We strongly encourage you to visit
the HCPS literacy webpage to learn more and consider completing
this Google Form if you have any questions about Hanover County Public Schools and literacy, or to request literacy resources to bolster your efforts to support your student.
All HCPS back-to-school messages can be found
on the HCPS website.
We hope you are having a great week. We are writing today with important information regarding literacy instruction in our school division.
As a school division, we are proud to offer a literacy program that works to ensure all of our students will become effective communicators and are constantly refining our approach to literacy instruction. As a Commonwealth, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) in 2022 as part of the Commonwealth’s efforts to take the lead nationwide to improve early literacy outcomes for Virginia’s young learners.
Our comprehensive implementation of this state-wide literacy act is driven by our mission to serve our students and provide them with access to a top-tier education. We are committed not only to its implementation, but in working with you (our families) to improve our students’ literacy skills. This impactful work expands our successful efforts during the 2023-24 school year, strengthening the alignment of our literacy instruction with the science of reading.
In short, the VLA outlines the core literacy instruction that is based in scientific reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction that elementary school students will receive. It also outlines how students in kindergarten through eighth grade will receive supplemental instruction and intervention as needed. More information about the VLA is available
on the Virginia Department of Education website.
While the changes are far-reaching, please note the following as it relates to the VLA and our schools:
- Kindergarten through third grade students will take a new state-approved literacy screener three times per year. Fourth and fifth grade students will continue to take diagnostic assessments at the end of each quarter.
- The School Board adopted high-quality instructional materials recommended by a committee of teachers, parents, and school administrators to support this critical work. These new materials will be used as the key tool during your student’s literacy instruction.
- Teachers will continue to share individual student literacy snapshots that include diagnostic screener results and/or progress monitoring data with quarterly report cards for kindergarten through fifth grade students.
- Teachers and reading specialists will collaborate with parents/caregivers of kindergarten through third grade students who score in a specific range in the new literacy screener to develop targeted student goals and actions and implement the Student Reading Plan.
- For students with disabilities who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) with literacy goals, their reading plan will be in alignment with their annual IEP.
We recognize that you may have questions regarding the VLA and how it will change literacy instruction in our schools.
This new HCPS webpage has more information about literacy generally, the VLA, and additional resources to help you further support your student. Additionally, the Hanover County Public Schools Literacy Plan can be accessed
If you have any questions about Hanover County Public Schools and literacy, or to request literacy resources to bolster your efforts to support your student, please complete
this Google Form.
Thank you for your support, partnership, and engagement as we work to further improve literacy outcomes among our students.
Hanover County Public Schools