Last week Virginia education officials announced that the Virginia Grade Level Alternative (VGLA) assessment will be phased out and substantially replaced by a more objective online test for math and reading. The VGLA has been under increasing criticism because it is a time consuming portfolio test that many believe does not give a true picture of a special education student’s skills or level of achievement. Although the VGLA was originally designed for a limited number of students, the use increased significantly when schools were using the exam to meet the requirements of No Child Left Behind legislation. Special education advocates complained that the overuse of the VGLA hampered the ability of special education students to be challenged to higher achievement and gave inaccurate data about the actual skills levels of these students.
Recent reports indicate that the VGLA “will to be used for students at the lowest levels of English proficiency, but not for those with significant learning disabilities.” Accurate and reliable achievement data is critical for improving learning opportunities for all children. Restricting the use of the VGLA is a good thing.
