Virginia Reading Assessment (VRA) Requirement
The VRA has been aligned with the Virginia English Standards of Learning and the five key components of effective reading instruction which are phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, comprehension and fluency.
VRA satisfies required mandates by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Students must earn a minimum score of 235 in order to be accepted to the Education Department and to participate in student teaching. This test is required for those who will be elementary teachers and/or special education teachers.
The VRA should be taken after students have completed EDUC 320 and EDUC 321. These courses provide the material that students need to know to be successful when they take the VRA.
Visit www.va.nesinc.com for registration information and testing schedules.
If you have additional questions regarding the program policies, contact:
Virginia Department of Education
Division of Teacher Education and Licensure
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
Telephone (800) 292-3820
Virginia Communications and Literacy Assessment (VCLA) Requirement
The VCLA measures communication and literacy skills necessary to teach and communicate effectively with parents and others in the education community.
The VCLA is composed of two subtests: reading and writing. Students must earn a passing score on the VCLA in order to be accepted to the Education Department and to participate in student teaching. Students must earn a total of at least 470 to pass this test.