19/10/2026
📢 Virginia is Raising the Bar for Reading and Math Achievement!
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is implementing higher passing standards, known as cut scores, for the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments in reading and mathematics beginning with the 2026–2027 school year.
What does this mean for students and families?
📚 Higher expectations: Students will need to demonstrate stronger mastery of grade-level skills to be considered proficient.
📊 A gradual transition: The new cut scores will be phased in over four years, with a temporary "pass/approaching" performance level to help ease the transition.
🏫 A clearer picture of student achievement: The changes are intended to give families and educators a more accurate understanding of how well students are meeting Virginia's academic standards.
💙 What does this mean for students with dyslexia?
At Decoding Dyslexia Virginia, we believe that high expectations must go hand in hand with high-quality instruction and appropriate support.
Raising the bar on assessments is only meaningful if we also ensure that students have access to evidence-based reading instruction, early identification of reading difficulties, appropriate interventions, and the accommodations they need to demonstrate what they know.
Higher standards should lead to stronger instruction and better outcomes—not simply more students falling below the proficiency line.
We encourage families to learn more about these changes, review their children's assessment results, and ask schools how they are supporting students who are not yet meeting grade-level expectations.
🔗 Learn more from VDOE:
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/student-assessment/cut-scores
