IRW Parent/Guardian Result Explanation Letter

Dear APS Parents and Guardians:

In Spring 2024, APS students in grades 5 and 8 participated in the Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) that was administered as an additional component of the Standards of Learning (SOL) Reading test. The IRW was administered during a separate test administration window from April 16 – May 17. On this assessment, students read either a history or science-based nonfiction passage and responded to six questions and a writing prompt connected to the passage.

This assessment is new and does not impact a student’s final grade in any way. The score will not be utilized to determine course placement, promotion to next grade level, or summer school. The IRW allows students to apply reading and writing skills on a single assessment. It provides insights into reading comprehension and the ability to use their skills to compose an original written response. The student performance on the assessment is a data point to inform teachers as they determine student strengths and areas for growth on the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).

Score Reports

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has developed a report to provide families with information about their student’s performance on the IRW. This report provides:

• specific details about a student’s performance on the six questions that accompany the nonfiction passage;
• a brief description of each test question, including the SOLassessed by the question, and whether the student answered the item correctly or incorrectly;
• scores for the written response;
• an image of the written response composed and submitted by your student.
  • Information about the scoring rubric for the written response may be found on the APS Assessment Website.

There is no minimum proficiency level established by the VDOE at this time.