VKRP Spring Refresh
After a cold, snowy winter, it’s nice to say that spring is finally here! Our team’s current work focuses on preparing for the spring assessment term: delivering kit materials, updating all documents and reports for spring, creating new implementation checklists, and ensuring optimizations are made to further improve the online system.
All VKRP users will want to note the important dates below as you prepare for and implement the spring assessment period:
Spring 2022 VKRP Important Dates
March-April: Webinars for VKRP Division Contacts
- Division contacts/instructional leaders hear details about spring implementation information to be shared with schools and staff.
March 28: VKRP webportal moves to spring term
Spring versions of the EMAS video demonstrations, practice assessments, and manual will be posted on the web portal.
April 11: VKRP assessments open for spring term
At this point, divisions/schools should have communicated their specific two-three week assessment window with teachers.
May 20: VKRP assessments officially close
May-June: Interpret and use your data
Use your data to respond to student needs, share student progress with families and with teachers who will be instructing students next year (e.g., kindergarten and first grade teachers).
Reach out to VKRP if you need help interpreting reports.
July 1: Download 2021-2022 reports and data exports
This is the last day to download 2021-2022 reports and data exports.
Frequently Asked Questions from the VKRP Hotline
We have enjoyed chatting with so many of you this past fall, and we’re eager to meet more of you as you call, email, or chat with us on the hotline. We are grateful for the opportunity to share some of these frequently asked questions.
Q: How do you recommend our team prepare for the spring assessment window?
A: We are glad you asked! Your division/school leaders will be sharing your division’s specific VKRP two-three week assessment window. You’ll want to spend some time prior to your window opening to get ready for assessments.
- Ensure that all spring kit materials are ready. If you ordered replacement materials, they should have already arrived. If not, please reach out to your VKRP supervisor ASAP.
- Read the VKRP Spring Manual 2022 that can be found on the web portal under Assessment Guides > Essential Documents > Spring.
- Review the VKRP online training modules on the VKRP web portal.
- Watch the Spring EMAS video demonstration.
- Review the items on the CBRS (Appendix B in manual).
- Practice the EMAS assessment online.
- Verify your class list is up-to-date in PALS.
Q: If I need to take a break during the math assessment, how do I save my student’s responses?
A: The EMAS is designed to continually save your data while you assess students. If you need to take a break, click on your “HOME” button in the menu at the top of the VKRP page.
Q: What do I do if a student arrives after our assessment window closes but before the end of the spring term?
A: As long as the VKRP assessment term is still open (4/11 – 5/20), students should be assessed even if your division’s window has closed.
Q: What do I do if a student arrives after our assessment window closes but before the end of the spring term?
A: As long as the VKRP assessment term is still open (4/11 – 5/20), students should be assessed even if your division’s window has closed.
Q: Why are there a range of skills assessed on the EMAS, instead of just the Standards of Learning?
A: We measure a broad range of skills in order to get an accurate picture of all students’ mathematics knowledge and skills. If we did not include easier and harder items, we would not get accurate scores for students needing more support and more challenge. The EMAS provides a snapshot of an individual student’s skills at a point in time to allow you to target instruction to meet that student’s needs, both scaffolding skill development and challenging skills for further growth.
Q: Is there a midyear VKRP?
A: There is not currently a midyear timepoint for VKRP.
We are here to support you as you have questions before, during, and after you administer the VKRP spring assessments as well as while you use the data reports and resources. Teaser! We will have two upcoming blogs dedicated to discussing how to interpret your reports and how to use the data during the final weeks of this school year.
Keep those questions coming!
More questions? VKRP provides support via the online chat feature when you are in the system, via email vkrp@virginia.edu, and via toll free 866-301-8278 ext. 1
