Eighth-grade teachers be advised a new assessment is being introduced to replace EXPLORE. Called ReadiStep, the assessment is a product of the College Board and is aligned with the PSAT and SAT. It is designed to measure the skills students have and the skills they still need to develop in order to be on track for success in high school, college and careers. Readistep is a paper-pencil test made up of three multiple-choice sections assessing students in the areas of critical reading, mathematics and writing.

Staff responsible for administering the test will be provided training in their buildings prior to the Oct. 15- 29 testing window.

“We want to ensure that all Virginia Beach City Public Schools’ (VBCPS) students graduate ready for the rigors of college and the workforce,” said Dr. Donald Robertson, assistant superintendent for the Department of Planning, Innovation and Accountability. “This assessment will help us to identify those areas where our students excel and the skills that should be further developed.”

Eighth-graders will take the three subtests (reading, writing and mathematics) with no more than two subtests administered in a single day. Each subtest will take 40 minutes. Schools are being encouraged to start testing first thing in the morning as research suggests students perform better on tests that start early in the day. Specific dates and testing schedules are being determined at the building level.

Test results will be returned to schools in December/January. Individual results will be reviewed with each student to discuss their academic strengths and to assist them in planning out their high school schedules.

A bonus to taking the ReadiStep assessment is that students will gain access to the MyRoad college and career planning program. This online tool includes a brief personality quiz and resources to help students plan for high school, college and beyond. They can use the program to learn more about careers and college majors that fit their personality types and to begin exploring colleges by location, college major and cost. School counselors will be able to use both the ReadiStep scores and the MyRoad planning tool to better assist students in charting the best course for their high school schedules, college plans and future careers.