Home

PreK

Kindergarten

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

2025-2026 Literacy Updates

We are excited to share continued updates to our reading program for the 2025–2026 school year! In recent years, the Virginia General Assembly passed the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) to strengthen literacy instruction statewide. This law ensures that students in kindergarten through eighth grade receive high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction grounded in the science of reading, with additional support provided for students who need it.

What’s New and Continuing:

VALLS Screener (Grades K–8):

All students in grades K–3 will continue to participate in the Virginia Language & Literacy Screener (VALLS). In grades 4–8, students who did not pass the previous year’s Reading SOL will also take VALLS to help identify targeted areas of need.

Student Reading Plans (Grades K–8):

In alignment with the VLA, personalized student reading plans will be developed for any student in grades K–8 who demonstrates a need for additional support based on VALLS results. These plans guide focused instruction and intervention.

DIBELS Assessment (Grades K–5):

We will continue using DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) three times per year in grades K–5. Families will receive progress reports, and teachers will conduct ongoing checks to closely monitor skill development.

Division Literacy Plan:

As part of our commitment to comprehensive literacy instruction, we have developed and are implementing a Division Literacy Plan aligned to the VLA.

2024 English Standards of Learning (SOLs):

The updated 2024 English Standards of Learning are in effect and support students in building strong reading foundations, comprehension strategies, and critical thinking skills across all grade levels.

For more information about the Virginia Literacy Act, please visit the Virginia Department of Education website.

If you have questions about how these changes will impact your child, we encourage you to complete this Google Form.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership as we work together to ensure all students become confident, capable readers!

Our Literacy Vision

In Louisa County Public Schools we aim to cultivate lifelong learners equipped with robust literacy skills. Anchored in the Science of Reading, our comprehensive literacy program is designed to evolve with students as they progress from elementary to secondary school. We recognize that literacy is not a destination but a journey of continuous growth and exploration. In our commitment to literacy, we pledge to stay abreast of the latest research, integrating evidence-based literacy instruction into our classrooms using high quality instructional materials. By fostering a culture of reading, critical thinking, and communicating, we not only aim to produce proficient readers, but also to inspire a generation of informed, articulate, and empowered citizens. Together, we LEAD THE WAY in literacy, ensuring that every student in Louisa County Public Schools is equipped with the tools they need for lifelong success.

How We Teach K-5 Reading In Louisa County Public Schools:

Supporting Your Child's Reading at Home

Review the elements of reading below then select a grade level to find the top resources from LCPS teachers, the Florida Center for Reading Research©, and Virginia Literacy Partnerships. These family activities have easy-to-follow instructions and cover all areas of literacy.

Phonological Awareness is the foundation for learning to read! It's the ability to recognize that spoken words are made up of individual sound parts. Phonemic Awareness is the ability to identify and play with individual sounds in spoken words.

Once your child develops some phonological awareness, they must learn the alphabetic principle– how to attach sounds to letters and vise versa. Below you will find our sequence of instruction which shows the order we introduce letters, spelling patterns, and red words. Students are exposed to grade level concepts during whole group and receive individualized instruction above or below grade level concepts in small group.

Phonics is a method of teaching reading and writing by helping children understand the relationship between letters and the sounds they represent.

LCPS Phonics Sequence of Instruction

Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order to understand what they read, children must be able to read fluently whether they are reading aloud or silently. For more information, please visit Fluency with Text and check out the video.

Learning to write is a crucial part of your child's education and development. For an elementary student, it means more than just forming letters and words. It involves understanding how to express thoughts clearly, organize ideas logically, and use correct grammar and punctuation.

Kindergarten Through Grade 5 Writing Progression

Talking to and reading with your child are two terrific ways to help them increase their vocabulary- the number of words they know. The more words a child knows, the more they are able to understand what they’re reading or listening to.

From preschool to high school, it's crucial for kids to understand what they read. When reading at home, engage them by asking and answering questions like what, how, and why. Next, help them identify the main idea. These strategies will enhance their comprehension and make their reading more meaningful!

For PreK, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Grade Families:

Everything you need to know about the Virginia VALLS assessment.

Additional Literacy Information

National Center on Improving Literacy offers ideas to help your beginning reader read and write with practical ideas and strategies based on what works.

Reading Partners provides some resources to stay educated and informed about early literacy.

Meadows Center offers tips and resources on a variety of topics to help parents with learning at home.

SUPPORTING YOUNG ENGLISH LEARNERS AT HOME

Developed by the team at the Regional Educational Laboratory—West, Regional Educational Laboratory—Northeast & Islands, and Regional Educational Laboratory—Northwest, these activity sheets are designed to provide simple, fun activities families and caregivers can use with children at home. The activities are available in both English and Spanish and can help strengthen language development in either the home language or English. The activities were created activities based on the What Works Clearinghouse practice guide, Teaching Academic Content and Literacy to English Learners in Elementary and Middle School.

IMPLEMENTATION TOOLKITS

Developed by the team at the National Center on Improving Literacy, these toolkits provide practical help for educators, parents, and caregivers who are implementing recommended literacy practices. Multiple toolkits are available and include topics like Understanding Dyslexia, Learning about Your Child’s Reading Development, and Families and Schools Partnering for Children’s Literacy Success.

CBM AT HOME

Developed by the team at FCRR and the Center on Teaching and Learning at the University of Oregon, CBM at home is designed to help educators, parents, and caregivers understand their children's risk for developing reading difficulties in the future. CBM stands for Curriculum-Based Measure. The CBMs are short timed tests that measure important early reading skills, and are available in English and Spanish.

SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD’S READING AT HOME

Developed by the team at the Regional Educational Laboratory—Southeast. This site contains additional family activities and videos to help your child develop language, link sounds to letters, blend letters and word parts to read and write words and read for understanding. The activities were created activities based on the What Works Clearinghouse practice guides, Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd Grade.

Megan Cornelius

Division Literacy Specialist

cornelmr@lcps.k12.va.us

Louisa County Public Schools