Delivering Well Prepared Teachers Policy
In its standards for elementary teacher preparation, Virginia requires teacher preparation programs to address the science of reading. Programs must provide training in the five instructional components of scientifically based reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
Virginia also requires pre-kindergarten, elementary and special education teachers to pass the Virginia Reading Assessment. This test is aligned with the English Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools and the National Reading Panel's five essential components of effective reading instruction. Reviews have rated this test as one of only a small number in the country that actually verifies a teacher candidate's knowledge in scientifically based reading instruction.
Virginia recognized the factual accuracy of this analysis.