Education Commissioner Dr. La Verne Terry has announced the opening of the 2011 testing season with scheduled VITAL (Virgin Islands Territorial Assessment of Learning) testing from March, 21-25. “All states and territories are mandated to use criterion referenced standardized assessments in order to measure Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP. Here in the territory, the VITAL is the achievement tests that are used to determine whether our schools make AYP. AYP is a measurement that determines the performance of every public school and school district in the country,” said Dr. Terry
According to a press release from the V.I. Department of Education, the commissioner further issued the release of supplemental data, which follows the recent release of the 2009-2010 Territorial Report Card and information of the Department’s newly implemented reporting processes. Parents and members of the public can access the information online at www.doe.vi or vide.nclbreports.avr247.com/vidoe/Reports/ReportsHome.aspx.
“Within the next week and a half, schools across the territory will be staging rallies and other associated activities to invigorate students and parents as they approach the testing week,” the commissioner said. “We cannot say enough how important these tests are to the overall process of school improvement. We need all students to continue reporting to school each day and on time, be sure to be on time and participate in the testing, as well as to be well rested and nutritionally prepared on each testing day.” She encourages parents to contact their child’s individual schools or the office of the superintendent if they have questions or concerns about the VITAL.