York schools report large spring gains on new VOWS literacy screener for K–2

York County School Division officials on June 2 presented spring results from VOWS, the Virginia Language and Literacy Screener System, saying large shares of kindergarten through second-grade students moved into the “low risk” band compared with fall results.

The division’s staff member presenting the results told the school board that “this is a state required screener for literacy, and it's called VOWs,” and that the screener is given in fall, midyear and spring to K–2 and selected third graders to identify students at risk for reading difficulties.

The presenter said the division tested 796 kindergarten students in spring, with 80 percent in the low-risk band, 10 percent moderate and 10 percent high risk, down from 24 percent high risk in the fall. In first grade the presenter reported 906 students tested in spring with 78 percent low risk (55 percent in the fall) and 11 percent each in moderate and high risk. In second grade the presenter said 908 students were tested: 71 percent low risk (46 percent in the fall), 16 percent moderate and 13 percent high risk in…