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Manassas Park outlines new literacy plan to meet Virginia Literacy Act requirements
Summary
Manassas Park City Schools presented a required division literacy plan focusing first on grades K–5, adoption of Benchmark Advance as the core reading program, required staff training hours (54 for K–5 reading specialists) and a switch to the Virginia Language and Literacy Screener (VLS) to replace PALS.
Dr. Graer, superintendent of Manassas Park City Schools, presented the division's literacy plan required under the Virginia Literacy Act and outlined how the district will implement the new screening, materials and staff training for the 2024–25 school year. The plan focuses initially on grades K'5 and will expand to grades 6'8 the following year.
The presentation said the district selected Benchmark Advance as the core instructional resource and will use approved supplemental and intervention tools, including Lexia and other state-listed platforms. "We've already begun training on that with our staff so they have what they need throughout the summer to be ready to hit the ground running when they return," Dr. Graer said.
Dr. Graer told the board that K'5 reading specialists have completed the 54 hours of training offered through the Virginia Literacy Partnership in conjunction with the University of Virginia. She said other staff groups will be required to complete additional module-based training; modules for K'5 teachers are expected to be released first, with middle-school materials to follow.
The plan includes a change to assessment: the Virginia Language and Literacy Screener (VLS) will replace the PALS screener. The presentation stressed that any student who scores in the VLS high-risk band must have a student reading plan, and that district templates and PowerSchool integration will be used to house progress monitoring and parent reports.
Board members asked about the cumulative burden of training, scheduling, and pacing. A member noted the large number of required hours and urged district leadership to identify ways to provide staff time and align the literacy training with other professional learning. Dr. Graer acknowledged the concern and said the district is "continuing as an executive team to discuss ways to accommodate these increased and frankly large training requirements."
The division will post the literacy plan on the district website and share translated one-page summaries and family engagement materials through the new PT(S)O and Title I channels. The board did not take a separate vote on the literacy plan during this meeting; implementation steps and an updated submission to the state may follow.
