Approved Core Instructional Programs for Grades K-5

The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2022, and expanded in 2023, focuses on improving literacy outcomes for all students in the Commonwealth. The VLA requires that “each local school board shall provide a program of literacy instruction that is aligned with science-based reading research and provides evidenced-based literacy instruction to students in kindergarten through grade eight.” To support school divisions to comply with this requirement, the VLA requires the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to recommend instructional programs - including core, supplemental, and intervention materials - for approval by the Virginia Board of Education (VBOE).

The first review cycle in 2022-2023 evaluated K-3 core instructional programs for alignment with evidence- based literacy instruction, science-based reading research (SBRR), and the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).  The second review cycle in 2022-2023 evaluated additional K-3 instructional programs and expanded the review to include 4-5 instructional programs for alignment with evidence-based literacy instruction, science-based reading research (SBRR), and the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL).

Approved Core Instructional Program Guide

The Approved Core Instructional Program Guide (PDF) provides an overview of the approved core instructional programs. To compile this guide, VDOE partnered with Virginia Literacy Partnerships (VLP) at the University of Virginia School of Education to facilitate reviews of core instructional programs. The Core Instructional Review Process is unique to Virginia and consists of two phases, each with discrete rubrics for each grade band. Rubrics were produced by VLP and reviewed by national experts, Virginia higher education partners and Virginia educators, and posted online. Reviews were conducted by outstanding Virginia educators including administrators, reading specialists, and teachers from all eight regions. This review process was also designed to align with Virginia’s textbook adoption process. The list is the final result of a rigorous, multi-month, process to identify best-in-class K-5 core instructional programs.

VDOE, in partnership with Virginia Literacy Partnerships (VLP), will conduct additional review cycle(s) to evaluate supplemental (K-8), and intervention programs (K-8), beginning in Summer 2023, to support full implementation of the VLA by the 2024-2025 school year.

• Approved Core Instructional Program Guide (PDF)
• Procurement and Pricing for Virginia Literacy Act K-5 Core Curriculum Approved by the Board of Education, December 2023 (Word)

Virginia Educator Review Results

Reviewers conducted a detailed alignment to evidence-based literacy instructional practices for teaching essential early literacy skills, by grade level, as required by the VLA. The following table includes the approved core programs and a link to the comprehensive rubric results for each program.

Approved Core Instructional Programs

Blank Template

• Blank Core Curriculum Review Rubric - This form may be used during the local adoption process.