Virginia approves IXL Diagnostic as a valid assessment tool for students
- The Virginia Department of Education has approved the IXL Diagnostic for alternative assessments in mathematics and English language arts.
- The IXL Diagnostic is recognized for its effectiveness in measuring student progress and closing learning gaps.
- Educators are optimistic about using IXL to improve student learning outcomes across the state.
On December 2, 2024, the Virginia Department of Education officially approved the IXL Diagnostic, a new assessment tool intended for students in grades 3-8. This diagnostic can be administered at the beginning and mid-year to help identify student progress in mathematics and English language arts as per Virginia's Standards of Learning. The decision highlights the growing adoption of innovative educational tools within the state, with over 16 million students utilizing IXL's personalized learning platform. The IXL Learning platform is currently employed by one-third of students and 88% of school districts in Virginia. Moreover, research indicates that students using the IXL platform show improved performance on the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment compared to their peers using alternative resources. The CEO of IXL Learning, Paul Mishkin, expressed excitement over this approval, emphasizing the platform's effectiveness in helping educators monitor progress and close learning gaps. The IXL Diagnostic is designed to provide a more engaging assessment experience that doesn't resemble traditional testing methods, aiming to foster a positive learning environment. This assessment tool is part of the IXL Assessment Suite and backed by foundational validity research, which establishes its usefulness as a precise indicator of student achievement and a strong predictor of future performance. The diagnostic tool offers various features, including the ability to set up assessment windows to collect data on student proficiency, which can assist educators in guiding their instruction. In conjunction with this approval, the diagnostic engages students through interactive questions and positive reinforcement, which helps them stay motivated about their learning. The overall commitment from educational stakeholders in Virginia to utilize advanced digital learning solutions reflects a broader initiative to enhance student learning outcomes. Schools that incorporate IXL have reported remarkable results, with students benefiting from differentiated instruction and targeted learning plans based on their individual results.