Unpacking the New 2023 Mathematics VA Standards

Every 7 years, the Virginia Standards of Learning undergo a facelift. This year is no different! And now, Virginia’s public schools must prepare!

The plan is for the new standards to be fully implemented for the 2024-2025 school year and school divisions are scrambling to prepare! Why? Because they were not given much time to prepare. The Virginia Department of Education announced in September 2023 that the crosswalk year would take effect during the 2023-2024 school year. Considering the standards were only released a month prior, this implementation timeline is WILD!

As a sign of goodwill (I suppose),  schools were given 3 transition options.

• Option 1: Full Crosswalk Year – Teach both the 2016 and 2023 standards
• Option 2: Partial Crosswalk Year – Teach the 2016 standards and some of the 2023 standards
• Option 3: No Crosswalk – Teach only the 2016 standards

 

So what are the changes for the VDOE Math Standards 2023?

1. New Numbering Format
2. Parameter Changes
3. Deletions/ Additions

1. New Numbering Format

The standards are numbered way differently now! I think that the Virginia Board of Education aimed to have a closer resemblance with Common Core standards. At first, it was a little confusing but after I started to dig in. I think I like the change! It makes it easier to understand what specific content strand each standard belongs to.

These are the 5 specific content strands for the mathematics standards of learning:

• Number and Number Sense (NS)
• Computation and Estimation (CE)
• Measurement and Geometry (MG)
• Probability and Statistics (PS)
• Patterns, Functions, and Algebra (PFA)

 

 

Each standard starts with a number representing the grade level, followed by the content strand, and ends with the number within the strand.

For example, the 2016 SOL Standard 7.2 is now 7.CE.1. 

• Grade Level – 7th
• Specific Content Strand – Computation and Estimation
• The Number within the Strand – 1

 

 

2. Parameter Changes

There are several parameter changes for each grade level, along with clarifications. My main takeaway is that the essential knowledge and skills are beefier than before.

3. Deletions and Additions

Many standards have been shuffled around in the middle school area of mathematics. Here is a brief overview of the changes for each grade level. From my understanding, if it says “included in” it means it was already in a different grade level and is now only in that grade level. “Moved To/From” means it was completely removed from a different grade level. 8th Grade math has the most deletions, which I am sure many 8th-grade Virginia students and teachers will be happy about! If you teach a different content area from middle school math, be sure to visit the VDOE website for more information.

6th Grade Math Standards of Learning

• Deletions

1. 6.5c – Solve multi-step practical problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of decimals [Included in 5.CE.3 and 7.CE.1]
2. 6.6c – Order of Operations – [Included in 7.PFA.2]
3. 6.7c – Area and Perimeter of Rectangles [Included in 4.MG.3 and 5.MG.2]
4. 6.14b [EKS] – Solve one-step inequalities in one variable involving addition or subtraction and graph the solution on a number line [Included in 7.PFA.4]

• Additions

1. 6.MG.2 – Perimeter and area of parallelograms
2. 6.PS.1 [KS] – Additional data analysis knowledge and skills representing the data cycle have been included
3. 6.PS.2c- Identify outliers and determine their effect on mean, median, mode, or range

7th Grade Math Standards of Learning

• Deletions

1. 7.1e – Absolute Value [Included in Grade 6 and 7.PFA.2]
2. 7.3 EKS – Sales tax, tip, and discount [Included in 8.CE.1]
3. 7.4a EKS – Determining volume of rectangular prisms [Included in 5.MG.2]
4. 7.7 – Translations and reflections of polygons [Included in 8.MG.3]
5. 7.10 c, d, e- Additive relationships and y-intercept [Embedded in 8.PFA.3]

• Additions

1. 7.MG.1d,e – Change in attribute with volume and surface area of rectangular prisms [Moved from Grade 8]
2. 7.MG.4 – Dilations [Moved from Grade 8]
3. 7.PS.2 [KS] – Additional data analysis knowledge and skills representing the data cycle have been included
4. 7.PFA.1b – Identify and describe a line with a positive, negative,or zero slope [Moved from Grade 8]
5. 7.PFA.2a – Simplify Numerical Expressions without a calculator [Moved from Grade 6]
6. 7.PFA.2c – Simplify and generate equivalent algebraic expressions that may require combining like terms [Moved from Grade 8]
7. 7.PFA.4h- Describe the differences and similarities between solving equations and inequalities

8th Grade Math Standards of Learning

• Deletions

1. 8.2 [EKS]- Sum and products of rational and irrational numbers
2. 8.3b – Determine positive or negative square roots of perfect squares [Included in Grade 7]
3. 8.4 [EKS] – Reconcile account balance [Included in Economics and Personal Finance]
4.  8.4 [EKS] – Compute simple interest [Included in Economics and Personal finance] (THANK GOODNESS AM I RIGHT?!)
5. 8.6a – Solve problems involving the surface area of a cone [Included in Geometry]
6.  8.6b [EKS] – Describe how changing one attribute of a rectangular prism affects volume and surface area [Moved to Grade 7]
7. 8.7a- Give a polygon, apply a dilation, in the coordinate plane [Moved to Grade 7]
8. 8.8 – Constructing 3-D models (front, side, back view)
9. 8.14a – Evaluating algebraic expressions given replacement values of the variables [Included in Grade 7]
10. 8.16a – Recognize and describe a line with a slope that is positive, negative, or zero (0) [Moved to Grade 7]

• Additions

1. 8.PS.2 [KS] – Additional data analysis knowledge and skills representing the data cycle have been included with a focus on boxplots
2. 8.PS.3 [KS] – Additional data analysis knowledge and skills representing the data cycle have been included, with a focus on scatterplots

Where can Instructional Plans and Mathematics Resources be found for the 2023 VDOE Math Standards?

Because I specialize in middle school math, you will be able to find what you need right here on The Sassy Math Teacher Website and in my TPT store.

I am currently working on the updates, the goal is to have the first 3 units of each grade level ready to go by the beginning of the new school year (August 2024).

I’ve prepared pacing guides with the VDOE Math Standards for Math 6, Math 7, and Math 8. These are living documents in Google Slides, so they will reflect the updates as they are completed. Be sure to download them here. Make sure you open the confirmation email to gain access.

Instructional guides and exemplar mathematics info from the VDOE should be ready by June 2024, according to the Virginia State Board of Education.

As for mathematics textbooks, you can refer to the mathematics textbook review process webpage here.

 

What about the 2024 SOL Tests?

Don’t stress! The 2024 SOLs will still access the 2016 SOL Standards but there will be a few field items that reflect the new 2023 standards.

Considering the full implementation is just around the corner, hopefully, we have test blueprints and sol practice items for the 2025 tests available soon!

For additional information, visit the VDOE website to stay tuned for further updates on instructional guides and materials.

Navigating these updates may seem daunting, but with the right resources and a community of educators sharing insights and strategies, Virginia’s teachers will make it through this transition!