The Virginia Board of Education has approved WorkKeys assessments to support students toward graduation. Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) leadership recognizes the WorkKeys assessment as an important tool in addressing opportunity, access, and attainment gaps in graduation outcomes. FCPS assessment practices are intended to allow students to access an authentic assessment as a way to better demonstrate proficiency in English academic content. 

Under Virginia’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan, WorkKeys cannot fulfill federal testing requirements for reading. Students enrolled in English 11 must take the Standards of Learning (SOL) End of Course (EOC) English: Reading test to fulfill federal participation requirements even if they use WorkKeys to earn verified credit.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has approved WorkKeys assessments to fulfill two types of graduation requirements for students.

• Substitute Test for Verified Credit: The following WorkKeys tests may be used for verified credit toward a standard or advanced studies diploma.
  • Workplace Documents—Score of 4+ for English Reading verified credit 
  • Business Writing—Score of 3+ for English Writing verified credit

Recommended for seniors scheduled to graduate by June who need a test for verified credit

• Available to all students enrolled in English 11* who need a test for verified credit
• Available to students with prior course credit in English 11 who need a test for verified credit

Required for seniors scheduled to graduate by June who need a test for verified credit

• Available to all students enrolled in English 11* who need a test for verified credit
• Available to students with prior course credit in English 11 who need a test for verified credit

The final window of the year is required for eleventh graders who fail the spring SOL test in English: Reading and/or SOL English: Writing and need a test for verified credit