Virginia updates accreditation standards for schools

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - A significant change is coming to how your child’s school is graded.

The Department of Education is updating its accreditation standards.

Governor Youngkin said it’s good, while some other education leaders say it’s not.

The change now means schools will be put in different categories, including “distinguished, “on track, “off track,” and “needs intensive support.”

“And what used to be a very simple accreditation standard is now one where we are measuring performance and providing support and an enormous amount of transparency into the schools,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said.

The Virginia Board of Education passed new accreditation standards. A move that hasn’t been made since 2017.

Governor Youngkin said this will allow them to help schools that need more help.

“I think it’s going to enable Virginia to continue to not just be the best state for education, but we’re going to widen the gap,” Youngkin said.

However, leaders of the Virginia Education Association are not thrilled about the changes, and they say they think this could actually hurt schools and that the percentage of schools deemed not meeting state standards will soar from 12% to an estimated 61%.

In a statement, VEA president Dr. James Fedderman said:

“Our students, parents, and educators all deserve so much better than this politically motivated accountability system. Sadly, the results of this new system will mislead the public about the true quality of our schools.”

However, Governor Youngkin doesn’t see it that way.

“I think when we have very bland assessment criteria, and everybody is told that they are doing fine, then of course we end up in a circumstance where there are some schools that need more help,” Youngkin said.

VEA leaders also think the new performance framework will predominantly measure student demographics and privilege rather than the effectiveness of teachers and administrators in enhancing learning and comprehension by de-emphasizing growth.

“So, the goal here is, of course, not to call out schools, but in fact, to identify schools that need support so that all Virginia students can achieve,” Youngkin said.