For Immediate Release: June 6, 2023
Media Contact: Charles B. Pyle
RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Education today released a report titled “Recommendations of the Secretary of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to Promote Excellence and Higher Student Achievement in response to HB 938.” The report includes recommendations to the General Assembly and details actions already underway to restore excellence in education in the commonwealth.
“This report highlights the transformational work in progress to strengthen the transparency, rigor and multiple pathways in Virginia’s K-12 education system,” Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera said. “I am proud of the work we have already done to make student data accessible to teachers and families and all the great work to come in increasing the rigor of the state’s math Standards of Learning and reforming the accreditation and accountability system.”
“The department is committed to building a best-in-class educational system that ensures every student is prepared for post-secondary opportunities and success in life,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons said. “I look forward to continuing our work with parents and educators, the state Board of Education and the General Assembly to prioritize student outcomes and put the individual needs of students and families first.”
House Bill 938 was signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin in 2022. The law charged the Board of Education, the secretary of education, and the state superintendent to convene a group of stakeholders to make recommendations to the General Assembly on six goals for public education:
- Promoting excellence in instruction and student achievement in mathematics.
- Expanding the Advanced Studies Diploma as an option for students in public high schools in the commonwealth.
- Increasing the transparency of performance measures for public elementary and secondary schools in the commonwealth.
- Ensuring that performance measures for public elementary and secondary schools prioritize the attainment of grade-level proficiency and growth during the course of a school year and from year to year in reading and mathematics for all students, especially in grades kindergarten through five.
- Ensuring that the commonwealth's proficiency standards on Standards of Learning assessments in reading and mathematics are maintained.
- Ensuring a strong accreditation system that promotes meaningful accountability year-over-year.
The final report focuses on recommended legislative reforms, Board of Education actions and department projects to develop a strong accreditation system, set proficiency standards on SOL assessments that align with excellence, promote excellence in instruction and student achievement in mathematics, and expand pathways and options for students that ensure college and career readiness.
