For Immediate Release: October 16, 2023
Contact: communications@doe.virginia.gov
Following Extensive Analysis and Feedback, Working Group Established by Legislature Calls for Updates to Ensure Rigor, Transparency, Innovation
RICHMOND — Following through on Governor Youngkin’s focus on restoring excellence in education and a legislative charge to revise the Virginia Standards of Learning summative assessments of proficiency and develop a plan for implementing those revisions, the House Bill 585 Work Group led by the Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Rogstad Guidera and Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons today released their recommendations for the future of Virginia’s assessment system.
Focused on five opportunities for the Commonwealth to strengthen its assessment system, the HB 585 Work Group recommendations reinforce that to have an educational system that is strongest in the nation and ensures every student is prepared for post-secondary opportunities and long-term success in life, Virginia needs to implement:
- clearer and more rigorous Standards of Learning
- more rigorous assessment items
- more timely, clear, and actionable reporting
- improved system coherence to ensure measurement of proficiency and student growth
- innovative assessment design and plan for future innovation
The full Recommendations from the House Bill 585 Work Group can be found here. More information on the Work Group and its process is available here.
“Virginia students, families, and teachers deserve a best-in-class assessment system,” said Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera, who served as a co-chair of the working group. “Actionable data is the foundation for improving performance and holding our schools accountable. This report illuminates the actions we must take to advance student outcomes, improve access to quality and timely information for parents, students, and the public, and restore excellence for Virginia students."
“Virginia is committed to raising learning expectations for all children in the Commonwealth,” said Superintendent Lisa Coons, co-chair of the working group. “These recommendations are part of a larger statewide focus to restructure and strengthen Virginia’s Framework for Excellence in Education. Virginia’s best-in-class Framework for Excellence in Education will strengthen our standards, assessments, and accountability and help ensure that Virginia students are prepared for success in life.”
These recommendations align with education reforms the Youngkin Administration has already undertaken and its focus on raising learning expectations and ensuring a best-in-class education for all Virginians. These reforms have concentrated on increasing the rigor of History, Math, English, and Science standards; redefining proficiency to provide true indicators of performance; instituting a transparent and actionable accountability system; rethinking Virginia’s assessment system; and ensuring that educators, parents, students, the public and policymakers have access to actionable data that can be used to improve student outcomes.
The House Bill 585 Work Group included leaders from across Virginia and experts in assessment. In addition to Secretary Guidera and Superintendent Coons, those members included:
- Jenna Alexander - President, Virginia Parent Teacher Association
- Rebekah Amato - Teacher, Clover Hill High School in Chesterfield (Region I)
- Kristen Amundson - Former Executive Director of NASBE (2013-2019); Former member Virginia House of Delegates; Former member of Fairfax County School Board.
- Wendy Chandler - Division Director of Testing, Augusta County Schools (Region V)
- Grace Creasey - State Board of Education Member; Executive Director, Virginia Council for Private Education
- Karen Dickenson - Principal, St. Paul Elementary, Wise County Schools (Region VII)
- Matt Hurt - Director, Comprehensive Instructional Program (CIP)
- Tracy Lagatta - Division Director of Testing, Virginia Beach City Schools (Region II)
- Sheryl Lazarus - Director, National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO)
- Amy McClure - Southern Regional Chair, VSBA
- Amber Northern - State Board of Education Member; VP for Research, Fordham Institute
- Susan Patrick - Former President & CEO, Aurora Institute/VALIN National Partner
- Alan Seibert - State Board of Education Member; Former Salem City Schools Superintendent; Former Constituent Services and Government Relations Officer of Roanoke City Public Schools
- James Soltis - Assistant Superintendent, Salem City Schools (Region VI)
- Kristy Somerville-Midgette - Superintendent, Brunswick County Public Schools; VASS Representative (Region VIII)
- Thomas Taylor - Superintendent, Stafford County Public Schools (Region III)
- Mychael Willon - Vice Chair, SEEAC (Parent Representative)
As required under House Bill 585, the Work Group’s recommendation of key action steps to move Virginia towards educational excellence now go to the General Assembly. The Department of Education is also charged with reporting on the implementation of these recommendations each year through 2027.
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