Northern Virginia school boards, including representatives from Loudoun, Fairfax, Alexandria, and Prince William counties, have come together to ask the Virginia Board of Education to delay implementing its new School Performance and Supports Framework by at least one year.
Loudoun School Board Chair Carolyn Pitches joined leaders from surrounding districts in urging state officials to provide more time to address concerns and better prepare schools for the updated accountability system.
Key Concerns Raised
The new framework, adopted in August 2024, introduces a revised set of accountability measures aimed at enhancing transparency and tracking student performance. However, school leaders argue the timeline for implementation is too short, particularly as many of the framework’s components remain undefined.
“This system was adopted after the school year began, leaving little room for adjustment in terms of planning, budgeting, or staffing,” the leaders noted in a joint statement.
The framework’s reliance on mastery metrics over growth measurements has also raised red flags. Critics say it does not account for the diverse learning needs of English Language Learners, students with disabilities, and those recovering from interrupted learning.
“We need to meet students where they are and give them opportunities to succeed along the way. This one-size-fits-all model risks discouraging both students and educators,” the statement added.
Recommendations for Improvement
The coalition offered several recommendations to improve the framework before full implementation, including:
- Restoring student growth measures alongside mastery metrics.
- Ensuring all framework components are fully developed and transparently vetted before rollout.
- Running the new and old systems in parallel for a year to identify and address potential issues.
- Clarifying accountability measures for struggling schools, including clearer expectations and adequate state funding for interventions.
Additionally, the school boards emphasized the need for robust professional development and funding for schools that fall behind under the new framework.
What’s Next?
The joint statement reflects a broader concern across Northern Virginia about the rapid pace of change within the state’s education system. Leaders are calling for collaboration, transparency, and adequate time to ensure the changes serve their intended purpose: improving education for all students.
Local boards are awaiting a response from the Virginia Board of Education and remain committed to working with state officials to refine the framework.
