New VDOE data shows 2/3 of Va. schools ‘on-track’ or better, contrasting from August data
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia’s new school accountability framework is giving a closer look at how the Commonwealth will label its public schools. The framework grades schools as either "distinguished," "on track," "off track" or needing intensive support" based on whether or not they are meeting the state’s expectations for growth, achievement, and readiness. “We can in fact assess, with trusted data, where our schools are,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin. The new framework has been subject to criticism from some school superintendents and Democrats after preliminary data released in August showed it would rate only 45% of Virginia’s schools as on track or better. However, in a press conference on Friday, state education leaders said that, after reviewing the complete data, 66% of schools would be considered on track or better. 8News asked State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons about the disparity. “The modeling was incomplete, we said that when those initial models were put in place," said Coons to 8News. "If you look on the website that is live now, it shows that the data is complete." Meanwhile, Democratic State Senator Ghazala Hashmi (Chesterfield County), who chairs the Senate Education and Health Committee, says she hasn’t been told why the data changed and that, without a proper explanation, it’s hard to trust the new framework. “It seems like there is not a clarity around what we are talking about and what this new accountability system is actually looking at,” said Hashmi. 8News hoped to ask Governor Youngkin about the disparity, but he left before taking our questions.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia’s new school accountability framework is giving a closer look at how the Commonwealth will label its public schools.
The framework grades schools as either "distinguished," "on track," "off track" or
needing intensive support" based on whether or not they are meeting the state’s expectations for growth, achievement, and readiness.
“We can in fact assess, with trusted data, where our schools are,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
The new framework has been subject to criticism from some school superintendents and Democrats after preliminary data released in August showed it would rate only 45% of Virginia’s schools as on track or better.
However, in a press conference on Friday, state education leaders said that, after reviewing the complete data, 66% of schools would be considered on track or better. 8News asked State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons about the disparity.
“The modeling was incomplete, we said that when those initial models were put in place," said Coons to 8News. "If you look on the website that is live now, it shows that the data is complete."
Meanwhile, Democratic State Senator Ghazala Hashmi (Chesterfield County), who chairs the Senate Education and Health Committee, says she hasn’t been told why the data changed and that, without a proper explanation, it’s hard to trust the new framework.
“It seems like there is not a clarity around what we are talking about and what this new accountability system is actually looking at,” said Hashmi.
8News hoped to ask Governor Youngkin about the disparity, but he left before taking our questions.
