A committee tasked with reforming Virginia’s standardized testing system has released its initial report.
The Standards of Learning Innovation Committee completed the first round of interim recommendations for reforming Virginia’s current public school assessment system, and released its recommendations Nov. 25.
The committee was created through bipartisan legislation signed into law by Gov. Terry McAuliffe in April. That same legislation eliminated five SOL tests beginning with the 2014-2015 school year: Grade 3 History, Grade 3 Science, Grade 5 Writing, U.S. History to 1865 and U.S. History: 1865 to the present.
Committee members produced initial themes and outcomes, which were crafted into a vision statement, principle statements and 12 interim recommendations.
The 12 recommendations are grouped into four overarching statements of principle regarding the purpose of SOL tests.
The first principle states the accountability system should acknowledge schools for making progress toward accreditation benchmarks, and should recognize individual student growth, and includes five interim recommendations, including adding an appeals process for schools not meeting state standards, and extending the accreditation period for qualifying schools from one year to three- or five-year periods.
Principle two calls for providing students with alternative means to demonstrate college and career readiness and in order to meet graduation requirements. This principle includes two interim recommendations: approving legislation allowing school divisions to establish alternative assessment programs and expanding the availability of locally verified credits in subjects that do not have mandated SOL examinations.
The third statement of principle states the SOLs should reflect the nature and complexity of skills students need to participate in the global community, and includes three interim recommendations, including revising the SOL schedule and using including interdisciplinary assessments.
Principle four calls for flexibility in the assessment system, balancing existing assessments with alternative assessments. It includes to interim recommendations: provide additional funding for school divisions to develop alternative assessments and identifying and distributing best practices to divisions throughout the state.
“Innovation is essential in building the kind of education system we need to meet the demands of the New Virginia Economy,” Gov. Terry McAuliffe said in a news release. “I am proud of the work these dedicated Virginians have done in just a few short months, and their twelve recommendations are an inspiring start to a years-long process. I look forward to working with them during the legislative session and beyond to make sure our accountability system is fair, effective, and beneficial to the students of the Commonwealth.”
The 12 initial recommendations will now go to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly for consideration on how best to reform the state’s standardized testing regimen.
The committee will continue working through 2015 and plans to produce additional recommendations.
The committee’s initial report is available here.
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