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On March 22, VBOE met for their work session, and on March 23 for their business meeting. Much of the dialogue in both sessions centered on accountability, achievement, indicators, growth, and chronic absenteeism, among other items. Below are relevant links, highlights from both meetings, and relevant time stamps for video playback. As a pro tip, we recommend changing the playback speed to 1.5x or 1.75x.
Work Session (AGENDA)
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Link to Full Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uI8vQmvgjXg
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Proposed Revisions to the Current Accreditation System for 2023-2024 (PRESENTATION); We recommend watching this portion of the meeting (5:38.50 - 7:22.58 in the video)
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Virginia Literacy Act Update: Instructional Materials Review Review Process (PRESENTATION)
Over the coming months, the changes to assessment, accountability, and accreditation will be something we closely monitor and engage in with discussions, feedback, and public comment.
Business Meeting (AGENDA)
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Link to Full Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2d0HYV0kjw
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First Review of suspending chronic absenteeism for this year (PRESENTATION) [2:19.39-3:01.37 in the video]
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First Review of year-over-year for growth indicator (PRESENTATION) [3:01.40-3:25.50 in the video]
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Lab Schools (PRESENTATION)
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Written Report for Cut Scores (REPORT and ATTACHMENT)
Our Executive Director, Chris Jones, provided public comment on the accountability system and the Virginia Literacy Act. His comments are below, along with a link to the brief he referenced in his comments [47:20-49:17 in the video].
Good morning, President Gecker, Vice President Mann, members of the board, and madam Secretary. My name is Dr. Chris Jones, and I am the Executive Director for the Virginia Affiliate of ASCD. I am dad to four of Virginia’s public schools students and prior to serving VASCD, I was a high school principal. Thank you for allowing me to stand before you today; it is an honor to do so.
I am here to speak briefly to two items for which VASCD is positioned and willing to help: the accountability system and the Virginia Literacy Act.
On February 28, I submitted a brief to you on considerations for the future of assessment and accountability in Virginia. In it, our first and most important consideration is to spend the necessary time developing a unified purpose of accountability. The purpose will drive decisions to make the system do what you intend it to do.
The board would also benefit from spending the requisite time to develop a shared purpose of education itself. Your defined purpose of education will drive your decisions for the indicators within the accountability system you co-construct. Diving directly into the weeds before dedicating the necessary time on a unifying purpose may prohibit progress. We saw a little of that happen in your work session yesterday.
I urge you to spend sufficient time landing on the purpose of education and the purpose of accountability before taking any steps further. VASCD stands ready to facilitate that conversation, and we stand ready to lead, facilitate, and support any of the work associated with constructing the system through this body as well as the HB 585 work group to modernize assessment.
Finally, I want to ensure this board hears directly from me that VASCD is positioned and fully capable to carry out the micro-credential requirements in the Virginia Literacy Act. I heard Delegate Coyner during yesterday’s session mention her worry point. We are ready and willing to take on the work.
Thank you.
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