School Performance and Support Framework Update

Dear APS Families and Staff,

Today, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) released updated accountability and accreditation results for all public schools across the Commonwealth. These updates introduce a new way of looking at school performance through the School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF) and the redesigned School Quality Profiles.

Virginia now uses multiple measures to describe school performance. Instead of looking at a single test score, the state considers a range of factors, including academic mastery, student growth over time, chronic absenteeism, participation in advanced coursework and graduation outcomes for high schools.  Here is a quick overview:

• The SPSF measures schools across four principal areas—Mastery, Growth, Readiness and Graduation—with slightly different weights for elementary, middle and high schools.
• All schools in Virginia received both a framework score and an overall rating: Distinguished, On Track, Off Track or Needs Intensive Support.
• All schools in Virginia also received an accreditation designation, and no school will be denied accreditation this year as the new system takes effect.
• Some schools received a federal identification of Comprehensive Support & Improvement (CSI), Targeted Support & Improvement (TSI) or Additional Targeted Support & Improvement (TSI) based on federal requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

While I believe in the importance of accountability and continuous improvement—and know that we all hold ourselves to high standards—I also understand the challenges that come with this change. There are concerns about how well this new system reflects the full picture of our schools’ performance and our students’ progress—especially for those who may need extra time and support to reach their goals, such as English learners or students with disabilities.

Highlights of APS’s performance in the new accountability and accreditation framework include:

• All APS schools remain fully accredited
• All APS middle schools and comprehensive high schools received a rating of On Track or Distinguished
• 1/3 of APS schools received a Distinguished rating
• 10 APS elementary schools had at least 1 student group federally identified for Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI)
  • Students with Disabilitieswere identified at all 10 elementary schools
  • English Learners were identified at 1 of the 10 elementary school
  • Hispanic students were identified at 3 of the 10 elementary schools

Virginia Performance Categories – APS results

• Distinguished: 12 schools
• On Track: 12 schools
• Off Track: 3 schools
• Needs Intensive Support: 8 schools

Federal Identification Categories – APS results

• Comprehensive Support & Improvement (CSI): 1 high school
• Targeted Support & Improvement (TSI):10 elementary schools

When a school is identified for extra support, it means the school will receive additional training and resources to improve student outcomes. This could include supports for attendance, teaching and learning, and student opportunities. As you review this information, we encourage you to reach out to your school’s principal with any questions about your school’s strengths, areas for growth and the supports available to students. APS remains committed to ensuring every student learns in a supportive and engaging environment, and we value your partnership in this work.

The updated Virginia School Quality Profiles, includes each school’s results. For additional information, you may explore the VDOE’s guides and resources linked on the School Performance and Support Framework APS webpage.

What I know for certain is this: the strength of APS lies in our teachers and staff whose professionalism, collaboration, and unwavering belief in our students make a difference every single day. As we adjust to this new framework, we will continue to learn, grow, and support one another and always keep our focus on what matters most: our students.  Thank you for your continued partnership in making sure that each student continues to learn, grow and thrive.

Sincerely,

Dr. Francisco Durán,
Superintendent