Northern Virginia School Divisions Urge Delay in Implementation of New School Performance and Accountability Standards

Today, a joint statement signed by the chairs of eight School Boards in Northern Virginia public school divisions was issued urging the Virginia Board of Education and Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to delay the implementation of the new School Performance and Support Framework for at least one year. The delay would allow sufficient time to fully develop the Framework and ensure successful implementation that advances educational excellence and supports educators.

The joint statement is signed by the School Board chairs of Alexandria City, Arlington, Fairfax, Fairfax City, Falls Church City, Loudoun, Manassas City and Prince William public school divisions.

The Framework was adopted by VDOE in August 2024—well after school divisions planned and budgeted for the current school year—to establish a new school accountability system aimed at enhancing educational standards across the Commonwealth.

Northern Virginia’s public schools fully support a strong accountability system and request the delay to allow sufficient time for school division leaders, educators, families and other stakeholders to review, provide feedback, and strengthen the new Framework in collaboration with the VDOE.

The Boards’ statement underscores concern about gaps in the Framework and makes recommendations to strengthen the educational standards, to better support teachers and to advance education across the state, through specific steps including:

• Reinstate student growth and alternative measurement alongside mastery as part of the Framework;
• Fully build out and transparently test all new components of the Framework;
• Clearly define the requirements of schools identified as under-performing based on the new standards; and
• Increase funding and support for schools identified as under-performing and for professional learning across all schools.

Media Contacts:

Julia Burgos, Alexandria City Public Schools, 703-217-4270, julia.burgos@acps.k12.va.us
Catherine Ashby, Arlington Public Schools, 703-228-6003, catherine.ashby@apsva.us
Beth Visioli, Fairfax County Public Schools, 571-585-4374, elvisioli@fcps.edu
Carrie Dorsey, Fairfax City Public Schools, 571-269-6824, carrie.dorsey@fairfaxva.gov
John Brett, Falls Church City Public Schools, 571-221-8228, jwbrett@fccps.org
Dan Adams, Loudoun County Public Schools, (c) 571.479.9177, daniel.adams@lcps.org
Almeta Radford, Manassas City Public Schools, 571-377-6008, aradford@mcpsva.org
Diana Gulotta, Prince Williams County Public Schools,  703-791-8030, GulottDC@pwcs.edu