| Action | Revisions to the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia |
| Stage | Final |
| Comment Period | Ended on 9/25/2024 |
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Hello,
I am a longtime Virginia resident, a product of our state's public school system, and the parent of a child in Hanover County Public Schools. Revision of our accreditation standards is a complex issue that can have far reaching consequences for our students, communities, and economy. Revising accreditation standards at this point is simply "putting the cart before the horse". If we are committed to improving our schools, I submit that several steps need to be completed before accreditation standards are revised:
The Action Summary (https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/viewaction.cfm?actionid=6308) provides statistics to state problems, then contradicts itself by saying "Without a clear picture of the relationship between school performance and student performance, neither the Board nor the General Assembly can find the proper solutions to the problems faced by Virginia students".
If the statistics cited in the Action Summary are preliminary and require further study to obtain a "clear picture", then that should be Step One, followed by planning and funding. It also focuses on problems without including the successes of our state's public schools. If we care about our kids and communities, then we should also be asking "what are we doing right"? Wouldn't that also be necessary for a "clear picture"?
We need to know what standards we are aiming for first. I believe that the Board can accomplish this without harming the accreditation of our public school system. We cannot risk our students' pathways to careers and higher education, as well as potential devaluation of property values in our communities.
I respectfully urge the Board to refrain from any action on revisions to the accreditation standards, and instead, work towards that "clear picture" with an achievable path forward.
Sincerely,
David C. Webb