As President of the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, and as a former Principal and founder of a private school, I want to thank the Virginia Department of Education for their new school performance and support framework which is an important foundational improvement in Virginia’s education system. 

Sadly, Virginia is the “Lake Wobegon” of education where all of our schools are above average.  The Virginia Department of Education’s accreditation system rates 88% of Virginia schools as high performing.  No schools are rated as unaccredited (failing).  There are, however, wide performance differences between schools and districts.  The current system relies on measures of inputs but lacks any real measure of outcomes.  As a former Principal, I am well aware that time teaching, certification, and lesson plans (inputs) are insufficient measures of performance.  A principal needs to know outcomes not just to know if teachers are effective, but to know if we were providing all of the resources necessary.  This is exactly what the new performance measures are meant to achieve on a broader level -- identify gaps in learning, and target resources to help fill those gaps.  This is foundational!

The current system reinforces a false notion to both parents and elected officials that Virginia’s schools are excellent and undermines efforts for improvement.    The new measures will look at student performance and will weigh student growth and achievement.  Under the new system, it is estimated that only 6 percent of schools would have the highest ranking, while over half would be labeled as “off track.”  Importantly, 3 percent would be labeled as needing support (the lowest score).  This information is critical -- and is not meant to “put down” schools needing improvement, but to guide resources and thinking into how to improve those schools.

There used to be a broad agreement that “knowledge is power.”  In education, this is still the case.  Opposing transparency is indefensible and undermines our schools.  Transparency builds knowledge and is a powerful means of ensuring we are doing the best we can for our students in an increasingly competitive world.  

Thank you for the opportunity to be heard on this important issue.  Nothing is more important in the Commonwealth than ensuring we know how well we are educating our children.  Kudos to the Board for taking on this important task!