Performance reviews

Published 9:12 pm Friday, January 16, 2015

School rating system could be changed

Changing how public schools are graded so that improvement is recognized would inspire continued improvement, Suffolk Public Schools administrators say.

The General Assembly in coming weeks will consider bills that would repeal or alter the A-F school grading system the legislature created in 2013 and 2014.

Republican Del. Thomas A. “Tag” Greason introduced legislation that seeks to better communicate to parents “the status and achievements” of schools and school divisions.

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“While it is important to recognize those schools that are fully accredited, presenting students’ growth — and recognizing it — is just as important,” senior school administrators from Suffolk said in a joint statement.

“All schools have students at a variety of levels: above average, average, and below average. While there are some students who do not meet the set benchmark, we often see growth. Currently, that growth is not recognized beyond the school level.”

“Teachers and students are working hard to apply strategies that have proven successful in other places,” they added in a statement released by Suffolk Public School spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw. “Recognizing growth inspires continued growth.”

The move stems from a dozen recommendations by the Standards of Learning Innovation Committee, created by the 2014 General Assembly. Teachers, school administrators, university lecturers and others on the committee decided schools that improve pass rates but miss accreditation benchmarks need better recognition.

Legislation introduced in Richmond also seeks to address the committee’s recommendations that schools be allowed to appeal accreditation results and not have to face accreditation as often.

Another major legislative push this year would allow students to retake failed Standards of Learning tests more quickly, which the Suffolk administrators believe is “an excellent opportunity to increase pass rates.”

“Currently, students who do not pass on that given day, at some grade levels, may not take it again until the following year,” they said.

“Many of us have experienced during an assessment or evaluation that we perhaps don’t do as well the first time around; therefore, another opportunity is appropriate.”

Despite that positive reaction to legislation this year, division leaders say they continue to be concerned with funding, as the state’s share has decreased over the years.

“While the governor’s proposed budget includes a small increase, it would not be good budgeting practice to plan on the anticipated increase from sales tax and lottery funds,” they said of Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s plans.

New SOL assessments introduced in recent years necessitate professional development for teachers and remediation for students, the administrators say, and such things cost money. Furthermore, cutting costs comes with its own drawbacks.

“SPS has eliminated more than 200 positions since 2009,” they stated. “Specifically, this reduction means some class sizes have increased in some grade levels.”