Calculating School Accountability Ratings for Schools Administering Multiple Grades or Levels of Standards of Learning Tests
Resolution Number 2001-4
January 11, 2001
WHEREAS, the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (8 VAC 20-131-10 et. seq.) prescribe requirements for school accountability including the manner in which accreditation ratings are calculated; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with 8 VAC 20-131-280.C.2 of those regulations, the Board of Education is required to prescribe the manner in which accreditation ratings are calculated; and
WHEREAS, there is a disparity in calculating ratings for schools that administer multiple levels and/or subject areas of Standards of Learning tests; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Education has adopted guidelines explaining how accreditation ratings are calculated which say, in part: “The passing rates on assessments administered in schools shall be calculated by dividing the total number students in a school who pass the assessments (numerator) divided by the total number of students who take the assessments (denominator)….”; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Education is desirous of eliminating the disparity between schools in calculating accreditation ratings;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Education prescribes, for schools administering multiple grades or levels of Standards of Learning tests where the passing rate requirement is the same in each academic area, that the accreditation rating be calculated by combining the results of all levels of tests in each subject area administered in the school into one passing rate per subject area; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the School Performance Report Card required by 8 VAC 20-131-270 of the Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia will continue to report student performance on Standards of Learning tests by individual grade levels and/or subject areas as appropriate to the school.
Adopted in Richmond, Virginia, This Eleventh Day of January in the Year 2001.
Signature:
Kirk T. Schroder, President
Board of Education
Adopted in the Minutes of the Virginia Board of Education
January 11, 2001