Notice is hereby given in accordance with § 2.2-4007.01 of the Code of Virginia that the State Board of Education intends to consider repealing 8VAC20-131, Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia, and promulgating 8VAC20-132, Virginia Standards of Accreditation. The purpose of the proposed action is to fully revise the Standards of Accreditation. The accreditation regulations should ensure that an effective educational program is established and maintained in Virginia public schools by (i) providing an essential foundation of educational programs of high quality for all schools for all students; (ii) encouraging and promoting school quality and acknowledging achievement and continuous improvements by schools and school divisions in multiple areas; (iii) fostering public confidence that graduating students have mastered multiple areas of learning to include academic subjects, workplace skills, career exploration and planning, and civic and community responsibility; (iv) ensuring recognition of Virginia public schools by other institutions of learning; and (v) establishing the means of determining the effectiveness of schools as prescribed in the Standards of Quality at § 22.1-253.13:3 of the Code of Virginia, including student learning and progress and student outcomes for multiple areas affecting school quality. The true state of the Virginia school system does not appear to be adequately captured by the current accreditation system. The board will revise the accreditation system in order to increase transparency, improve student success for all students, aid in the allocation of Commonwealth resources into Virginia schools, and provide a clear picture of the relationship between school performance and student performance.

The agency intends to hold a public hearing on the proposed action after publication in the Virginia Register.

Statutory Authority: §§ 22.1-16 and 22.1-253.13:3 of the Code of Virginia.

Public Comment Deadline: November 8, 2023.

Agency Contact: Jim Chapman, Director of Board Relations, Department of Education, James Monroe Building, 101 North 14th Street, 25th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219, telephone (804) 225-2540, or email jim.chapman@doe.virginia.gov.