Superintendent proposes ambitious targets for school ratings, graduation and academics in "Dreams for RPS" update

Superintendent Jason Camus presented proposed targets for the first three goals of Richmond's strategic plan, "Dreams for RPS," at the school board's special meeting on Jan. 8, 2005, asking the board to approve benchmarks for school ratings, graduation and academics.

Camus said the division used last year's data as a baseline and recommended a minimum target of 34 schools rated "on track" or "distinguished" under Virginia's new four-category accountability system. Using last year's data as a baseline, he said 14 schools would currently be in those two top categories and staff proposes increasing that number by roughly four schools per year over five years to reach 34.

The superintendent also recommended a division graduation target of 93%—to meet or exceed the state average—and set an academics goal described as a 20 percentage-point increase on comparable national measures over the strategic-plan time frame. Camus said staff used the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to model an ambitious growth rate and pointed to Boston Public Schools' previously documented gains as an example: between 2003 and 2009 Boston increased math by 22 points and reading by 13 points in the NAEP oversampled districts used for comparison.

Board members repeatedly pressed staff for context and implementation detail. Dr. Harris Mohammad asked for clarification about comparing NAEP results to Virginia assessments and requested more localized comparisons: "Is there any way we can compare ourselves to a school in the state of Virginia, or is that any data that happens then?" Camus said NAEP was used because it provides the broadest, nationally comparable measure and offered to bring additional state-level comparisons if they are available.

Members also raised concerns about the state's change in accountability categories and whether adequate supports accompany the new system. "I've never seen anything like this happen before where you are adopting and mandating new standards without a blueprint or a curriculum framework to identify the new standards," Dr. Harris Mohammad said, urging the board to coordinate with its legislative committee and consider a statement to state lawmakers about implementation supports.

Board members sought more detailed targets for schools in the lowest state category. Multiple members asked staff to return with a sub-target or plan specifically aimed at moving schools from the bottom tier into safer performance bands; Camus said he would bring that analysis back at the next meeting and "reground" the board in the strategic plan while doing so.

Camus framed the targets as dependent on continued execution of the district's strategic strategies, including investments in teacher development, reducing vacancies and improving facilities. He said the targets are intended to be ambitious but achievable if the division sustains focus and secures additional resources.

The board did not take a formal vote on the targets at the Jan. 8 meeting; members requested additional comparisons, more granular targets for the lowest-performing schools and follow-up information on how the proposed targets would affect budget and staffing plans.

Camus said staff would return with refined targets and additional benchmarking at a subsequent meeting.