Staff outlines new state school performance framework and division ranking; improvement plan due Oct. 21

Superintendent/lead staff told the board that Lynchburg City Public Schools' preliminary state results show a long‑term decline in ranking and that the division will present a full improvement plan after the state releases final data next week.

"Based on our preliminary raw scores, we currently rank 122 out of 131 divisions across the state," said Doctor Midgett, and said staff would present a full improvement plan at the Oct. 21 board meeting once the state releases final scores. The superintendent framed the issues as broken or missing systems and processes and said the 90‑day review will inform priorities for strengthening teaching and learning.

Doctor Davis provided an overview of the state's new school performance and support framework, which replaces the former accreditation model with four point‑based performance categories: "distinguished, on track, off track, or needs intensive support." She explained federal school identifications (CSI, TSI, ATSI) can lower a school's categorical rating by one level and reviewed how points are awarded for mastery, growth, and readiness. Key technical changes she highlighted include reducing the number of semesters before ELL students' SOL results count from 11 semesters to 3, lowering subgroup sample size thresholds from 30 to 15, and adding an expanded readiness category for high school students that includes enrollment, employment and enlistment metrics.

Staff said the final state scores would be released in the week following the meeting and that the division's full improvement plan will align with those final data. Board members asked clarifying questions about how identifications and the new components (including ASVAB/enlistment measures) will affect future ratings and supports for identified schools.

No board action was taken on these informational items; staff will return Oct. 21 with the full improvement plan and final state data.