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Public commenters urge board to recognize IB diploma, press for special‑education compliance and clearer appeals process
Summary
During public comment, parents, educators and advocates urged the board to adopt changes to recognize the International Baccalaureate diploma for Virginia advanced studies credit (item K), raised compliance concerns about special education corrective actions, and requested a clear appeals process for divisions using locally adopted curricula.
A broad group of parents, educators and organizational leaders used the board’s public comment period to press the Virginia State Board of Education on graduation requirements, special education compliance and school accountability.
Multiple speakers (Joan Wodisca, Josh Singer, Dr. Dana Lieberman, Melissa Johnston, Isabella Villano and others) urged the board to adopt item K, a proposed update that would add IB courses to the state‑approved high school course list and deem IB diploma candidates to have earned the Virginia Advanced Studies Diploma without extra coursework. Speakers said the change would reduce summer‑school burdens, ease transitions for service families and better align the state profile of a graduate with IB learning goals.
Other public speakers raised serious compliance complaints and procedural concerns. Wendy Little alleged the department failed to take timely corrective actions in a special education case and cited federal authorities (34 C.F.R. sections and 20 U.S.C. references) and related legislation she said she pursued in response. Reeve Bull and Alan Siebert addressed regulatory modernization and the Roanoke City literacy appeal process respectively; board members acknowledged that an appeals process had been discussed previously but that no definitive process is yet in place and directed the department to consult counsel and return with a proposal in February.
Several speakers also asked the department to update substitute test lists and cut scores to align with the 2023 mathematics and 2018 science standards and to clarify transition plans for students moving from VAAP to SOL instruction. Board members thanked speakers, noted areas of agreement and recorded directions for staff follow‑up.
