Powhatan middle school listed as conditionally accredited; district files appeal with VDOE

Courtney Jarman, Powhatan County Public Schools’ Chief Schools Officer, presented the division’s accountability and accreditation results under the Virginia Department of Education’s School Performance and Support Framework and said the middle school received a conditional accreditation finding related to instructional minutes.

"Our middle school is conditionally accredited currently," Jarman said, explaining the state identified unsatisfactory evidence for the required 560 instructional hours for the middle school but that the division’s review of bell schedules and minutes shows the school provides 572 minutes — 12 minutes more than the standard. The division has submitted those materials to the VDOE as part of an appeal and expects a response following the state board’s review.

Jarman told the board that Powhatan’s other schools were fully accredited or distinguished under the state framework: two elementary schools and the high school were distinguished for 2024–25 and the district overall showed gains in high school performance indicators. She also noted changes to accreditation policy implemented in July 2025 that shift accreditation emphasis toward compliance evidence rather than direct student performance, and she described the statewide breakdown of designations and the appeals process. "In July 2025, schools were notified of the new requirements," she said.

Board members asked for clarification on what evidence the state used and Jarman said the state’s master schedule collection does not pull instructional hours and that the division provided its own evidence to support a full accreditation determination for the middle school. The board confirmed that the appeal has been received by the VDOE and that the division is awaiting the formal outcome.

Next steps: the district will await the VDOE’s response and, if necessary, pursue additional documentation in support of the appeal.