Superintendent outlines Virginia's new School Performance and Support Framework and how it will affect Middlesex schools

The superintendent presented a detailed overview of the Virginia Department of Education's updated School Performance and Support Framework, explaining how the new system separates accreditation (statutory compliance) from accountability (performance scores) and will change how Middlesex schools are measured.

"The overall scores derive from weighted indexes that are slightly different at the elementary, middle, and high school," the superintendent said, outlining that elementary schools will weigh mastery, growth and readiness differently than middle and high schools and noting high schools will use cohort-based measures and a graduation component rather than a growth measure.

Key changes: The presentation described (1) new index weightings across school levels; (2) use of SOL assessments and the VVAS tool to measure individual student growth; (3) a transition to three score bands for some high-school end-of-course assessments; and (4) the "Ready for Life 3E" approach, which counts dual enrollment, AP/IB credentials and ASVAB results as part of readiness measures.

Board questions focused on data timing and measurement. The superintendent said growth will be measured from one SOL year to the next using state VVAS data, that some performance-task measures are not yet defined by the Department of Education, and that certain business rules and final VDOE votes remain pending.

The board did not vote on any framework changes at the meeting; the presentation was informational.