Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Improvement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
VDOE recommends releasing three divisions from MOUs; Petersburg, Richmond may require new division‑level review
Summary
VDOE recommended releasing Danville, Greensville and Prince Edward from long‑running memoranda of understanding after applying updated thresholds; staff said Petersburg and Richmond meet new criteria for a division‑level academic and resource allocation review and may need MOUs revised or new agreements.
The Virginia Department of Education recommended the State Board of Education release three local school boards from standing memoranda of understanding and to consider additional division‑level review for others.
Dr. Quinton Ballard, director of the Office of School Improvement, presented updated MOU status and recommended that Danville City Public Schools, Greensville County Public Schools and Prince Edward County Public Schools be released from MOUs the board enacted when those divisions entered long‑term improvement agreements. "These divisions have met the updated criteria for release under the 2024 regulatory standards," Ballard told the board.
At the same time, Ballard said Petersburg City and Richmond City meet the new thresholds that trigger a division‑level academic and resource allocation review — the regulatory mechanism that prompts a fresh MOU or revision. He also noted that Franklin City meets the new eligibility definition and could be subject to review.
Why it matters: The 2024 regulatory changes separated accreditation inputs from accountability outcomes and set new thresholds for when the state requires a division‑level review — namely when 40% of a division’s schools are identified for comprehensive support and improvement or when 10 or more schools meet that federal identification. The revised thresholds mean some historical MOUs no longer track cleanly with the new system.
Board process: VDOE asked the board to accept the recommendations for first review and said staff would return in June with detailed next steps, stakeholder engagement plans and resource implications for additional reviews and potential new MOUs. Ballard emphasized that releasing a division from an MOU does not remove VDOE supports for federally identified schools; it changes whether an MOU is contractually in place between the board and the local school board.
Provenance: MOU status update and recommendations, SEG 6160–6460; board discussion and acceptance for first review, SEG 6464–6472.
