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Board reviews proposed accountability amendments: return to value tables and new EL alternate‑access rules
Summary
VDOE proposed two narrow, federally required accountability amendments for 2025‑26: a return to 'value‑tables' vertical‑scale growth reporting for SOLs and adoption of exit/progress thresholds for students taking the redesigned WIDA Alternate Access test. Staff committed more modeling and public comment before final adoption.
The Virginia Department of Education asked the State Board for first‑review approval of two narrowly scoped amendments to the state consolidated plan that will govern accountability for the 2025‑26 school year.
Mark Jennings, assistant superintendent for assessment and accountability, said the department proposes returning to the vertical linked‑scale “value tables” method to report student growth on SOL tests and to use consistent growth methodology across SOL and Virginia Alternate Assessment scores. "Value tables measure changes in performance year over year," Jennings said, noting the approach allows educators and families to understand clear growth expectations on the linked scale.
Jennings also described the WIDA Alternate Access assessment — the English‑learner progress measure for students with significant cognitive disabilities — which was redesigned in 2024. The department convened a standard‑setting committee that recommended an exit threshold at level 4 and progress rules that give partial credit for incremental scale improvement. The committee’s proposal would let some students earn partial points when they advance within a band and larger credit when they cross proficiency bands.
Board debate focused on method tradeoffs. Several members argued value tables can underweight growth within bands and create incentives to focus resources on students near cut points; others urged transparency and urged VDOE to model alternative granularities. Jennings said a correlation study comparing last year’s value‑added model and the proposed value tables showed a 0.96 correlation and that the department will run additional modeling during the public‑comment period.
Next steps: The proposals will be posted for a minimum 30‑day public comment window, VDOE will hold stakeholder sessions, and staff will return with a summary of feedback and any revisions for final board action in June. The department will then submit the approved amendment to the U.S. Department of Education for federal approval.
