An Act to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:3, as it is currently effective and as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to Standards of Quality; state accountability; Standards of Learning assessment expedited retake scores.
HB1243 amends Virginia’s Standards of Quality accountability statute to change how the Board of Education handles school accreditation and Standards of Learning (SOL) assessment retake scores. The bill keeps the existing framework for accreditation standards, annual review of schools, corrective action plans, and memoranda of understanding for schools or divisions that do not meet state standards, while also requiring the Board to maintain transparent, objective accreditation processes and appeal procedures. It continues to allow multiyear accreditation reviews for schools that have been fully accredited for three consecutive years, and it preserves the Board’s authority to require division-level academic reviews when problems appear to stem from broader school division failures.
The bill’s title also indicates a change related to expedited retake scores for SOL assessments, suggesting that the legislation adjusts how certain retake results are counted or reported in the state accountability system. In practical terms, the measure affects the Virginia Board of Education, local school boards, public schools, and school divisions by refining the accountability and intervention process used to determine accreditation status and improvement requirements.
Overall, the bill appears to have been a policy update focused on school accountability administration rather than a broad restructuring of public education law. The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded vote history in the provided materials, so there is no documented floor debate or formal opposition in the supplied context. Based on the enacted chapter status, the bill ultimately became law.
Because the bill text emphasizes continued oversight, corrective action, and public reporting, its likely policy effect is to reinforce state supervision of underperforming schools while giving the Board more structured tools for review and intervention. The accountability changes are aimed at ensuring that accreditation determinations are transparent and based on objective measures, while the SOL retake component likely affects how student performance is incorporated into school ratings and accreditation outcomes.
HB1243 amends § 22.1-253.13:3 of the Code of Virginia, the core statute governing Standards of Quality accreditation and state accountability. It preserves and clarifies the Board of Education’s authority over accreditation reviews, corrective action plans, division-level reviews, and public reporting requirements, while also addressing expedited retake scores for Standards of Learning assessments. The bill affects the Virginia Board of Education, local school boards, public schools, and school divisions by shaping how accreditation status is determined and how schools respond when they fail to meet state standards.
The available materials suggest a generally administrative and noncontroversial policy approach, with the bill framed as a refinement to existing accountability rules rather than a major ideological change. No committee discussion or vote record was provided, so there is no evidence in the supplied context of organized support or opposition. The fact that the bill was enacted indicates it had sufficient legislative support to pass and be signed into law.
The main potential points of contention are the Board of Education’s authority to impose corrective action plans, require memoranda of understanding, and order division-level academic reviews when schools or divisions fail to meet standards. Those provisions can raise concerns for local school boards about state oversight and intervention. The SOL retake-score language may also be debated by educators and policymakers concerned about how retake results affect accountability ratings, though no specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided record.