RICHMOND, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – At Albemarle resident Meg Bryce’s first Virginia Board of Education meeting, the board voted change the weighting of consideration for a school’s accreditation to emphasize “mastery” more, and “growth” less.

The only board member left not appointed by Governor Youngkin, Ann Holton, voted against saying changing standards without assuring aide to those underserved sets up failure. She also asserted a school like Fairfield Court Elementary in Richmond, which has made great progress but still would be considered “off track” according to new state accreditation standard, will be demoralized. She said even with all that, she would put up with it “if we were actually sending new supports”.

While Bryce did not speak, Mashea Ashton spoke in favor of changing the standards. She says Standard of Accreditation should be a “floor and not a ceilling”, and is only a tool toward achievement. She says the new standards would be data to show where resources are needed.

Click here to see the agenda item.