Promotion and Retention Policies

This policy makes sure schools are being fair and doing everything they can to help each student move up to the next grade. If they don’t follow these rules, they may lose their accreditation. For example, this could happen if they don’t give all the required tests or fail to support students who need extra help. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B. 1

Graduation Requirements

Schools must offer all the classes and programs students need to earn a diploma. This includes regular, honors, or advanced courses, either in person or online. Career and technical programs must be available too. Schools should also give students chances to build job skills, earn special diploma seals, or finish credits in summer school. If a school doesn’t offer enough of these options, it may lose full accreditation. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B. 2

Instructional Program

Schools must teach all core subjects—like reading, math, science, and history—based on the state’s Standards of Learning (SOLs). SOLs are the learning expectations of what students should know and be able to do in each subject and grade. Schools are also expected to give students opportunities to explore and prepare for careers, take advanced classes that prepare them for college-level work, and participate in work experiences. Lessons should help students think clearly and work well with others, and should be taught in ways that meet students’ needs. If a school doesn’t offer a strong and fair learning program that includes these things, it may lose full accreditation. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B. 3-4

Leadership and Staffing Requirements

Schools need strong leaders and enough qualified staff to support learning for all students. This means principals must help teachers do their best by providing support. They also create a safe and positive school environment and work with families. Teachers must be properly trained, meet state expectations, and help all students learn. Schools also must have counselors, support staff, and planning time for teachers. If a school doesn’t have all required staff or isn’t fully supporting teachers and families, it could lose full accreditation. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B. 5

Facilities and Safety Provisions

Schools must be clean, safe, and up to code. This means having classrooms, labs, libraries, and nursing areas that are usable and big enough for students and staff. Schools also must be prepared for emergencies with first aid and plans for drills. Some staff must be CPR-certified and able to help with common medical emergencies, like allergic reactions. If a school doesn’t follow these safety expectations, they might lose accreditation. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B. 6

Parental Notification

Each year, schools must tell families what their child will learn, when they’ll take state tests like the Standards of Learning assessments, and what is needed to move up a grade. Schools also have to share a school performance report, that, similar to a student report card, shows how the school is doing. This includes information like test scores, student enrollment, and teacher quality. If a school doesn’t share this information, it can lose full accreditation. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B. 7

Standards of Learning

Schools are required to teach the Standards of Learning (SOLs), which are the learning expectations of what students should know and be able to do in each subject based on their grade level. If a school doesn’t teach all of the standards for each grade and subject, they may lose their accreditation. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B. 8

Long-Range Comprehensive Plan

Every year, school divisions and schools have to identify the steps they need to take to give every student a quality education and publish their plans on the division and school websites. Schools that are identified for additional state support work with the school division, teachers, and parents to make a multi-year plan to boost student learning and school quality. The school, division, and VDOE regularly review these plans to make sure the schools are improving and getting the support they need. Schools that do not create and follow these plans may lose their accreditation. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B. 9

Federally Identified Schools

Schools that are identified for Comprehensive Support must work with VDOE and their division to create and follow their improvement plan. Every year, the schools identified for any type of support must report what they have done to the division and VDOE. Schools have three years to improve student learning or receive more support from VDOE. Schools that the state identifies for Targeted Support or Additional Targeted Support must work with the school division, teachers, and parents to create and follow a multi-year plan to boost student learning, including identifying the school’s needs and available resources, and deciding how the division and school will work together to get those resources. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B.10

Compliance

Actions taken to correct any noncompliance issues that the school reported in the previous year. For further detail, please see the associated code 8VAC20-132-300 B.11