Since Virginia implemented the Standards of Learning graduation requirements in 1998, the pressure is on for Charlottesville High School to reach full accreditation before its provisional status expires at the end of next year.
Beginning this year, Virginia students who fail required SOL tests will not receive high school diplomas, regardless of their school's accreditation status.
The situation troubles Del. Mitch Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville, who proposed an unsuccessful bill to the House of Delegates Monday that would have given leeway to students who failed the SOL exams but were otherwise eligible to graduate.
"The school could not use the Standard of Learning test as the sole criteria for withholding the diploma in a school that was not accredited," Van Yahres said.
Van Yahres emphasized that students should not be held accountable for their school's underperformance and that denying high school students a diploma as a result of poor SOL performance can be destructive.
"I think it's wrong to penalize the students because they are failing in a failing school," Van Yahres said.
The proposal was voted down with little opposition because most delegates said they were opposed to easing standards that have been gradually put into place over the past several years.
In the meantime, CHS is working toward accreditation and success for its students, school officials said.
"Charlottesville High School has not yet been accredited, but they are working very hard to make sure students who have not passed have the opportunity to be successful," Charlottesville School Board Chair Linda Bowen said.
To earn full accreditation, CHS must reach a pass rate of 70 percent in the four core SOL tests: English, math, science and history. After this year, provisional accreditation status will no longer exist -- schools either will be accredited fully or accredited with warning.
"Students are doing well in English; however, math and history continue to be a problem," said Harley Miles, coordinator of testing and staff development at the superintendent's office.
Although Charlottesville test scores have improved steadily since 1998, English was the only core area during the 2001-2002 school year in which students passed the 70 percent mark. Sixty-nine percent of students passed the history requirement, 65 percent passed the science requirement and only 52 percent passed the math requirement that year, according to the Charlottesville School Board Web site.
In response to the struggling test scores, CHS has created tutoring programs during lunch and additional programs after school, Bowen said.
As the SOL test scores make Virginia schools accountable for low pass rates, school officials point out that they also can have an effect on individual students.
"Accountability is not inherently bad," Miles said. "It is the process you go through to reach accountability."
Under the SOL requirements, students must earn 21 credits, including six verified credits, in order to graduate. To earn a verified credit, a student must pass the class and the corresponding SOL exam. A failure on an SOL exam will result in failure to earn the corresponding verified credit.
As of this year, if students fall short of their credit requirements, they will not be eligible to earn a diploma even if their high school has failed to gain accreditation. By 2006 schools without accreditation will be forced to take measures toward improvement but will not face any formal penalties.
Read More
Board of Visitors ends support for racial diversity goals
By Brendon Bordwine | 10 hours agoThe newly approved resolution, titled “Advancing Free Inquiry and Viewpoint Diversity at U.Va.”, calls for efforts to create a campus environment that supports open political dialogue, constructive debate and respect for differing perspectives.
Student Council unanimously approves Summer 2025 budget
By Lauren Seeliger | 12 hours agoUtilization rates refer to the amount of money actually used within the allocated budget — increasing these rates to prevent wasted money has been a primary goal of Student Council.
Bert Ellis reflects on time as member of Board of Visitors
By Cecilia Mould | 19 hours agoWhile Ellis entered the Board with certain priorities in mind, he said that most had not been accomplished during his term, without a majority of Youngkin appointees on the Board.
