RD331 - Annual Report on the Condition and Needs of Public Schools in Virginia


Executive Summary:
[The entire summary can be viewed in the full report.]

The Board of Education's Vision

The vision of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, in cooperation with local school boards and other partners, is to create an excellent statewide system of public education that equips all students with the knowledge and skills to excel in postsecondary education and careers and to become capable, responsible, and self-reliant citizens.

The Board of Education's Plan of Action

The Board of Education has set forth a comprehensive plan of action for the coming years. More details for the plan of action may be found in the Board of Education's Comprehensive Plan: 2005-2010, which may be viewed on the Board of Education's Website at the following address:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/reports/annual_reports/2006.pdf

The plan outlines eight objectives, along with strategies and activities that will provide the framework for the Board of Education's focus for the near future. The objectives of the Board are:

• To improve the quality standards for all public schools in Virginia.
• To provide leadership to help schools and school divisions close the achievement gap and increase the academic success of all students.
• To work to ensure meaningful, ongoing professional development for teachers, administrators, and professional educational personnel.
• To support accountability for all schools, with a focus on assisting chronically low-performing schools and school divisions.
• To work cooperatively with partners to help ensure that young children are ready for school.
• To assist teachers to improve reading skills of all students, kindergarten through grade 12.
• To continue efforts to enhance the training, recruitment, and retention of highly qualified teachers, educational support personnel, and administrators, with a focus on the needs of hard-to-staff schools.
• To provide leadership for implementing the provisions of state and federal laws and regulations smoothly and with minimal disruption to local divisions.

Summary of the Academic Performance of Virginia's Students

The Code of Virginia also requires that the Board's annual report include a progress report on the academic performance of Virginia's students, which may be summarized as follows:

The number of Virginia high school students who took Advanced Placement (AP)examinations jumped by nearly 12 percent this year, more African-American and Hispanic students took AP tests, and Virginia is poised to join a select group of states in which 20 percent or more of high school seniors earn a grade of 3 or more on an AP examination.