Article VIII, Section 5, of the Constitution of Virginia requires the Virginia Board of Education (“Board") to make annual reports to the Governor and the General Assembly concerning the condition and needs of public education in the Commonwealth.

We have reported in recent years on the work of ALL IN, the overhaul of expectations, and the reboot of our systems to measure and report out on student outcomes with the new School Performance and Support Framework. Additionally, we have built the support and transparency needed to leverage smart initiatives by the Governor and General Assembly to bring personalized, flexible and relevant learning models to every student.

We are pleased to report that these efforts are working and that we have begun to reverse course from the stark reality of just a few years ago. This Board, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education, has worked diligently to set in place the infrastructure to positively influence the conditions under which schools operate, and students learn. Indeed, we have set the conditions for Virginia’s public schools to thrive.

Just four years ago, the Virginia public school system was weakened by lower expectations and ravaged by COVID era challenges. Now, we can say that decisive state leadership and bipartisan action is bearing fruit across the Commonwealth.

Thoughtfully implemented reforms, personalized learning, a nationally recognized decline in chronic absenteeism and a mindset to expand effective practices have combined to restore positive learning environments, improve academic outcomes, and begun to evolve our system of schools to help every student advance to the next grade prepared and, ultimately, graduate to a productive life after high school.

Today, we are pleased to share this year’s report on activities that have led to this restoration of Virginia’s public schools and the importance of sustaining the work that has led to this improvement in student outcomes and opportunities.

Our shared charge is to commit to constant improvement and relevance for Virginia’s public schools, to never stop learning and evolving, and to ensure effective practices are available to every student.

As this Board passes the torch to the next generation of elected and appointed leaders, we do so with hope, confidence, and a deep belief in what is possible for every student.

Sincerely,

/s/ Mashea Ashton
President, Virginia Board of Education