(WSET) — The Virginia Department of Education released a list of schools that need additional support to move students forward, and several schools in our area made the list.
The department is raising the bar in the learning loss and recovery category. This means higher expectations for reading and math, and addressing chronic absenteeism.
Halifax County Schools Superintendent Dr. Amy Haskin said the focus is on students with disabilities in the district. When asked about raising standards this year, the ministry said it would be difficult to tackle.
“The standards have always been rigorous, and I think it's once again difficult for students with disabilities,” Haskin said.
Last year, only four school districts in the region had schools on the Virginia Department of Education's list. Newer, higher standards were introduced this year, increasing his number of districts to 11.
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Additionally, each district does not have just one school. Last year, 13 local schools were designated for support and improvement under the Every Student Succeeds Act. This year, the number nearly tripled to 36.
Rustburg Middle School was the only school in Campbell County to receive attention. Deputy Superintendent Amy Hill said the effects of the pandemic were still being felt.
“We know that recovery is a process, so we know that students may have gaps in learning based on their age when the coronavirus struck, how they attend school, whether it’s virtual or in-school. We know, and so we don't know if we can address those gaps,' it's important to support them and be accurate at the same time,” Hale said.
Education officials said the list is usually released in the fall, but VDOE did not release it until February of this year. This significantly shortens the timeline for fixing identified issues by the end of the year. Below are statements from Bedford and Roanoke schools.
Roanoke City Public Schools:
“Over the past several years, Roanoke City Public Schools (RCPS) has continued to invest in and support stable, high-quality academic programs to improve student achievement.
In addition to safety, quality teaching and learning is a top priority for RCPS. We remain committed to implementing a personalized academic program focused on academic rigor and closing the gap in student achievement. Over the past decade, student needs have increased. We honor the dedication of our teachers, administrators, and staff for building a program that ensures students are fully supported in a highly engaging environment and that their needs are understood and met. represents. We are encouraged by the progress made across the school sector and remain committed to improving our schools. RCPS leaders continually monitor the school's progress and performance. The identified schools have received and are receiving additional support, including:
Strengthen the core instructional program and enhance the curriculum through the introduction of new phonics and reading programs and the use of hands-on manipulatives to improve math fluency and numeracy.
Through our ALL In initiative, we offer highly targeted, intensive tutoring sessions before and after school.
Engage parents and guardians by holding family engagement events at the school and department level, establishing a virtual parent and guardian university, and launching a webpage dedicated to home literacy resources.
Invest in additional staff, such as reading specialists, student support specialists, and behavior specialists.and
Provide additional teaching resources and professional learning opportunities to your staff. This includes a year-long science reading course and monthly specialized math learning sessions.
Roanoke City Public Schools has created a positive environment conducive to learning and will continue to make adjustments as needed to support the growing and evolving needs of our students. We expect that by intentionally focusing on these improvements and investing in targeted supports, accelerated outcomes will be realized in each designated school. ”
Bedford County Schools:
“Bedford County Schools began addressing federal and state liability issues in the summer of 2023. Three schools were identified by federal guidelines: Montvale Elementary School in Science; Ford Elementary School, Liberty Middle School in the Reading subgroup. We have implemented a new system. We have strengthened our reading and science textbook curriculum over the past two years and are seeing momentum toward student success. Additionally, with funding from All In Virginia, we launched intensive tutoring and hired two additional youth and family specialists to provide out-of-school support. We hired a reading specialist to work with students who read below grade level, and our departments, principals, and teachers continue to put the success of all students at the top of our priority list. ”