Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Craig County Superintendent Dr. Jason Wheeler briefed the School Board on Oct. 14 about major statewide changes to academic standards that could significantly affect local student performance and school accreditation beginning in 2025.
During his superintendent’s report, Wheeler presented Striving for Excellence: Virginia’s Plan to Improve Proficiency, a detailed overview of the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) decision to raise the minimum passing, or “cut,” scores for Standards of Learning (SOL) tests in reading and math. The changes were approved by the state Board of Education on Sept. 25.
The move, Wheeler said, is part of a statewide effort to close the “honesty gap” — the difference between students who pass Virginia’s SOL tests and those who meet the higher proficiency benchmark on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called the nation’s report card.
He explained that many students who currently pass the SOLs would still score below proficient on the NAEP, and that the new cut scores are designed to give parents and educators a clearer picture of student progress while ensuring that proficiency reflects college and career readiness.
Under the new system, proficiency scores for both subjects will rise to align more closely with NAEP standards. For example, the third-grade reading proficiency mark will move from 400 to 444, while the advanced threshold will increase from 500 to 502.
Wheeler noted that while the change raises expectations, it also presents challenges. Preliminary modeling indicates that Craig County’s SOL pass rates could drop sharply when the new standards take effect. Current division reading proficiency, for instance, could fall from roughly 75% to just under 37% if implemented immediately.
He said the projected decline should not be seen as a drop in student performance but rather as a shift in how proficiency is defined. He added that the division is preparing by strengthening instruction, supporting teachers, and increasing communication with families.
The Virginia Association of School Superintendents has advocated for a phased, five-year rollout beginning with the 2026–27 school year, which Wheeler said would give divisions time to adapt.
Craig County Public Schools plans to respond by focusing on four key actions: aligning instruction with state standards through the division’s Comprehensive Instructional Program, expanding targeted interventions for students near the proficiency line, investing in teacher professional development, and strengthening family engagement.
Wheeler said the division remains committed to helping every student meet higher expectations and emphasized that growth matters as much as scores.
The state Board of Education was expected to finalize its implementation timeline at the time of the meeting.
