CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) approved state summative assessment results of student performance today during its August meeting in Charleston, West Virginia.
The state’s public school assessments include the West Virginia General Summative Assessment in Grades 3 – 8, the SAT School Day in Grade 11, and the West Virginia Alternate Summative Assessment in Grades 3 – 8 and 11. These results are an important tool that help the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) support counties to address student learning and ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Some of these proficiency rates are not acceptable. We must get children back to higher levels of proficiency. We were working through these challenges before the pandemic and now we face greater difficulties in a multitude of areas. However, we have no choice because we have to find ways to increase these levels.”
WVBE President L. Paul Hardesty
While there were highlights with slight increases in proficiencies, the results are evidence that significant work remains to increase student proficiency overall.
“We’ve got work to do,” WVBE President L. Paul Hardesty said. “Some of these proficiency rates are not acceptable. We must get children back to higher levels of proficiency. We were working through these challenges before the pandemic and now we face greater difficulties in a multitude of areas. However, we have no choice because we have to find ways to increase these levels.”
Assessment results are one of several strategies used to evaluate student achievement and create a stronger education system. Districts and schools in West Virginia are using the information gained from the assessment to strive for continuous improvement and to continue to address student recovery.
To view the complete results of the state summative assessment, visit the data website.
The Board also approved updates on the State of Emergency in Lincoln County and a Special Circumstance Review for Jefferson county.
Last month, the WVBE extended Lincoln County’s State of Emergency an additional six months to ensure continued forward progress on key areas of compliance. These included, but were not limited to, student scheduling and following existing Individual Education Plans (IEPs), advancing the Board-approved Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plans (CEFPs), and supporting the leadership of the county superintendent and WVBE as they work to support ongoing improvement efforts.
According to the WVDE Office of Accountability, the Lincoln County Board of Education made a series of changes. These changes have resulted in areas of concern for the State Board of Education. These include a decrease in time dedicated to math instruction, difficulties in students’ ability to pursue college and career technical education pathways simultaneously and an increase in class size of more than 30 students for 36 classes (including core content areas) at Lincoln County High School.
“Some of the data I find troubling,” said WVBE President Hardesty. “I hope with the changes made, children will not be the collateral damage. However, the WVDE will continue to work with the county to address the findings of all Special Circumstance Reviews and other issues that may arise during this time.”
The WVBE took no additional action in Lincoln County.
“Some of the data I find troubling. I hope with the changes made, children will not be the collateral damage. However, the WVDE will continue to work with the county to address the findings of all Special Circumstance Reviews and other issues that may arise during this time.”
WVBE President L. Paul Hardesty
The Office of Accountability also conducted the Special Circumstance Review at the request of Jefferson County Schools in June of 2021. The review centered on Jefferson County High School’s counseling services for feedback and improvement. Four focus areas were identified which the county addressed by taking a series of actions, some of which include:
- Meeting with every student at the high school to review their personalized education plan
- Sending students their full schedule for the upcoming school year in June of 2022
- Providing additional training for school staff
- Increasing technology processes to omit administrative errors
- Expanding counseling services and personnel
The Special Circumstance Review Reports can be found online at the WVDE website.
Finally, the WVBE approved the transition request of Superintendent W. Clayton Burch from the position of State Superintendent of Schools to Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (WVSDB).
Burch, who has served at the WVDE in a variety of roles for 15 years, was named state superintendent permanently in June 2020, steering the public school system through the phases of the pandemic. Early in his administration, the WVDE began to explore and address issues at the WVSDB which resulted in an ongoing Special Circumstance Review.
