Latest news with #NathanielCline
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Va. election offices invite voters to take a close-up look at the election process
A view from inside the open house at the Loudoun County Office of Elections on April 23, 2025. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) Loudoun County's elections office hosted an open house Wednesday, one of several localities inviting voters behind the scenes to learn more about the election process and combat disinformation about ballot security and election integrity as Virginia prepares for high stakes state and local elections in November. Colleen Regan, a Loudoun County voter and former election worker of five years, said she was impressed with the presentations at the event, calling it 'an ideal example of being transparent about how our voting system works.' Americans have waded through a flood of disinformation about the election process and political candidates for the past five years, a trend that ramped up with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump's repeated false claims that he, not Joe Biden, won the 2020 presidential election. Election officials nationwide also encountered attacks, threats and harassment about election security, including in Buckingham County, Virginia, where in 2023 the county's registrar and election staff resigned due to relentless, and baseless, allegations of voter fraud. 'There are some people who are so entrenched in their belief systems that they cannot be swayed even by getting behind the scenes,' said Alicia Slook, a Democrat and an election officer in Loudoun County, whose goal is to educate voters and increase transparency about how the election process works. 'Openness and transparency is what it's all about,' said state Del. Geary Higgins, R-Loudoun, 'So when people can go in and look at the system and kick the tires and see how it works, then it removes, potentially, some of the misunderstandings or things that somebody might have questions about. It's good to open the doors and let folks come in and see how the whole thing works.' Virginians will elect the next governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, House of Delegates members and local officers in November, many of whom will first face primaries. Early voting for primary elections begins May 2. Loudoun County Office of Elections' Wednesday open house was the first part of a two-day event giving the public a bird's eye view of the many processes that unfold during an election cycle, the security of Virginia's election technology and what happens after an election. Loudoun's open house also included details on how the office prepares and trains election officers and uses technology to help people to vote, and how the office reports election results. 'We want to show our community through transparency, what actually goes on during an election and all of the details that go into putting on an election,' said Samatha Alfaro, communication manager for the Loudoun County Office of Elections. Slook said the average voter doesn't see the time spent testing equipment and the measures employed to ensure security, which makes the extra effort to host the open house worth it. 'The office doesn't have to do this. This is more work for them, but they are doing it because they know there's nothing to see here, and they want that to be clear to the public,' Slook said. 'This is your process. Come in and have a look at it.' Regan, the former election worker who participated in Loudoun's open house, said the office did well in breaking down the complexities of elections operations into 'bite sized pieces.' She encouraged other voters to take advantage of similar opportunities across the commonwealth to help increase their knowledge and confidence of the election process. Democratic state Dels. David Reid and Sen. Kannan Srinivasan, all from Loudoun, and other leaders attended Wednesday's open house. The two state lawmakers all serve on their respective election committees in the General Assembly. Although this is the first time the county is hosting an open house for voters, this is not the first time it has hosted guests. Gov. Glenn Youngkin visited Loudoun's elections office for logic and accuracy testing two years ago, which shed light on the security of the office's election technology. Prince William's elections office hosted its first open house last year, an event so popular that the office ran out of available visitor slots, elections director Eric Olsen said. Open houses are a great way to give the public more information about the electoral process, Olsen said, instead of them getting their information through 15-second video clips on social media. 'I think we have an obligation to provide those opportunities for people. I think it's a little bit of a recognition of where we are as a society and how we learn about things, and needing to do more beyond the information that's just kind of provided to us through our phones or through an algorithm that looks at what we always look at,' Olsen added. Reassuring voters about the security, accuracy and fairness of the process was also a timely response to voter fraud allegations against the county registrar, lobbied by Attorney General Jason Miyares' Election Integrity Unity in 2024. In a lawsuit, Miyares' office claimed former county registrar Michele White was tampering with votes, WVTF reported. However the case was dropped because a key witness against White said the evidence used to show White's alleged malfeasance was flawed and her actions were in line regular vote maintenance. White is suing the attorney general's office. Last week, the Prince William elections office won its first award from the Election Assistance Commission's (EAC) Annual Clearinghouse for innovative practices in election administration for posting the results tapes online. The tapes provide the overall election results, which contain vote tallies for every candidate in every race, and votes on ballot initiatives. Olsen said the award represents the office's commitment to transparency and 'providing an excellent voting experience for PWC voters.' He told Mercury that his office is planning a second open house after the event's success last year. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
George Mason, Old Dominion latest Va. universities to roll back DEI policies
Signs stating "Opposing DEI is nothing new" were held at a committee meeting on April 17 at George Mason University. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) Virginia colleges and universities are feeling federal pressure to end diversity, equity and inclusion policies that promote representation from various backgrounds, and George Mason and Old Dominion Universities are the latest to make or propose changes that align with President Donald Trump's Jan. 21 executive order to end DEI efforts within the public sector. The University of Virginia was among the first in the state to respond to the rollbacks, and the Board of Visitors voted to dissolve the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Partnerships March Glenn Youngkin praised the move and asserted that 'DEI is done at the University of Virginia.' Trump wrote in his order that 'illegal DEI and DEIA policies' violate civil rights laws. 'The federal government is charged with enforcing our civil rights laws,' the executive order states. 'The purpose of this order is to ensure that it does so by ending illegal preferences and discrimination.' The federal government has also warned ODU and other universities and colleges to end race-based decision making, or they would lose federal funding. On Thursday, GMU's Academic Programs, Diversity and University Community Committee considered a plan recommending the Board of Visitors adopt a resolution to comply with Trump's order by eliminating all programs, training and processes not specifically required by federal or state law and, if necessary, scrapping staff positions within 30 days of the resolution's approval. However, student and faculty representatives challenged the effort at Thursday's meeting, emphasizing the importance of DEI for inclusivity and student success. Solon Simmons, president of the university's Faculty Senate, said at least 90% of faculty members are opposed to the resolution. He also said more time is needed to debate the proposed clauses and that the proposal appears exclusive, opposite of the university's culture. 'The thing that stuck to me was this idea that at Mason, we want people to belong, and then … there's a compliance piece, which I think is really important for the board to do, but if we want everyone to feel like they belong, things like this probably are not going to help that,' Simmons said. Bryan Caplan, an economics professor at the university who was invited to speak by committee chair and Youngkin appointee Lindsey Burke, supported the idea of the committee's dissolution. He compared DEI to McCarthyism, an era of political persecution for progressive Americans and alleged communists in the 1950s. 'Renaming McCarthyism would not have removed the threat it posed to freedom of thought on campus, and renaming DEI does not remove the threat it poses to freedom of thought on campus,' Caplan said. 'GMU's DEI has never done anything to me personally … but this has to be done to protect GMU from all the witch hunts that we're going to see in the future (if) we don't do the right thing, right now.' The resolution also proposes to dissolve the university's Bias Incident Response Team, designed to mitigate or prevent bias occurrences, and the Access to Research and Inclusive Excellence program, which is responsible for examining university practices in identifying bias. The university has also recently renamed the DEI office to the Office of Access, Compliance, and Community (OACC), provost and executive vice president Jim Antony and committee members highlighted, and eliminated certain positions, to ensure compliance with new executive orders. Anthony said the Board of Visitors was scheduled to receive a comprehensive report from faculty on the university changes related to DEI in February, but the board tabled the presentation. GMU staff did share that two vacant positions in the former DEI office were eliminated, the Antiracism Inclusive Excellence initiative was dissolved and inclusive excellence plans have been excised from the university president's goals. Staff also recommended the committee engage in more dialogue before passing any resolution, to ensure it aligns with the university's values and goals after finding a few contradictions between the proposed DEI resolution and the board's antisemitism resolution that passed in February. Cameron Harris, faculty representative to the committee, said the antisemitism resolution invites OACC to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Working Definition for training and education. However, it is not allowed in the proposed resolution. 'The resolution seems to limit education, training and most importantly, the valuing of our diversity,' Harris said. Burke criticized DEI at the meeting, linking it to critical race theory, and suggested it undermined merit-based admissions and academic excellence. She also mentioned that other school leaders are dissolving DEI initiatives at institutions like the University of Virginia, James Madison University, VCU and Virginia Tech. She expects an updated resolution to be ready for the Board of Visitors' May 1 meeting. Va. community colleges end diversity, equity and inclusion practices 'Our job on this board is to make sure we are complying with the law and not jeopardizing the federal or state funding that may be received,' Burke said. 'Federal funding is a privilege, not a right.' Unlike Mason, Old Dominion University made several changes to its DEI initiatives that remained unknown to the public for weeks. The Virginian-Pilot first reported the changes last week. One of the major differences: ODU's Institutional Equity & Diversity webpage was renamed Talent Management and Culture, with the banner now stating 'Equity Compliance, Respect and Community.' The original banner stated 'equality, diversity, respect and inclusiveness for all.' The new webpage excludes links to ODU's Monarch Task Force for Inclusive Excellence, Monarch Plan for Inclusive Excellence 1.0, John R. Broderick Diversity Champion Award and it no longer states 'Celebrating 85 Years of Diversity.' The task force's status is unclear, with its page now leading to a 404 'page not found' error. The nine-member Diversity and Inclusive Excellence staff page was removed from the institution's website. The webpage now reads 'access denied.' Most of the staff appears to have remained under the new office, Institutional Equity and Culture, except for an office manager position. The remaining positions cover training, community relations, outreach, and Title IX regulations. One of the staff members is Veleka Gatling, previously the associate vice president for equity and inclusive excellence under the Institutional Equity & Diversity office. Gatling is now the associate vice president for community relations in the Community Engagement and University Events office. September Sanderlin was also listed under the directory as vice president for human resources and DEI in the human resources office. Her title is currently vice president for talent management and culture. Other clues preceded ODU's departure from DEI. Stanley Goldfarb, also a Youngkin appointee, asked about DEI in the university's medical school curriculum and requested to meet with the school's dean before he was removed fromODU's Board of Visitors by Senate Democrats in May. Goldfarb, who recently spoke on Fox & Friends Weekend about his departure, did not specify why he wanted to see the curriculum or why he wanted to meet with the dean, which he attributed to Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera's recommendation. Goldfarb chairs an organization called Do No Harm, which he said represents physicians, nurses and medical students, patients and policymakers and is dedicated to keeping identity politics out of medical education, research and clinical practice. 'We think all patients should be treated the same, that this should be a colorblind environment, that physicians should be the best individuals that are available to practice medicine and care for all patients,' Goldfarb said on Fox & Friends Weekend. 'And as far as I'm concerned, it has nothing to do with the proper practice of medicine.' Youngkin signs several maternal health bills, tweaks another on unconscious bias training Several studies have revealed implicit bias — which DEI policies can counteract — plays a role in America's health care system. A 2016 UVA study found 'a substantial number of white medical students and residents hold false beliefs about biological differences between black and white people (e.g., black people's skin is thicker; black people's blood coagulates more quickly) that could affect how they assess and treat the pain experienced by black patients.' Bias can also influence how artificial intelligence applications in health care exacerbate existing disparities, research shows. Virginia's legislature passed bills this session that would require medical professionals to complete unconscious bias training before renewing their licenses. Youngkin amended the measures, removing the mention of cultural competency and unconscious bias in the original wording, a change lawmakers rejected. The bill now awaits the governor's approval as-is or veto. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Va. research colleges poised to face ‘devastating' consequences from federal cuts, experts say
A view outside the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus Academic Building One in Alexandria. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) Research colleges and universities in Virginia are at risk of taking significant cuts, state lawmakers in the House of Delegates and education experts revealed Tuesday, as the country's executive branch continues to trim down operations and funding in the federal government. According to data collected by the National Center for Science and Engineering, Virginia ranks 13th in the nation in research and development (R&D) performance. Federal jobs and contracting equal 16.1% of all full-time and part-time jobs in Virginia. – 321,516 federal full-time civilian jobs – 130,751 armed forces – 441,488 Virginian jobs directly depend on federal contracting Source: Weldon Cooper Center at the University of Virginia 'R&D is important to Virginia, and changes in federal R&D funding and policies will have ripple effects on your entire state and the Virginia Public and Land Grant Universities,' Deborah Altenburg, vice president of research policy and advocacy at the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), said to lawmakers on Tuesday in Alexandria. Altenburg said every member institution of APLU has had at least one grant canceled or delayed and 'there's really no clarity at this point or way to gauge what the full cost of those cuts will be.' The funding institutions receive for their facilities and administrative costs could also be capped under the changes, which would be 'devastating' to the university-based research structure, since it's the 'major driver for our U.S. economy,' she said. The changes for research institutions come as lawmakers prepare for the wider impacts on Virginia's federal workforce and funding reductions, following executive actions taken by President Donald Trump's administration since taking office in January to cut what they have called 'wasteful' government spending. So far, the number of available private-sector jobs has declined, and contracts have been canceled in Northern Virginia, InsideNOVA reports. The state's community colleges have also ended DEI admission policies, in light of federal mandates snuffing out diversity, equity and inclusion practices, while the Trump administration has threatened to yank federal funding from schools that don't end race-based admissions policies. Va. community colleges end diversity, equity and inclusion practices In response to the federal workforce and funding reductions, the Virginia House of Delegates, directed by House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, developed a committee to focus solely on how the changes affect Virginians. The committee is responsible for collecting data on the potential scope of workforce and funding cuts, and analyzing the likely impacts of the cuts on Virginia's economy and budget should they be partially or fully realized, according to the speaker's letter. The committee is responsible for inviting stakeholders across a wide range of interests to provide their perspectives and recommend solutions to the challenges. Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, the committee chair, said the Trump administration's decisions will have 'significant, if not profound' impacts on Virginia, including on its workforce, the state budget and other key areas. 'The federal cuts are going to have a ripple effect on Virginia's economy and so we need to be prepared to pivot and fill in that gap before it creates budget shortfalls,' Bulova said. The committee met in February to plan four meetings in different parts of the state for lawmakers to gather insights from experts on federal workforce and economic impacts statewide and regionally. The first meeting was held Tuesday, at Virginia Tech's Innovation Campus in Alexandria. According to the Weldon Cooper Center at the University of Virginia, whose representatives presented at the meeting, Virginia has more federal workers than nearly every other state, and Virginia's federal workforce is highly educated and concentrated on national security. The committee also learned about the federal budget process, and the tools the president's team is using to excise what they deem to be excessive programming, funding and resources. Rescissions and reprogramming are the Trump Administration's preferred tools to reduce spending — with Congress support — before invoking the Impoundment Control Act (ICA), according to representatives from Crossroads Strategies during Tuesday's presentation. The ICA allows temporary deferral of funds, but not cancellation without Congressional approval. Lawmakers suggested that Virginia's research institutions may soon have to begin assessing their grant programs, if more are canceled or even lost. This comes as APLU, the American Council on Education and Association of American Universities and others are fighting against the Trump administration's decision to cut funds for research projects. The committee feared institutions may have to raise tuition or limit research to address the potential losses. 'Universities are really in uncharted waters, and each institution will need to make decisions based on their institutions' resources and risk tolerances,' Altenburg said. Some of the top federal funding recipients in the commonwealth include the University of Virginia, which received $354.7 million in 2023, followed by Virginia Tech with $28.21 million. In 2023, Virginia State University also received $7.2 million and $3.5 million to James Madison University. All these institutions are members of APLU. Del. Bonita Anthony, D-Norfolk, said education is at the 'core' of Virginia's success when developing 'highly educated and skilled' federal workers. 'If there's going to be any type of reductions, it's going to … crumble the very core of our footprint here in Virginia,' Anthony cautioned. Altenburg, whose association aims to enhance student success and workforce readiness, advance groundbreaking scientific research, and strengthen economic and community engagement, showed how money from the government supports critical aspects of higher education in the state. Federal funding, now in jeopardy, has supported a combination of direct expenditures and facilities' administrative costs, Altenburg relayed. Some of the research and development costs include salaries, stipends and equipment. Del. Briana Sewell, D-Prince William, who is the chair of the House Education subcommittee on higher education, attended Tuesday's committee meeting and said afterwards 'it is crucial for policymakers to fully understand the consequences these cuts may have on both the accessibility and functionality of these institutions. The insights of educators and administrators are vital in ensuring these challenges are addressed effectively.' Amid the troubling prospects from federal reductions, the committee also received good news that it hopes to build on across the commonwealth. On Tuesday, Northern Virginia Community College shared that it recently committed $1 million in scholarship aid to allow eligible unemployed federal workers and contractors to enroll in one of 14 courses at no charge, and to access NOVA-sponsored online workshops on resume-writing and job search techniques. The initiative, referred to as NOVAnext Partnership, is expected to provide scholarships to 1,000 participants. Anne Kress, president of Northern Virginia Community College, said it's a step towards stemming federal workers' lost jobs statewide. 'This is not the solution. It is part of a solution,' said Kress. Some of the courses included in the initiative focus on providing certifications in IT specialties, program management and human resources. Other instructional opportunities include online entrepreneurship and a new Generative Artificial Intelligence course. Eligible students must be federal and contract workers who have been laid off on or after Jan. 24, 2025 and reside within the Northern Virginia service area. The NOVA community college system said participants can also enroll in other courses at a regular tuition rate and may qualify for additional state financial aid. Kress said in two weeks, the community college system has approved 204 applications. Most of the applications are from those impacted by the cuts at USAID. Del. Tony Wilt, R-Harrisonburg, applauded the initiative. 'This is exciting, and I would also say it's amazing to me how, in large part, it mirrors what the state of Virginia has already developed and been doing,' Wilt said, referencing Virginia Has Jobs, the state portal touted by Gov. Glenn Youngkin as a solution for laid-off federal workers. 'It's great opportunity for us,' Wilt said. 'I know we've all been concerned about our citizens that have lost jobs and maybe potentially could be coming down the road, but we've got good solutions.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Partisan choice': VMI superintendent responds after vote not to extend contract
Francis H. Smith Hall on the campus of the Virginia Military Institute. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) The Virginia Military Institute's (VMI) first Black superintendent, Ret. Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins, says 'partisan politics' played a key role in the Board of Visitors' decision to not renew his contract — a move that comes after four and a half years of leadership at the nation's oldest state-supported military college. 'I am disappointed by the Board of Visitors' decision not to renew my contract as superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute,' Wins said in a statement on Thursday. 'This decision was not based on my performance or the tangible progress we achieved. It is the result of a partisan choice that abandons the values of honor, integrity, and excellence upon which VMI was built.' The board, appointed by the governor, held a special closed meeting last week, where members ultimately voted to seek a new leader to replace Wins. Wins took over as VMI's superintendent in 2020, stepping into the role at a time when allegations of racism within the institution had made national headlines. The Washington Post first reported on the accusations, and a state-commissioned investigation later confirmed deep-rooted racial and gender disparities at the school. Tensions escalated further in 2022 when Wins requested funding to expand Title IX and bolster diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. That push sparked backlash from a faction of alumni, parents, and students tied to the Spirit of VMI PAC, a political action committee that urged supporters to 'reject the woke assault on VMI.' Wins did not comment immediately after the Feb. 28 vote, but in his Thursday statement, he defended his leadership, saying he was proud of the work his team accomplished to 'restore VMI's reputation as one of the nation's top-rated institutions.' 'l pledged to protect and modernize VMI while preserving its unique method of education and right traditions,' he wrote, noting that under his tenure, the institution increased state funding by 50% and secured over $321 million for facility upgrades. Wins said VMI reversed a decade-long decline in admissions, secured a $3.8 million grant to boost Pell Grant enrollment, and maintained budget surpluses despite earlier projections. 'There are a tremendous number of faculty, staff and alumni who partnered with me in their support of the institute. They know the worth of VMI and support what it does for these young cadets, regardless of what they look like, where they come from, and how they identify themselves,' Wins said. 'Unfortunately, the winds of resistance by the few have drowned out those who desire to bring the Institute into the 21st century while maintaining the right traditions.' VMI's Board of Visitors President John Adams, appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, did not comment after the board voted 6-10 against renewing Wins' contract. The board, made up largely of Youngkin appointees, saw some division — two members, C. Ernest Edgar IV and retired Rear Adm. Terence McKnight, broke from the majority and voted to extend Wins' contract, while another Youngkin appointee, Maj. Gen. James Ring, was absent from the vote. In a statement following the Feb. 28 vote, Adams expressed appreciation for Wins' leadership but did not elaborate on the board's reasons for the decision. 'The foundation he has provided us will ensure VMI continues to fulfill its vital mission of educating future leaders,' Adams said, adding that the board was 'supremely grateful' for Wins' service during a difficult period for the institute. The statement did not provide details on the search process for a new superintendent. While the board's next scheduled meeting is May 1-3, it remains possible that a special session could be convened sooner to discuss the transition. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tougher academic standards ahead for Virginia students
The Virginia Board of Education hears from experts on setting performance levels for K-12 students at Reynolds Community College on Feb. 26, 2025 (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) Virginia students may soon face tougher academic benchmarks as the state aligns its performance levels with the higher standards of a national assessment. Starting next month, the Virginia Board of Education will begin adjusting its cut scores — used to determine whether K-12 students are meeting proficiency levels — to better match the rigor of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Student performance is typically categorized as 'below basic,' 'basic,' 'proficient' or'advanced,' reflecting their knowledge and skills in core subjects. Since 1998, Virginia has relied on its Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments to gauge proficiency in areas like reading and math. However, NAEP, a widely recognized national organization, has often been used to assess smaller student groups, such as fourth and eighth graders. 'The NAEP assessment provides a common benchmark that states can then use to look at the relative rigor of their own assessment cut scores,' said Lesley Muldoon, executive director of the National Assessment Governing Board, during a work session Wednesday. Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration has frequently pointed to NAEP data to highlight what it calls the 'honesty gap' — the disparity between state-level proficiency standards and the more stringent NAEP benchmarks. Virginia's learning recovery falls short as NAEP scores show mixed results Between 2017-2022, Virginia's fourth-grade reading and math results showed a staggering 40-percentage-point gap between the state's SOL and NAEP assessments. That disparity does not provide an 'accurate picture of student performance,' said Em Cooper, deputy superintendent of teaching and learning, during Wednesday's work session. In response, the board has begun discussing plans to revise the cut scores — the threshold for determining student proficiency — in key subjects. The effort is a cornerstone of Youngkin's broader push to 'restore excellence in education,' which includes raising standards in core subjects, increasing transparency and accountability, and overhauling the state's assessment system. Youngkin has argued that Virginia's current proficiency standards are the result of the previous Board of Education lowering cut scores and altering school accreditation standards. However, Anne Holton, a former state education secretary and an appointee of former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, defended the previous board's approach. She noted that Virginia's pass rates aligned with the NAEP's 'basic' achievement level, which reflects 'partial mastery of the knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at a given grade,' according to NAEP. The Youngkin administration, however, is pushing for Virginia to meet NAEP's 'proficient' standard — defined as a student demonstrating a deeper understanding of complex topics and the ability to apply them in real-world situations. Virginia Explained: The debate over student expectations Board member Amber Northern, a Youngkin appointee, argued that achieving NAEP proficiency is linked to better long-term outcomes, including higher graduation rates and increased job earnings compared to students who score at the NAEP 'basic' level. 'NAEP proficiency matters in terms of long-term outcomes for kids [and] I know this because I study it,' Northern said. She dismissed political finger-pointing over the state's current standards, urging the board to focus on the benefits of higher expectations. 'I don't care about the politics, I don't care about 'well we did this, and we did this,' … nobody knows why we are in the situation we're in, we just know that we're in it and we're not about pointing fingers. What we're about saying is, okay, this is what NAEP proficiency does for our kids, and we should actually have that as our goal to do right by them.' But Holton pushed back, questioning whether realigning Virginia's SOL to match NAEP would lead to actual student improvement. While she acknowledged that strong SOL and NAEP scores correlate with better outcomes, she argued that no research supports the idea that adjusting cut scores alone drives success. 'The research shows there's no impact of realigning our cut scores,' Holton said. 'We need our students to do well on the test, but where the line is is irrelevant.' Previously, cut score adjustments went through a multi-step review involving a standard-setting committee, an articulation committee, and the state superintendent before final recommendations were presented to the Board of Education. On Wednesday, the Virginia Department of Education staff outlined the board's new approach, which includes selecting and training committee members, assessment date, and ultimately making recommendations on cut scores. Under the process proposal, committees will primarily consist of education experts, including teachers and instructional specialists, while the remainder will include community stakeholders such as parents and business leaders. Educators applying to serve must complete an application demonstrating their understanding of grade level content and assessments. Community members will undergo a selection process led by the board and the governor's office. The committees are set to convene in late May once enough assessment data from the 2025 assessment cycle is available. Their proposed cut scores will go before the board for an initial review in June, with a final decision expected in July. On Thursday, the board will vote on the proposed review process. If approved, the updated performance standards will not take effect until spring 2026. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
