Caroline County Public Schools Superintendent Sarah Calveric did not mince words when discussing the new cut scores for Standards of Learning testing approved by the state board of education last month.
Calveric said it’s “unjust” that spring testing is approaching, and school officials throughout the state don’t have a full understanding of the protocol involved with the new benchmarks. She said she’s not the only division leader in the Commonwealth who is grappling with the shift.
“Process is everything,” Calveric said. “And how you go about educating, informing, and communicating, that is essential to change. There are many roots to resistance that are currently being birthed because we are lacking in some of those areas.”
The Virginia Department of Education website states that the elevated academic expectations for K-12 students align with national benchmarks “and reflect true mastery of the more rigorous academic standards previously adopted.”
Under the previous model, a score of 400 equaled proficiency and 500 advanced.
Calveric noted during her presentation to the Caroline School Board on Monday that cut scores for proficiency increased by anywhere from 30 to 79 points, while each grade and subject has different scores for proficiency and advanced.
“This has a drastic impact,” Calveric said. “You have children that have been performing at an advanced proficient level that are now going to be proficient. You have many children that have been performing at the proficient level that will now be below proficient. So, we have to have a community understanding of that and that [families] understand it’s across the Commonwealth; it’s not solely a Caroline scenario.”
CCPS sent families and staff a Q&A letter about the changes on Oct. 2. Region 3 superintendents sent their input to the VDOE on Oct. 6 and a letter of recommendations to the board of education this past Tuesday. The board will vote on final policy implementations on Friday.
CCPS plans to communicate with stakeholders after the final board of education vote, and then a growth model committee will begin its work.
The division plans to apply for literacy and math grants and develop priorities for the fiscal year 2027 budget.
“I don’t have a problem with raising the bar,” School Board Chair Calvin Taylor said. “I think that’s how you achieve. But I don’t think you should raise the bar when you have not had time to implement what’s necessary to help you meet the bar. It’s already been passed. It’s going to happen … it’s going to take money because new programs need to be developed. Kids need to have an opportunity to adjust so they can meet this new demand.”
The board also heard from division officials regarding test scores from the 2024-25 school year.
A presentation from officials noted that chronic absenteeism improved at all three elementary schools, ranging from 10% at Lewis & Clark to 15% at Bowling Green. Madison Elementary was at 12%. The division is still seeking to improve test scores, particularly at BGE, where 53% of students were proficient in reading, 57% in math, and 60% in science. Lewis & Clark cleared 70% in all three areas. Madison was 68% for reading, 69% for math and 62% for science.
Michael Hubbard, who represents the Bowling Green District, said he’s concerned about achievement gaps for minorities and students with disabilities.
“Where I have a little challenge with this presentation is you’re showing composite scores, and it doesn’t show any disaggregated data,” Hubbard said. “When we look at students with disabilities and students of color, you will see the numbers, they are way short of these numbers you’re showing as a collective. The fear is it gives folks the belief that all is well … The shortfall we are seeing in achievement gaps is alarming.”
Calveric said more information on those gaps will be available next month.
In other business Monday, the school board unveiled its fiscal year 2027-31 Capital Improvement Plan.
The $83.4 million plan includes $48 million-plus for a fourth elementary school.
The 81,520-square-foot school would hold 650 students and be located on an 18-acre site. The design process would take 10 months, while construction would last two years. It’s unclear when the board of supervisors would be able to provide funding for the project.
The CIP also includes ensuring buildings are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act standards and Indoor Air Quality checks every four years.
