West Virginia School Board Proposes A-F Grading Policy

The West Virginia Board of Education has put a policy out for comment that would move forward with giving A through F grades to entire schools and counties, but would base ratings on more than just standardized tests and graduation rates.

State Department of Education Chief Accountability Officer Michele Blatt tells the Charleston Gazette-Mail that the policy, proposed Wednesday, would add “multiple measures” to the state’s A-F school and county grading system.

If the policy passes, Blatt says A-F grading would also consider attendance, students at risk of dropping out, third graders reading below grade level, eighth graders performing math below grade level and career and college-readiness indicators.

Education officials say they plan to release A-F grades by late fall.

Board secretary Virginia Harris says the policy will be posted online for comment at wvde.state.wv.us/policies.