West Virginia Schools to be Assigned A through F Grades

The West Virginia Board of Education has voted to adopt an amendment to its accountability policy that will give schools A through F grades.

The board said in a news release that it approved the revised policy at its monthly meeting Wednesday.

The grades will be based largely on students’ scores on the statewide Smarter Balanced standardized tests.

Christy Hovanetz, a representative from the Foundation for Excellence in Education Senior Policy, told the board that most statewide teacher unions do not support the grading system for schools.

Board President Mike Green argued that the new grading system is not punitive, but is meant to give attention to low-performing schools in an effort to improve them.

The amended policy will take effect on July 11.