Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - The Youngkin Administration has released a report on education, ordered by Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) as part of his first day executive orders. The report claims state policy choices and priorities over the last decade have resulted in lower student achievement in reading and mathematics, wider achievement gaps, reduced transparency, and eroding parent confidence in the Commonwealth’s public schools.
State Education Secretary Aimee Guidera suggested during the news conference that changes were often made in the name of "equity." The order that ordered the report also sought to end so-called "divisive concepts" in education in Virginia as well.
The report specifically criticizes a change made in 2017 to accreditation. Those changes resulted from a bipartisan 2015 bill that sought to recognize progress that had been made from a low starting point, but may not have met benchmarks.