For years, Virginia’s school divisions have been reporting inflated proficiency rates on state-administered Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, giving parents and the public a misleading picture of student achievement. The latest 2024 results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) highlight this issue, showing that Virginia students continue to struggle in reading and math when compared to national benchmarks.

The discrepancy is stark: while the 2024 SOL results claim that 73% of Virginia fourth graders are proficient in reading, NAEP data show that only 31% actually meet national proficiency standards. In math, the state-reported proficiency rate for fourth graders is 71%, whereas NAEP places the true figure at just 40%. The gaps persist in eighth grade as well, with a 43-percentage-point difference in reading and a 34-percentage-point gap in math.

So, How Did This Happen?

Virginia’s proficiency cut scores were lowered under previous administrations, leading to a significant “honesty gap” between SOL results and NAEP standards. In fact, Virginia is one of only two states where a “proficient” score in reading on the SOL translates to “below basic” on the NAEP—meaning that students who fail to demonstrate even partial mastery of grade-level skills are still considered proficient by the state’s standards.

The VBOE’s Plan to Fix Inflated Scores

Recognizing the damage that inflated proficiency scores have done to student preparedness, the Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) has initiated a multi-phase plan to raise academic expectations. The new standard-setting process will better align SOL cut scores with national benchmarks, workforce demands, and college readiness requirements.

Here’s what the process will look like:

✅ March 2025 – Selection of 200 expert educators and stakeholders to serve on standard-setting committees.

✅ April 2025 – Training for committee members on best practices for setting new proficiency cut scores.

✅ May 2025 – Review and analysis of assessment data to determine appropriate score adjustments.

✅ June-July 2025 – Public review and VBOE final approval of new cut scores.

The state is considering shifting its methodology for determining proficiency from the Modified Angoff Method, which relies on statistical estimates, to the ID Matching Method, a research-backed approach that ensures proficiency standards are more content-focused and transparent.

What This Means for School Board Members

School board members should be aware that these changes will not take effect until the 2026-2027 school year. This timeline allows school divisions time to adjust curricula, train educators, and prepare students for the more rigorous standards.

In the meantime, school leaders should communicate with parents and stakeholders about the changes ahead, particularly in light of the latest NAEP results. Virginia’s long-standing “honesty gap” is finally being addressed, and while the transition may be challenging, it is a necessary step toward ensuring students are truly prepared for academic and career success.

Virginia’s commitment to higher standards and transparency is a move in the right direction—as they work to restore confidence in public education.