Plan to Grade Schools A Through F Passes Virginia House

By Samantha Morgan, Capital News Service

The Virginia House of Delegates voted 54-40 to approve House Bill 1999, which would require the Virginia Board of Education to grade each school on an A-F scale.

The bill, sponsored by Del. Thomas “Tag” Greason (R-Landsdowne), is part of Republican Governor Bob McDonnell’s K-12 legislative agenda. 

Under the bill, the board would develop a grading system for all schools by Aug. 1. The letter grades would be given in addition to the state’s more detailed standards of accreditation for individual school performance.

“I was pleased by the bipartisan support in the House of Delegates for our common-sense plan to bring more transparency and accountability to Virginia’s public schools," said McDonnell on a conference call with reporters. "I encourage my friends in the Senate to support this legislation that will provide a simpler way to understand a school’s performance on the state’s accreditation system.” 

The Senate passed a similar bill Monday in a 40-0 vote.

McDonnell also called on former Florida Governor Jeb Bush to rally in support of the plan. During Bush’s first term in office, the A-F grading system was implemented in all Florida public schools 

"If we aren’t giving students in every ZIP code the opportunity for a world-class education, we have failed them," said McDonnell.

Do you think your child's school should be graded? If so, what grade would you give it?

Patch Editor Erica R. Hendry contributed to this story.