2025 SESSION

INTRODUCED

25101752D

SENATE BILL NO. 1441

Offered January 17, 2025

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-207.9, relating to public middle schools; programs of instruction; Middle School Mathematics Innovation Program established.

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Patron—Durant

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Referred to Committee on Education and Health

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-207.9 as follows:

§ 22.1-207.9. Middle School Mathematics Innovation Program established; report.

A. The Middle School Mathematics Innovation Program (the Program) is established for the purpose of assisting local school divisions with the implementation of personalized, competency-based mathematics education and evidence-based mathematics learning for students in grades six through eight enrolled in a public middle school. Pursuant to the Program, in accordance with any application rules, policies, procedures, and processes established by the Department pursuant to subdivision B 2, any school division may apply to designate any public middle school in the school division as a mathematics innovation school (innovation school) pursuant to the Program. Any public middle school designated as an innovation school shall be provided additional support in implementing personalized, competency-based mathematics education and evidence-based mathematics learning pursuant to the Program.

B. The Program shall be administered by the Department. In administering the Program, the Department shall:

1. Implement the design elements and adhere to the requirements and limitations set forth in subsection C;

2. Establish an application for a school division to designate a public middle school in the school division as a mathematics innovation school pursuant to the Program;

3. Establish any rules, policies, procedures, and processes it deems necessary or appropriate for the administration of the Program;

4. Accept and review applications submitted by each school division pursuant to subsection A. The Department shall require each school division that applies, as a condition of participation in the Program, to submit a seat time notification form to the Department. In reviewing applications, the Department shall give preference in selecting public middle schools for designation as an innovation school to middle schools identified as in need of support, including schools that demonstrate need based on data from the immediately preceding school year on the grades six, seven, and eight mathematics Standards of Learning assessments, rural schools, and schools in economically disadvantaged areas;

5. Establish quality criteria for and approve a provider that enables schools to implement personalized competency-based learning (the Provider) to coordinate a partnership with innovation schools, in accordance with the requirements set forth in this subsection. Such criteria shall require the Provider to offer a support platform that:

a. Uses a systemic skill-level diagnostic aligned to the applicable Standards of Learning to identify student strengths and needs;

b. Measures and reports on progress toward multiple grade outcomes to evaluate and improve student learning and performance;

c. Provides teachers and students access to an individualized learning platform that (i) is aligned with the most current mathematics Standards of Learning and (ii) can provide the precise skills and skill platform that each student must master to achieve grade-level proficiency in mathematics;

d. Presents skill-level instructional content and assessments that are aligned with the scope and sequences of any mathematics programs offered by public middle schools in the Commonwealth and their relevant predecessor skills;

e. Includes an educator professional development plan that offers training on the competency-based learning model and program, provides curricular and assessment materials, and includes any applicable data and reports;

f. Provides information, reports, or data evidencing (i) the impact, including the validity and reliability, of the Program and any corresponding assessments and (ii) that the Program's instructional content and assessments are aligned to the Standards of Learning assessment requirements, including those relating to format and content, as set forth pursuant to applicable law and developed by the Department; and

g. Can be used by students at school and at home;

6. Coordinate with the approved Provider to ensure that high-quality competency-based instructional practices are identified and implemented; and

7. Determine a method for collecting evidence in order to validate the student outcomes in innovation schools. Any approved Provider and innovation schools shall collaborate to identify, subject to the approval of the Department, a third-party research organization to independently validate student outcomes in innovation schools, consistent with the philosophy of personalized, competency-based learning.

C. The Program shall consist of the following design elements and shall be subject to the following requirements and limitations:

1. The Program shall offer a support platform that meets the criteria established by the Department pursuant to subdivision B 5;

2. The Provider shall be responsible for implementation of innovative learning models or competency-based solutions in such innovation schools while sharing strategies to improve instructional practice and student outcomes.

3. The Department may (i) revoke the designation of a middle school as an innovation school if the school fails to meet the goals of the Program in the innovation school and (ii) revoke the approval of and replace an approved Provider if the Department determines that such Provider has failed to implement the instructional program with fidelity or comply with any requirements imposed in this subsection;

4. The implementation of personalized, competency-based learning in an innovation school shall begin within three months of the school year during which such innovation school received designation pursuant to the Program, and no such designation shall be made for a period exceeding five years; and

5. Beginning by October 30, 2026, the Provider shall issue an annual report to the Department, including information on the implementation quality and student outcomes.