The Virginia Board of Education unanimously approved an A-F grading system that will assign letter grades to schools based on the percentages of students demonstrating proficiency, academic growth and college and career readiness, Governor Bob McDonnell announced Nov. 21.  

McDonnell said initial letter grades will be announced at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year and will accompany school accreditation ratings.

McDonnell proposed an A-F grading system as part of his ALL STUDENTS 2013 education agenda. The 2013 General Assembly subsequently directed the BOE to create an A-F scale based on performance, state and federal accountability standards and student growth indicators.

“The A-F grading system relies on criteria that will capture a school’s overall performance and growth, college and career readiness and the success of schools in raising achievement of their lowest performing students. The new grading system will better e...