School Improvement

Overview

The Virginia Department of Education (the Department) is launching a bold, research-based redesign of how school improvement is supported across the Commonwealth. This new model is anchored in a clear theory of action, when high-quality quantitative and qualitative data are used to understand strengths and challenges in student learning, the Department can align targeted, evidence-based supports that measurably improve student outcomes.

To inform this approach, the Department conducted a comprehensive review of high-performing state education agencies across the nation. The analysis identified key practices associated with improved student outcomes. Drawing on these insights, the Department is focusing on the following critical elements:

1. Organizational Structure

The Department is implementing a strategic realignment of offices, roles, and responsibilities to improve coherence, collaboration, and operational efficiency. These structural adjustments are designed to streamline communication and increase collaboration to ensure that schools and divisions experience a coordinated and responsive system of support from the Department.

2. Funding Priorities

Resources are being directed toward the implementation of evidence-based practices. Leadership is empowering school and division leaders with more autonomy and flexibility to maximize every dollar for students, while requiring clear demonstration of returns on investments that directly lead to improved student outcomes.

3. Effective School Improvement Practices

School improvement is the responsibility of the entire Department. By engaging subject-matter experts from across offices, the Department expands its capacity to deliver high-quality support statewide and increases the depth of expertise available to schools and divisions. This cross-department approach ensures that every school and division benefits from a research-grounded, data-informed, and coordinated system of support.

School Improvement Process

The school improvement approach is grounded in a four-step process for school success. This process is designed to identify strengths, analyze needs, plan strategically, and monitor progress with rigor and transparency. This statewide approach reflects a commitment to data-informed decision-making, strong cross-department collaboration, and evidence-based action. Together, these elements create a robust and sustainable model for improving teaching, learning, and student outcomes across the Commonwealth.

Step 1: Current State Analysis

This step establishes a clear, evidence-based understanding of a school or division’s performance, strengths, and challenges. Key actions include:

• Needs assessment to identify specific areas where the school or division is not meeting expectations.
• Asset mapping to identify and document existing strengths and resources within the division, school, and community.
• Root cause analysis to uncover underlying reasons for performance challenges.
• Resource allocation review to assess how funds are deployed, evaluate the return on investment, and identify any disparities in funding, staffing, or materials that may impede improvement efforts.

Step 2: Planning and Prioritization

This step transforms finding from the current state analysis into a focused, actionable improvement plan. Key actions include:

• Developing a Multi-year School Support Plan to directly address root causes and leverage assets (from the asset mapping process) to support school improvement.
• Prioritizing needs based on impact, feasibility (budget, time, personnel, etc.), and urgency.
• Establishing specific, measurable, achievable, and time-bound goals.
• Selecting evidence-based interventions and creating a detailed funding and staffing plan for execution.

Step 3: Implementing, Monitoring, and Accountability

This step ensures the improvement plan is executed as intended and that progress is regularly measured. Key actions include:

• Developing clear, outcome-based monitoring protocols defining implementation checks (are we doing what we said we would do?) and progress checks (is it working?).
• Implementing monitoring protocols with regular site visits, data reviews, and check-ins to provide timely, actionable feedback to school and division leadership.

Step 4: Progress Reporting and Reflection

This step focuses on transparent communication of progress towards defined goals. Key actions include:

• Quarterly reporting on implementation status, interim progress data, and next steps.
• Annual reporting summarizing progress, highlighting improvements in student outcomes, and detailing successes and ongoing challenges.

This statewide approach reflects a commitment to data-informed decision-making, strong cross-department collaboration, and evidence-based action. Together, these elements create a robust and sustainable model for improving teaching, learning, and student outcomes across the Commonwealth.

Using the Needs Assessment as a Catalyst for Improvement

A needs assessment provides a foundation for improvement. Grounded in research on organizational learning and data-informed decision-making, the needs assessment process enables educators to engage in a deep, honest look at their school’s current performance. Through the examination of multiple data sources, such as student achievement results, attendance patterns, classroom observations, spending analysis, and stakeholder feedback, schools can clearly see where they are strong and where they need to grow.

The purpose of the needs assessment process is to clearly identify the gap between where the school is now and where it wants to be and to use that understanding to guide decisions about time, staff, and resources to improve student outcomes. When done well, a needs assessment builds a shared picture of the school’s current reality and the changes that are needed to most effectively support students. This document offers a template and a step-by-step guide to completing the needs assessment so schools can make informed decisions that lead to stronger outcomes for all students.

After completing the needs assessments, use the outcomes to inform the development of a Multi-year School Support Plan.

Federal Grant Opportunities

Schools that are federally identified for support and improvement can access targeted funding through federal programs designed to support student achievement and school transformation. Learn more about how the School Improvement Grant provides resources for evidence-based interventions and sustainable improvement planning.