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HB 199

Standards of Learning assessments; through-year growth assessment system eliminated.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Karen Keys-Gamarra and 2 co-sponsors

Virginia schools may use alternative growth assessment systems instead of state-mandated through-year assessments during 2024-2028, enabling district-level experimentation with different student progress measurement approaches.

Approved by Governor-Chapter 914 (effective 7/1/2026)
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Bill Summary · HB 199

Legislative bill overview

HB 199 permits Virginia schools to use alternative student growth assessment systems instead of the state's standard through-year growth assessment model during the 2024-2028 school years. The bill provides a temporary window for districts to pilot different evaluation methods while maintaining accountability standards.

Why is this important

Student growth assessments directly influence school ratings, teacher evaluations, and funding decisions, affecting educational quality and resource allocation. This flexibility allows districts to test whether alternative approaches better capture student progress, particularly for diverse learner populations or those using different instructional methods.

Potential points of contention

  • Assessment consistency: Allowing multiple assessment systems simultaneously could create comparability problems across districts and make statewide progress tracking more difficult
  • Accountability concerns: Alternative assessments may lack equivalent rigor or validation, potentially obscuring actual student achievement gaps between schools
  • Implementation costs: Districts may face expenses developing, piloting, and training staff on new assessment systems without guaranteed state funding
  • Timeline questions: The 2024-2028 window has already begun (it's now 2026), leaving limited time to evaluate results before the authorization expires

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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