RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Board of Education will host public hearings August 24 in Abingdon and August 25 in Lynchburg as the board continues to gather community and stakeholder input on how best to prepare students for academic and career success.

The series of public hearings — which began in July with meetings in Manassas and Williamsburg — focus on the following topics:

• Development of a “Profile of a Virginia Graduate,” including changes to high school graduation requirements;
• Implementation of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act and improving Virginia’s state accountability system;
• Recommendations regarding the commonwealth’s Standards of Quality; and
• Identifying conditions and needs of public education for inclusion in the state board’s comprehensive plan and its annual report to the governor and General Assembly.

The ideas and suggestions brought forward by families, educators and community members during our first two meetings have offered valuable insight that will help us take the next steps as we develop plans to promote student success and accountability,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples. “We encourage everyone with a stake in public education in Southwest Virginia and the Roanoke and Lynchburg area to attend these meetings and share their ideas.

The dates and locations of the public hearings are as follows:

• Wednesday, August 24 — Abingdon
  6:30 p.m. 
  Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center - Executive Auditorium  
  One Partnership Circle, Abingdon, VA 24210
• Thursday, August 25 — Lynchburg
  6:30 p.m. 
  Heritage High School - Auditorium 
  3101 Wards Ferry Road
  Lynchburg, VA 24502

Speakers are asked to sign in upon arrival and limit comments to three minutes to allow time for the board to hear from all who wish to comment.