N.Va. schools get free pass on accreditation

Several schools in Northern Virginia did so well on their state standardized exams that they’ve been rewarded with a free pass from meeting accreditation for the next three years. While the Loudoun and Prince William public schools figure out exactly what the leeway will mean for their curriculum, Fairfax County’s superintendent and other school chiefs across the state are fighting for more direct flexibility with the Standards of Learning exams.

The Virginia Department of Education said the 54 schools across the commonwealth automatically receiving three-years of accreditation will still have to meet other state and federal benchmarks for progress, and students still must take the state exams.