Newport News Curriculum Standards & Testing Policies

Education Virginia 4 Minutes Read · published February 20, 2026 Flag of Virginia

Newport News, Virginia public education follows the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) and state testing programs. This guide explains how state standards are implemented locally by Newport News Public Schools, which departments enforce testing and accreditation policy, where to find official forms, and how parents, students, and educators can report concerns or appeal decisions. It summarizes enforcement pathways and practical steps to request accommodations or raise compliance issues within the Newport News division and with the Virginia Department of Education.Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL)[1]

Overview of Standards

Virginia’s SOL set statewide learning objectives in core subjects; the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) publish the standards and assessment frameworks. Local implementation — curriculum pacing, instruction, and classroom assessments — is managed by Newport News Public Schools and shaped by division policy and school board direction.VDOE assessment program and accountability[2]

Local schools adapt state standards into division curricula and schedules.

Implementation & Local Policy

Newport News Public Schools (NNPS) issues local curriculum guides, assessment calendars, and testing notices to families and staff. The division is responsible for administering state assessments, communicating schedules, and implementing approved accommodations for eligible students under state rules. For division-specific timelines, policies, and contacts consult the NNPS assessment or testing pages.Newport News Public Schools[3]

  • Division publishes testing calendars, generally before testing windows.
  • Accommodations follow VDOE guidance and require documentation from the school division.
  • Questions about schedules or accommodations are handled by NNPS Assessment Services or the school principal.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement for curriculum and testing compliance is primarily administrative rather than criminal: the Virginia Board of Education and VDOE oversee accreditation and testing integrity, while Newport News Public Schools enforces division policies and student-level requirements. Specific monetary fines for noncompliance with curriculum or testing administration are not specified on the cited page and therefore not listed here. Where applicable, attendance or truancy enforcement and related penalties are handled under state compulsory attendance laws and local juvenile and domestic relations court procedures; specific fines or penalties are not specified on the cited page.

Monetary fines for curriculum or testing noncompliance are not specified on the cited official pages.
  • Enforcers: Virginia Department of Education for state rules; Newport News Public Schools and the School Board for local policy and administration.
  • Inspections and audits: VDOE conducts program reviews and data audits under state assessment rules.
  • Appeals and reviews: division appeals to the School Board and administrative appeals to VDOE or the State Board of Education; time limits for appeals are not specified on the cited page.
  • Non-monetary sanctions: corrective action plans, accreditation decisions, required remediation, or administrative findings against a division; court actions relate to attendance matters.

Applications & Forms

The VDOE and NNPS publish guidance and forms for testing accommodations and appeals. Specific form names, numbers, deadlines, and fees for Newport News are either posted on the division pages or managed at the school level; if a required form or fee is not shown on the official page, it is not specified on the cited page. Contact NNPS Assessment Services or your school for the current application forms and submission procedures.

Request accommodations early—schools will advise required documentation.

Key Violations and Typical Outcomes

  • Improper test administration — outcome: corrective action, retesting, or administrative findings (details not specified on the cited page).
  • Failure to provide documented accommodations — outcome: program review and required remedy (details not specified on the cited page).
  • Missed assessment windows due to scheduling errors — outcome: make-up testing per division/VDOE rules (specifics not specified on the cited page).

FAQ

What are the Standards of Learning (SOLs)?
The SOLs are Virginia’s statewide academic standards and the basis for state assessments; the VDOE publishes standards and assessment frameworks.[1]
Can a parent opt a child out of state testing?
Parental opt-out policies are determined by state and division rules; specific opt-out procedures or consequences are not specified on the cited page and should be discussed with NNPS or referenced on official VDOE guidance.[2]
How do I request accommodations for my student?
Contact your student’s school and NNPS Assessment Services to start the documented accommodation process; required forms and documentation are provided by the division or school.

How-To

  1. Contact your school counselor or principal to report the need for assessment accommodations and request the division process.
  2. Gather required documentation (IEP, 504 plan, medical documentation) and submit it to NNPS Assessment Services as instructed by the school.
  3. Follow the division’s review; if denied, request a written decision and file an appeal with the School Board or seek guidance from VDOE on further review procedures.
Start accommodation requests well before testing windows to allow review.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] Virginia Department of Education — Standards of Learning (SOL)
  2. [2] Virginia Department of Education — Assessment program and accountability
  3. [3] Newport News Public Schools — official division site

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