Virginia is well known as a leading state in the nationwide drive to develop high standards and accountability measures for public schools. But its standards and accountability initiative, called Standards of Learning (SOL), has also been criticized for failing to make other needed educational changes to ensure that schools and students can succeed. Under former Gov. (and Republican National Committee Chairman) Jim Gilmore, Virginia undermined the revenue base for public schools just as the SOL system was being implemented. For many Virginians, it looked like the acronym SOL might have a very different and profane meaning.

But now New Democrat Governor Mark Warner is acting to change the trajectory of the standards-based movement. Rather than walking away from standards-based reform -- as many powerful education constituencies in the state had hoped -- Warner is instead taking steps to make sure that standards work for all students. For example, in an initiative called Project Graduation, Warner has launched a series of efforts aimed at giving substantial help to students in the first class fully subject to SOL requirements, which include a passing grade on proficiency tests in English and other subjects.

"The great majority of students in the class of 2004 are 'on track' for graduation," said Warner in a June 3 speech at a public high school in Chesterfield County, Virginia. "But we must be prepared to walk that extra mile with students who need help and are willing to do their part."

Project Graduation consists of four pilot projects:

• A series of summer academies in three locations in Southside Virginia (a relatively low-income and rural area of the state) for about 100 students who are approaching their last chance to pass SOL tests. The academies will be staffed by some of the state's best teachers, and will offer three-week intensive courses, especially in English, a mandatory SOL subject.
• Online tutorials next fall for 200 students needing immediate help in English, math, social studies and science.
• More systematic online distance learning courses this summer for 100 students preparing to retake English SOL tests.
• A "best practices" grant to help Arlington County share its "case manager" approach for working with students and families to improve performance on SOL tests. Arlington will develop a web site and training materials on its initiative.

Warner's plan is to carefully measure the relative success of these pilot projects, and if results warrant, to expand them into statewide initiatives in coming years.

"Virginia has been steadily increasing academic standards since 1995," said Warner in his June 3 speech. "Project Graduation represents our commitment to build on this push for greater accountability by providing needed resources and innovative ideas to help school divisions provide help to the students who need it, regardless of how many or how few."

At a time when too much of the education policy debate is still dominated by those who demand more resources without accountability, or more accountability without resources, it's good to see that Warner is committed to achieving the kind of balance most likely to create a platform to lift students toward higher achievement.