The Virginia Board of Education's Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (also referred to as the "Standards of Accreditation") are designed to ensure that an effective educational program is established and maintained in all of Virginia's public schools. The Standards of Accreditation: (1) Provide an essential foundation of educational programs of high quality in all schools for all students; (2) Encourage continuous appraisal and improvement of the school program for the purpose of raising student achievement; (3) Foster public confidence; (4) Assure recognition of Virginia's public schools by other institutions of learning; and (5) Establish a means of determining the effectiveness of schools. Revisions to the Standards of Accreditation (SOA) express the Virginia Department of Education's vision of continuous improvement for all schools and for student outcomes aligned with the expectations of higher education and employers. The revised 2018 SOA provides a more comprehensive view of school quality and expands accountability beyond pass rates on Standards of Learning (SOL) tests and high school graduation and completion.