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Dear Educators, Division Leaders, Families, Community Members and Partners-
On behalf of the Virginia Department of Education and Governor Northam, Secretary Qarni and I would like to officially welcome you to the 2020-2021 school year! For a variety of reasons, the time since this spring has been especially challenging. Our mantra at the Department of Education, Virginia is For Learners, guides our work and is infused with the core values we've adopted at the Department: inclusion, excellence, service, and optimism. It's that value of optimism that I hope inspires you in the coming months.
Many of our school divisions have already started the school year, setting the tone for those in other parts of the Commonwealth that are preparing to do the same. As you settle in to the 2020-2021 academic year by adopting in-person, hybrid, and virtual plans based on the health conditions in your area, we know it will look very different but that’s okay because we are in this together! Learning is an essential part of our society's progress and we stand committed in supporting you through this time. We realize that this has been a very difficult time for families, students, educators, and school divisions as you’ve had to face the tough decisions of how to equitably and safely reopen schools in this ongoing pandemic. We can’t say how proud we are of your flexibility and resilience. We extend our sincerest gratitude to you all.
With varying degrees of impact from COVID-19 experienced across the Commonwealth there is no one-size-fits-all solution that meets the needs of every community, so instruction is happening in lots of new ways and in a variety of methods. And because of this, it’s critically important for us to be cognizant that challenges with equity have only been intensified during this pandemic. If nothing else, it’s allowed us all to be mindful of how equity can become a powerful lens for decision making – particularly in the delivery of this year's new lessons. Through difficult conversations in your schools and communities, together we can reflect and grow in this work to make positive changes that will maximize the potential of our future-ready learners. Every student deserves it!
Remember to visit our website and stay engaged with us on social media so that you are receiving the most up-to-date information regarding school division plans and guidance from state officials. We've updated our website with a lot of new resources available specifically designed to help answer questions and navigate these unprecedented times.
Welcome back to school, Virginia…it’s time to #Return2LearnVA!
-James
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