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October 2020
EdEquityVA Monthly Newsletter
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Don't ever miss a newsletter, join our mailing list here. |
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Celebrating Family Engagement In Education Month |
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The Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education recognize November 2020 as Family Engagement In Education Month. In celebration of the value and necessity of strong family, community, and school partnerships, this month provides an opportunity for school leaders to be reflective and direct action towards developing plans and policies to enhance culturally responsive family engagement.
The following resources are meant to support equitable family engagement practices:
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Navigating EdEquityVA - Equity Audit Tool Now Available |
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We are pleased to share that the Navigating EdEquityVA - Equity Audit Tool is now available! This tool is designed to facilitate critical evaluation of education systems and practices through an equity lens. Aligned to Virginia’s 5Cs of EdEquityVA—Continuous Reflection, Compassionate Student and Family Engagement, Curriculum Reframing, Courageous Leadership, and Cultural Responsiveness—the audit tool aids schools and divisions in identifying inequities and establishing equity priorities.
School division leaders are encouraged to dedicate time, and the resources necessary, to conduct a comprehensive equity audit. Its use will establish a data informed understanding of policies, procedures, and current practices that may induce disparate outcomes, opportunity gaps, and non-inclusive school culture and climate. The essential questions, which are based on the core competencies necessary to advance equity, will help leaders gather equity framed data about student achievement, family engagement, personnel competencies, disproportionality, instructional equity, and more. It is our hope that the Navigating EdEquityVA - Equity Audit Tool will support schools and divisions in their efforts to maximize the potential of every Virginia student.
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Virginia Board of Education Approves African American History Content Edits to History & Social Science Standards |
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The state Board of Education approved a series of edits to the commonwealth’s History and Social Science Standards of Learning and SOL Curriculum Framework to implement recommendations from Governor Ralph Northam’s Commission on African American History Education in the Commonwealth.
Incorporating African American history into the larger historical narrative has never been more important. The approval of these edits to the Curriculum Framework begins Virginia’s efforts to change the course of history and social science instruction to ensure inclusive and culturally relevant content in all courses. Most importantly, this collection of edits acknowledge and amplify the resistance, resilience, innovation, and sacrifices of African Americans and their continued contributions to American society.
With the board’s approval of the technical edits, Virginia’s history standards move closer towards being inclusive and providing opportunities for students to engage deeply, drawing connections to its relevance in our contemporary communities. It further supports the instructional practices, and resources to teach history in the Commonwealth and help ensure all Virginia students develop a comprehensive understanding of all of the voices that contribute to Virginia’s story.
Full press release. Commission's final report.
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Virginia Board of Education Approves Proposed Gifted Education Regulations |
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At its most recent meeting, the Virginia Board of Education approved the Virginia Department of Education's proposed revisions to the Gifted Education Regulations.
The new regulations, once adopted, place an emphasis on equitable representation: the identification and development of all students who are capable of high levels of achievement when compared to others of the same age, experience, environment, or cultural background.
To view the presentation of proposed changes, click here.
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#EdEquityVA Webinar Series |
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The Virginia Department of Education offers our monthly EdEquityVA webinar series to provide educators with professional learning opportunities aimed at advancing education equity in Virginia schools.
Upcoming EdEquityVA Webinars
Navigating EdEquityVA: Implementing Virginia’s Equity Framework and Audit
- Leah D. Walker, Director, Office of Equity and Community Engagement, Virginia Department of Education
- October 27, 2020 from 3:00-4:30 PM
Register for the October 27th webinar here.
School PRIDE in the 21st Century: Strategies to Ensure Inclusive School Environments for LGBTQ+ students
- Ted Lewis, Executive Director, Side by Side and John Taylor, Associate Director, Side by Side
- November 10, 2020 from 3:00-4:30 PM
Register for the November 10th webinar here.
Note: The webinar scheduled for October 13, Culturally Responsive Family and Student Engagement: Principles for Successful Family/School Partnerships, has been postponed and will be announced when rescheduled.
For the full 2020 schedule and the most up-to-date information about the #EdEquityVA Webinar Series please visit the Virginia is for Learners website.
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Tools You Can Use
General Equity Resources, Guides, and Webinars
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Multilingual/English Learner Students
LGBTQ+ Students
Racial Equity & Anti-Racism
Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
COVID Response
Other
To access the Office of Equity and Community Engagement's online repository of resources, visit the Virginia is for Learners website.
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