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March 2021
EdEquityVA Monthly Newsletter
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State Board Adds Culturally Responsive Teaching and Equitable Practices to Teacher Standards |
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The Office of Equity and Community Engagement is pleased to share that the Virginia Board of Education has revised its teacher performance standards and evaluation criteria to add a standard on culturally responsive teaching and equitable practices.
The action during the Board’s March 18th meeting aligns to stated goals outlined in Virginia's Education Equity Framework, and carries out legislation approved by the 2021 General Assembly (House Bill 1904 and Senate Bill 1196) requiring that teacher evaluations include an evaluation of cultural competency. The following performance standard was added to the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers: “The teacher demonstrates a commitment to equity and provides instruction and classroom strategies that result in culturally inclusive and responsive learning environments and academic achievement for all students.”
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African American Superintendent’s Advisory Council Issues Recommendations on Equity |
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In September 2020 Superintendent of Public Instruction James Lane appointed African American school leaders, teachers, parents and advocates to the African American Superintendent’s Advisory Council to develop recommendations to promote racial equity in the Commonwealth’s public schools.
At the March 17th Board meeting, the council presented a series of recommendations to address systemic inequities in Virginia’s public schools to the state Board of Education’s Special Committee to Review the Standards of Accreditation. The council’s recommendations for revising Virginia’s Standards of Quality, Standards of Accreditation, Standards of Learning and related school statutes and regulations were included the following:
- Inclusion of a teacher diversity index on the commonwealth’s School Quality Profiles expressing student-teacher racial ratios in the form of a single indicator or composite score related to teacher and student demographics;
- Revision of the Standards of Accreditation to address opportunity gaps reflected in available course options, and to provide equal emphasis on workforce readiness in accrediting schools;
- Inclusion of an indicator on disproportionality in disciplinary outcomes as a factor in school accreditation;
- Inclusion of demographic data on enrollment gifted programs and specialty centers on School Quality Profile reports;
- Establishment of Board of Education model guidance on equitable enrollment procedures for Governor's schools and accelerated programs;
- Establishment a single indicator or composite score related to school climate that includes indicators related to antiracism and culturally responsive and inclusive learning environments;
- Incorporation of racism, racial equity and social justice in the Standards of Learning;
- Establishment by the Board of Education of model policies on equitable enrollment procedures for Governor’s Schools and other accelerated programs;
- Requirement for school divisions to adopt an equity plan and establish an equity advisory committee;
- Requirement for educator preparation programs to include programs of study and experiences that prepare teachers to be culturally responsive educators;
- Requirement for the equitable distribution of experienced teachers among high- and low-poverty schools; and
- Reconfiguration of school division boundaries and school attendance zones to promote integration and advance equitable opportunities for all students.
The full report of the African American Superintendent’s Advisory Council is available on the Virginia Department of Education website.
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Announcing the 2nd Annual Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity |
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The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce the launch of the 2nd Annual Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity. This statewide award will recognize individuals and organizations making significant contributions to the advancement of educational equity. Nominations for The Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity are now being accepted. Please consider nominating an educator, policy maker, school leader, or group whose service and leadership is impacting equity outcomes in the state.
All nomination materials for the 2nd annual Mary Peake Award must be submitted online by May 14, 2021 by 5:00 PM EST.
Winners of the Mary Peake Award for Excellence in Education Equity will be honored virtually at the annual VDOE Summer Education Equity Conference on June 17, 2021. For more information about the nomination process and selection criteria, visit the Virginia is for Learners website. You may also access the nomination form directly.
Named after one of Virginia’s first education equity pioneers, these awards recognize Mrs. Peake’s contribution to equity and her continued inspiration to the field. Peake is known for educating both enslaved and free Black people in the mid-1800s, a time when such an act was illegal. Her fortitude to educate her people, particularly during a time when it was forbidden, demonstrates an understanding of the value of education and a commitment to serving those intentionally marginalized. Mary Peake’s work is a true testament to the ongoing journey towards education equity in the Commonwealth.
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Registration for Upcoming EdEquityVA Webinars |
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Intentional and Strategic Best Practices that Allow ALL Students to Access Postsecondary Opportunity
April 13, 2021 from 3-4:30pm
Register here!
Data Review for Equity, A Deep Dive into One of Virginia’s Equity 5 Cs
April 27, 2021 from 3-4:30pm
Register here!
To view recordings of previous webinars and the most up-to-date information about the #EdEquityVA Webinar Series please visit the Virginia is for Learners website.
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Native Voices Bridging Facts and Falsehoods through Human Impact: Our Past, Present, and Collective Future |
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VDOE History and Social Science Program and Virginia Humanities invite educators to enhance their content knowledge with experiences shared by three Virginia Tribal Leaders: Chief Stephen R. Adkins, Chickahominy Indian Tribe; Chief Kenneth Branham, Monacan Indian Nation; Chief G. Anne Richardson, Rappahannock Indian Tribe. They will share stories of their past, focus today, and hopes for our collective future.
All sessions will be held virtually from 3:30- 5 p.m.
The links include session details and advance registration information:
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Community Informational Sessions for the Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative (VMPI) |
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Families of children enrolled in public schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia and community members are invited to attend a series of informational sessions on the Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative (VMPI). VMPI is a joint initiative between the Virginia Department of Education, the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia, and the Virginia Community College System that seeks to equitably redefine mathematics course options for students in the Commonwealth to ensure that they are relevant to their postsecondary aspirations.
The committee is hosting a series of informational sessions meant to talk about VMPI with Virginia families, students, and community members. These sessions will provide an opportunity for the public to ask questions.
The session dates and focus topics are:
Tuesday, April 13, 2021 - How does VMPI affect VA children’s futures?
Tuesday, April 27, 2021 - Essential Concepts in grades 8 - 10
Tuesday, May 25, 2021 - Advanced Pathways in grades 11 - 12
All sessions will be live streamed on the VDOE YouTube channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrbxl9wHScrWKWIEoUWNIfQ. Each session will begin at 6:30 pm, starting with a 20 minute presentation from members of the VMPI planning committees.
Those wishing to submit questions can do so at this link.
Each session will be recorded and shared on the VMPI Website.
To learn more about VMPI read the attached infographic about the initiative.
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Tools You Can Use
General Equity Resources, Guides, and Webinars
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Relevant Superintendent's Memos
Multilingual/English Learner Students
Sign up for VDOE's English Learner Instruction Newsletter
New Series on Supporting Language Development for Multilingual/English Learners in Early Childhood: To support a focus on language development within the early childhood years, VDOE’s Early Childhood and English Learner Instruction Programs are collaborating to provide interested early childhood caregivers and educators with a monthly webinar series, beginning fall 2021, that will focus on exploring best practices and key resources to support language and literacy development for multilingual students from birth until age five. Two preview sessions will take place this spring:
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April 28, 2021; 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Participants will learn about early language development standards available in English and Spanish via WIDA, a tool for assessing and monitoring language and guidance on how to engage in conversations that focus on students' linguistic assets, progress, and needs with families and other early childhood professionals.
Social/Emotional Wellbeing
Racial Equity & Anti-Racism
Culturally Responsive Practice
COVID Response
LGBTQ+ Students
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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