Nominations for the 2023 Standards of Learning Special Test Forms Review Committee
VDOE is accepting nominations through September 8, for participation in the 2023 SOL Special Test Forms Committee. This committee will be responsible for reviewing SOL test items on the braille and large-print test forms for students who are visually impaired. Committee nominees should be educators with expertise in the instruction of students with visual impairments and experience with the administration of braille and large-print test forms. This meeting will be held in-person in Richmond on October 24-26, 2023. All individuals who wish to serve on this committee, including those who have previously served, must submit an online application. For details about this opportunity, see the 2023 Special Test Forms Review Committee Information Document.
Instructional Material Reviewers Needed
VDOE is seeking additional educators to serve on review teams in response to the high volume of applications from core, supplemental, and intervention literacy programs. Teachers, reading specialists, instructional coaches, administrators, division leaders, as well as retired educators are encouraged to apply. Reviewers will be trained to conduct curricular reviews using rubrics that align with the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA). Interested candidates may apply on the VLP website. To learn more about the review process and mandatory training, see the Reviewer Job Description.
CHOICE Opportunity
CHOICE is a USED-funded initiative administered by Virginia Ed Strategies that is providing high school math, science, computer science, and career and technical education teachers with funds to pay for self-selected professional learning. Those eligible and interested should complete the online CHOICE interest form today! Funds are available to cover the costs of substitutes, classroom materials, and other associated expenses. Read more about incentives for teachers and schools!
What Really Works In Education Conference
This collaboration with W&M SURN, T/TAC, and 2TEACH is a two-day conference that offers strategies, tips, and practical techniques for high-leverage instructional practices. This workshop is designed for K-12 General & Special Education teachers, central office specialists, and school leaders. It will be held at William & Mary School of Education on October 10 and 11. For more details and to register, visit SURN.
2023 Agriculture in the Classroom Grant Application
This grant provides educators an opportunity to receive funding for a variety of creative projects that increase student understanding of the source of their food and fiber. Educators with an innovative idea to connect their students to agriculture using school gardens, STEM concepts, and/or unique agricultural experiences are encouraged to apply. Grants may be requested for up to $500. Applications are due by October 13.
Driver Education Updates
Pursuant to Senate Bill 78, (2022), Virginia Code § 22.1-205 was amended to require all state-approved public, private, and commercial driver training schools to add a 90-minute parent/student component to the classroom driver education curriculum. Following are links to the Partners for Safe Teen Driving 90-Minute Parent/Student curriculum and other instructional materials and the Parental Opt-Out Form for parents who do not live in planning district 8. The Driver Education Certificate of Completion (DEC-1 “green card”) was revised to reflect amendments to § 22.1-205, and the color of the certificate was changed from green to orange. Copies of the revised Driver Education Certificate of Completion (DEC-1 “Orange Cards”) and the 45-Hour Parent/Teen Guides will be shipped to schools in September.
Required VLA Reading Specialist Training Sessions
As part of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA), all reading specialists are required to receive training in evidence-based literacy instruction (EBLI) aligned with science-based reading research (SBRR). This training series will prepare reading specialists to support the implementation of the VLA. All reading specialists must attend, even if they have received other EBLI/SBRR training because the training will fully equip them to support the local implementation of the VLA. Remaining dates:
Fairfax/Alexandria: August 24 &25, Richmond: August 29 &30, Newport News: September 7 & 8.
Registration: ELA Coordinators have received an email with specific details on how to register their reading specialists for the training. School divisions will be responsible for registering their staff. For more important updates in literacy, see the May 18, 2023 Superintendent Memo 098-23.
StellarXplorers National Space Design Competition
This competition challenges teams of students to put their skills to the test in all-things space design. Open to students in grades 6-12, teams must solve orbit planning, satellite component, and launch vehicle selection scenarios presented in a series of online competition rounds. The last day to register is October 17. A registration fee of $200 is waived for Title I schools, all-girl teams, and JROTC, CAP, and USNSCC teams.
Free Asynchronous PD Courses for School Counselors
Virginia Career VIEW: Vital Information for Education and Work, has partnered with Virtual Virginia to offer three new FREE asynchronous professional learning courses. These courses are of particular interest to school counselors and will introduce educators to career resources and activities that they can use with their students. Upon successful completion of any of the New to View courses a certificate will be awarded worth five hours of professional learning. For more information/to enroll, click on one or more of the following links:
New to View: Virginia Career View Grades K-5 (2023-2024)
New to View: Virginia Career View Grades 6-8 (2023-2024)
New to View: Virginia Career View Grades 9-12 (2023-2024)
Questions? Please contact Steven Sproles, Virtual Virginia Professional Learning Coordinator.
ExploraVision STEM Competition
ExploraVision is a science competition for K–12 students of all interest, skill, and ability levels from the National Science Teaching Association. The competition encourages students to combine their imaginations with the tools of science to create and explore a vision of a future technology. Competition categories include grades K-3, grade 4-6, grades 7-9, and grades 10-12. Projects must be submitted by January 31, 2024.
Changes to Certain Testing Requirements for Writing
On Thursday, July 27, 2023, the Virginia Board of Education approved a proposal that changes the expectations for writing assessments for grade 5 and grade 8 students. Specifically, the Board approved the elimination of the grade 8 SOL Writing test beginning in spring 2024 when the new integrated reading and writing items become part of the grades 5, 8, and end-of-course (EOC) SOL Reading tests. The Board also approved the Guidelines for Local Alternative Assessments: 2023-2024 and Beyond. The updated guidelines recommend that school divisions use the integrated reading and writing assessment component that will be administered as part of the grade 5 SOL Reading test beginning in spring 2024 to meet the assessment requirements for Grade 5 Writing. Additional details will be provided to school divisions later in August.
Change in the Fall 2023 Grades 3-8 Reading and Mathematics Virginia Growth Assessments
In response to concerns about the growth assessments received from school division leaders and other stakeholders in the Commonwealth, VDOE leadership directed the student assessment staff, in collaboration with our state assessment contractor Pearson, to revise the Fall 2023 Growth Assessments so that students will take assessments this fall that will primarily measure reading and mathematics content from the student’s previous grade level. For example, students enrolled in grade 5 mathematics in fall 2023 will take growth assessments based on grade 4 mathematics content. This is a change from the fall 2022 growth assessments where students were assessed on reading and mathematics content primarily from their current grade level - content they had not yet been taught. The change in content measured by the fall 2023 growth assessments is intended to ensure that teachers, parents, and students receive feedback on how well a student has mastered content that may be needed for success in the coming school year and to identify areas where a student may need additional supports. For students taking the test online, the testing system can adapt with test questions that are one grade level above or one grade level below the student’s previous grade level as appropriate for the student. The online tests for grade 3 and grade 4 reading and mathematics in fall 2023 will include test items primarily based on grade 3 and grade 2 content with items based on grade 4 content also available. Students who need a paper test will complete a test with all questions based on the student’s prior grade level. Students enrolled in grade 3 and students enrolled in grade 4 completing a paper test will take the grade 3 paper growth assessment. The test blueprints for the revised Fall 2023 Reading and Mathematics Growth Assessments are available online on the Growth Assessment webpage on the VDOE website.
Online Programs Available
Join Radford University School of Teacher Education and Leadership for a virtual information session about the following 100% online programs: Curriculum & Instruction (M.S.); Mathematics Education (M.S. & Certificate); Ed Leadership (M.S.); Literacy Ed (M.S. & Certificate); Special Ed (M.S.), Education (Ed.D.) Reduced tuition rate for Virginia Educators pursuing master’s level work is available and some programs have grant funding opportunities.
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Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Grant
Applications are being accepted for the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund Grant. Priorities for the fund include activities that supplement and enhance environmental training for educators, expand environmental educational opportunities and use of educational resources, and increase the involvement of students and the public in Bay restoration activities. The deadline for submission is on September 25, 2023 at 5 p.m.
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