Earlier this week I had the opportunity to engage with principals and board members from the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals and the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals. I am thankful for their thought-partnership as we work together to support, inspire, and celebrate Virginia’s leaders, educators, and students, and appreciate the leadership our principals bring to Virginia’s schools each day.  

On Wednesday, the Virginia State Board of Education received for First Review the proposed revised 2024 English Standards of Learning. These Standards are aligned to science-based reading research which is essential to improving literacy for all students. We know that reading increases vocabulary, improves communication, helps students think critically, and enriches the imagination. I encourage you review the standards and I look forward to your feedback on the draft English Standards of Learning at one of the regional in-person public hearings or virtual sessions. More information on those hearings is in this newsletter. 

Each of us plays an essential role in the success of educating Virginia’s students. This support extends beyond the classroom walls to every corner of the schoolhouse beginning with breakfast in our cafeterias. Studies show that well-nourished students are better prepared to learn and committed folks like Margaret Dawson, Cumberland’s School Nutrition Coordinator, know this well. School leaders understand the ongoing challenge of finding suppliers for school-sized milk servings, and with Margaret’s leadership, Cumberland County Public Schools has partnered with United Dairy to bring fresh milk to all their classrooms starting next week. Programs like this play a critical role in student wellness and academic achievement!  

My team and I look forward in February to learning more from our school divisions and schools about the innovative ways you are implementing strategies and inspiring everyone to read, attend school daily, and elevating your outstanding educators.  

-Lisa 

All divisions opting into Lexia’s All In support have access to live training as well as on-demand professional development content to learn how to successfully implement Lexia Core5 Reading and Lexia PowerUp Literacy programs. Explore the Lexia’s Professional Development one-pager to access training calendars, sign up for live training sessions, and access pre-recorded professional development content. 

Visit Lexia for Virginia: ALL In Tutoring for more information and additional resources. 

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Sign up for Zearn Math Training Sessions

School divisions that have opted into Zearn Math for Virginia ALL In Tutoring are invited to join live educator and leader training sessions with the Zearn team. These sessions are designed to help you launch your Zearn Math implementation for high-dosage tutoring. Register now for an upcoming session. 

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ALL In Funds Carryover Across Multiple Fiscal Years

The Virginia Board of Education will hold public hearings on the proposed 2024 English Standards of Learning. The Standards of Learning identify the essential content, processes, and skills for grade levels and subject courses. The proposed 2024 English Standards of Learning can be accessed on the Virginia Department of Education’s website. Public comment regarding the proposed 2024 English Standards of Learning may be offered through public hearings or public comment through the Virginia Department of Education website until March 1, 2024.   

Each in-person public hearing will begin at 6:30 p.m. Registration of speakers will begin at 6:10 p.m. Speakers will have three minutes to speak and should bring copies of their comments for the Board of Education. Virtual public hearings will be held at a variety of times to accommodate public participation. In case of inclement weather, in-person hearings will transition to virtual and notice will be given and registration links provided on the Review and Revision of the 2017 English SOL page. Public hearings will be held at the following locations and times:   

• Monday, February 5, 2024   
  In-Person 6:30 p.m.  
  Robert Russa Moton Museum Auditorium  
  900 Griffin Boulevard  
  Farmville, VA  
  Directions to this location   
• Tuesday, February 6, 2024   
  Virtual 6:30 p.m.  
  Registration Link   
• Monday, February 12, 2024   
  Virtual 9:00 a.m.  
  Registration Link  
• February 13, 2024  
  In-Person 6:30 p.m.  
  Christopher Newport University  
  Torggler Fine Arts Center, Room 102  
  Newport News, VA  
  Directions to this location   
• February 15, 2024   
  In-Person 6:30 p.m.  
  James Madison University   
  Memorial Hall Room 6110  
  395 S. High Street  
  Harrisonburg, VA  
  Directions to this location   
• February 16, 2024  
  Virtual 11:30 a.m.  
  Registration Link   
• February 20, 2024 
  In-Person 6:30 p.m.  
  Thomas R. Fulgham Conference Center  
  Chesterfield Career & Technical Center  
  13900 Hull Street  
  Midlothian, VA  
  Directions to Location  
• February 21, 2024
  In-Person 6:30 p.m. 
  Southwest Higher Education Center  
  Executive Auditorium  
  1 Partnership Circle  
  Abingdon, VA  
  Directions to Location  
• February 22, 2024  
  Virtual 11:30 a.m.  
  Registration Link   
• February 26, 2024  
  In-Person 6:30 p.m.  
  Laurel Ridge Community College  
  Barkman Family Conference Center, Hazel Hall  
  Warrenton, VA  
  Directions to Location  

The Virginia Department of Education has created the Office of Behavioral Health and Wellness to support Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Right Help Right Now initiative and assist schools in addressing the rise in student mental health and behavioral challenges since the pandemic.  

Virginia’s students and schools are facing different issues than they faced before the pandemic, and VDOE has redesigned several positions across the department to create the Office of Behavioral Health and Wellness. This office brings a multifaceted approach to better equip educators, staff and parents in supporting our students and responding when a crisis occurs. 

The VDOE Office of Behavioral Health and Wellness will assist schools and divisions through teams of professionals focused on improving the capacity of school divisions to address and improve overall student behavioral health through three key areas:  

• Behavioral Health & Instructional Support, focusing on the work of school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and strengthening school-community partnerships;  
• School Health & Wellness, focusing on the work of school health personnel, school nurses, Medicaid coordinators, and centering on issues such as opioid and drug use abatement; 
• Student Services, focusing on the work of homeless and foster care liaisons, military school liaison officers and military families, school climate and discipline specialists, and postsecondary access providers.   

The office will begin work immediately on a statewide behavioral health framework and will be seeking input from a variety of stakeholders. For additional information on the work of this office contact Joseph Wharff, Director, at Joseph.Wharff@doe.virginia.gov. 

Spring Local CLASS Observation Window Now Open

Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Child Care Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff
Contact: Lucy Mitzner, Quality Improvement Specialist, VQB5@doe.virginia.gov

The spring local CLASS observation window for VQB5 opened on January 22 and runs through May 31. In VQB5, local CLASS observations happen in the fall and then again in the spring for every classroom. These observations provide teachers with an opportunity to recognize growth and provides program leaders with a complete reflection of what children are experiencing throughout the year.   

Information about protocols and procedures for Local CLASS observations in VQB5 can be found in the VDOE Local Observation Guidebook.  

On December 14, 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) shared the 2022 U.S. Census data being used to calculate the FFY 2024 (school year 2024-2025) Title I, Part A, preliminary allocations to local educational agencies (LEAs). One of the reasons USED provides these data is to enable states and LEAs to review and verify their accuracy. The Census Bureau requests that corrections to the data be submitted in cases where non-statistical errors can be documented. The period to review the Census data closes on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. 

Please closely review the following attachments to this correspondence: