This week I have had the pleasure of seeing the power of engagement through educator and student voice.  Beginning with the Board of Education public hearings for the proposed 2024 English Standards of Learning, teachers, principals, superintendents, content leaders, university partners, parents, and others shared their feedback about the revisions. I hope you will take the opportunity to engage in the remaining in-person or virtual options or submit public comment to VDOE on the proposed English Standards.  

One of this week’s highlights was with the students I met from across the Commonwealth who shared their Virginia History Day projects. I was impressed with their presentation skills and inspired by their passion for their work. Opportunities for students to demonstrate creative and critical thinking skills in authentic ways are happening throughout our school divisions. New Kent students spent time demonstrating these skills with Superintendent Dr. Brian Nichols as part of an upcoming high school series, sharing their post-high school plans and providing advice for future students. In Suffolk Public Schools, over 150 students in the Class of 2027 engaged in a Career and Technical Professional Student Conference. With the theme of “Seeing My Future,” students explored various pathways and reflected on their future.  

Our educators who are working diligently to provide engaging experiences for all students are truly inspiring. To support the Virginia Department of Education’s work to recognize, elevate, and collaborate with educators, Dr. Christine Harris, a Virginia educator with over 30 years of experience in school and state service, will serve as VDOE’s Executive Director of Educator Partnerships. I am excited that we she will be in a dedicated role to lead collaboration with educators and guide cross functional teams to help understand the needs of our educators and create alignment of strategies with the overall mission and vision of the department. 

We also celebrate National School Counseling Week and say thanks to our great school counselors throughout the commonwealth helping our students achieve school success and plan for their future.  Thank you for everything you do for our students.

- Lisa 

Diploma Seals Ordering Process 

In accordance with section 8VAC20-131-51 of the Board of Education’s Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (referred to as the “Standards of Accreditation”), students who meet the requirements for graduation and demonstrate academic excellence and outstanding achievement may be eligible for one or more awards. For a list of available diploma seals and criteria for awarding each, please see VDOE’s Diploma Seals webpage. Graduation requirements are available on the Graduation Requirements webpage.  

School divisions who need to place order for diploma seals for this year’s graduating class should do so through the 2024 Diploma Seal Order Form prior to March 29, 2024. Only one order per division will be accepted.  

Please note that diploma seals do not change in appearance year-to-year. Please use any seals remaining from previous years before ordering new seals this year for students graduating in the spring and summer of 2024.  As a reminder, the Seal of Advanced Mathematics and Technology is no longer available. This seal has been replaced by the STEM seal.   

We ask that divisions accurately report the number of seals awarded in the Student Record Collection as these numbers inform the future production seals. Please be sure to report awarding any STEM, Science, and Environment seals on this report.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Office of Policy at policy@doe.virginia.gov.

As part of Child Find under special education, school divisions are required to have procedures, including timelines, to document the screening of children enrolled in the division, including transfers from out of state (8VAC20-81-50 C.1.). These screenings must occur in the areas of hearing, vision, scoliosis, speech, voice, language, and fine and gross motor functions.  

The updated Required School Screenings Guidance Document for Special Educators provides users with regulatory requirements from the Code of Virginia as well as specific regulations from the Administrative Code at Chapter 81, more commonly known as the Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia. It also includes suggested procedures for completing each of the required screenings. 

School divisions are asked to carefully review this document and use it to make necessary changes to their existing school screenings procedures.  

The General Assembly allocated $600,000 for state fiscal year 2024 to update career and technical education (CTE) equipment to industry standards.  The appropriation provides for competitive innovative program equipment grants for high-demand and fast-growth industry sectors based on data from the Virginia Office of Education Economics (VOEE). 

The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education is seeking CTE Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grants Applications from interested school divisions and CTE Regional Centers. Sixteen competitive grants for $37,500 each will be awarded.  Priority will be given to state-identified challenged schools, the Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) Academies, and the Governor’s Health Sciences Academies.  

The CTE Competitive Innovative Program Equipment Grants Application is due to the Virginia Department of Education by 5 p.m. on March 1, 2024.  The completed application should not exceed five pages— consisting of contact information, an abstract (not to exceed two pages), proposed budget, and the signed statement of assurance. 

VDOE’s Literacy Network Implementation Series is designed to support Division leaders in developing and implementing effective strategies to achieve the goals of the Virginia Literacy Act and increase literacy outcomes for students across Virginia.  

 Session #1 will review the process for leading impactful systems-level change to improve literacy outcomes for all of Virginia’s students. Participants will explore the Division Literacy Plan, deepen their understanding of the components of a coherent literacy strategy, and can develop and/or refine their school division literacy vision while planning to share and invest all stakeholders in this vision. 

Division Teams of up to seven people should be formed and should include the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction or CAO/Director of Instruction, Division Level Literacy Lead (supervisor/coordinator/director), and Principal(s) who can help carry the message back to the Division. Teams should also invite a Director of Special Education, Director of Multilingual Learning/ESL or special populations, or Reading Specialist(s).  Participants will receive professional development points for attending the three-hour long sessions.  

Superintendents or designee may register their team using the regional links HERE.   

Upcoming regional sessions will be held: 

• Region 1: February 13 at 8 a.m. held at Chesterfield Technical Center, 13900 Hull Street Road, Midlothian.
• Region 2: February 29 at 12:30 p.m. held at Mariners Museum, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News.
• Region 3: February 29 at 9 a.m. held at Spotsylvania Boardroom Administrative Services, 8020 River Stone Drive, Fredericksburg.
• Region 4: February 23 at 1 p.m. held at 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church.
• Region 5: February 20 at 9:30 a.m. held at Center 1. 1180 Seminole Trl. Charlottesville, VA.
•  Region 6: February 21 at 9 a.m. held at Salem High School, 400 Spartan Drive, Salem, VA.
•  Region 7: March 7 at 9:30 a.m. held at Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Grand Hall 1 Partnership Cir, Abingdon. 

The Office of Student Assessment is seeking nominations for the 2024 Standards of Learning (SOL) Item Review Committees. Approximately 10-15 members are needed for each committee, and school divisions may nominate one or more representatives for each committee. The Committees will be convened for Mathematics, Reading, Science, and History & Social Science in July 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. For a full list of committees and specific dates, please refer to the SOL Item Review Committee Information document and the SOL Assessment Committees webpage. 

Committee members will be chosen based on grade-level experience and content area expertise; in-depth knowledge of the SOL; instructional/supervisory experience with students of varied learning styles, abilities, and aptitudes, including students with disabilities and students with limited English proficiency; and balanced regional representation.  

All individuals who wish to serve on these committees, including those who have previously served, must apply online using the link found on the SOL Assessment Committees webpage. An application must be completed by Friday, March 22, 2024, for consideration by the Virginia Department of Education.  

The administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2024 is well underway in Virginia and nationally. An essential measurement of student achievement in the United States, NAEP is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation’s students know and can do in various subjects. Representing schools and students across the country, each school participating in NAEP plays an important role by providing an accurate picture of student performance. 

The NAEP 2024 administration window is occurring from January 29 to March 22, 2024. Virginia has 71 school divisions and 276 schools participating in the NAEP 2024 assessment program. We would like to thank the school divisions, school administrators and coordinators, technology coordinators, and the students for all their hard work in helping to make NAEP 2024 a success in Virginia. Unfortunately, due to staffing shortages, NAEP has rescheduled assessment dates for some of the sampled schools and NAEP field staff have contacted the affected schools. We apologize for the inconvenience and scheduling challenges this may cause in the schools, and we appreciate your cooperation and support. 

As part of the series on the Virginia Support Framework and supporting schools in continuous improvement, the Office of School Quality (OSQ) is excited to invite division leaders from divisions with any schools having a Level 2 in Academic Achievement in English, mathematics and/or science for all students, and/or a Level 3 in any area to attend training on the new School Needs Assessment and Comprehensive School Support Plan. This 75-minute webinar will be offered on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, and Thursday, February 15, 2024.  

This technical assistance will give division leaders a review of the continuous improvement process with a specific focus on conducting a school needs assessment and developing a school support plan. An explanation and example will be presented during the webinar to support division leaders in assisting schools on this process. The new School Needs Assessment and Support Plan may meet both federal and state requirements. 

The OSQ has sent correspondence to Division OSQ contacts with the registration links for this webinar. Please refer to that message and share the preferred registration link to all pertinent division personnel. Division leaders may choose to extend invitations to school leaders as well.  

The VDOE Department of Special Populations Office of Special Education Finance and Budget will host the first Annual VDOE Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Fiscal Collaborative Forum on March 14, 2024. The IDEA Fiscal Collaborative Forum will provide the opportunity for special education and finance office IDEA specialists to enhance collaboration, increase knowledge, and build capacity. Invited participants will discuss IDEA Fiscal regulations for the accurate implementation of the approved Annual Plan, fiscal data reporting and state monitoring preparation, and the Virginia Student with Intensive Needs reimbursement process.  

The forum will be held at the Virginia Crossings Hotel and Conference Center, 1000 Virginia Center Parkway, Glen Allen, Virginia 23059, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. Reservations must be made by February 23 for overnight accommodations.  

Registration for the VDOE First Annual IDEA Fiscal Collaborative Forum must be completed by March 1, 2024. A separate registration is required for each attendee. Attendees will receive an agenda and additional information after the registration is completed. 

The revised FFY2022 Title I, Part A and Title I, Part D allocations and Special Terms and Conditions are now available on the Title I, Part A and Title I, Part D webpages.  Please be aware that with Virginia’s highest needs schools supported with the seven percent School Improvement Set Aside currently using all their FFY2022 funds to support their students, less funds are available for broad reallocation.  

These reallocated funds include unused funds from bypass divisions providing equitable services to eligible private schools and reallocated funds not encumbered by September 30, 2023.  Please send any questions to essa@doe.virginia.gov.

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 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