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News from Across the Commonwealth
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Fifth-grade students at Powhatan Elementary recently participated in a narrative project where they wrote books in English class and read them to Pre-K and fourth grade classes. What a wonderful way for these young authors to showcase their creativity and storytelling skills! #EverybodyReadsVA |
Appomattox County High School recently hosted an incentive day for its students as a way to encourage positive attendance, behavior, and academic performance! Students participated in an entertaining and interactive experience by playing "The Price is Right" game show. #AttendanceMattersVA
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Dr. Lisa Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction
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I hope that spring break allowed everyone time to recharge and reflect on the student-focused work that is occurring to ensure students are on track and a step ahead. As I travel around the Commonwealth and see students learning to read or experiencing science in outdoor classrooms or performing in a fine arts classroom, I am humbled by the focused learning opportunities of children throughout Virginia. I have seen time and again when our teachers and leaders are a catalyst for positive change in the lives of our students. Last Friday, I heard students in Suffolk share the importance of their teachers. The students reminded me and their teachers that Virginia educators are making a difference!
I am so proud of the work our educators have been doing to create meaningful connections that support our students and their families. Stafford County’s partnership with the University of Mary Washington and Rockingham County’s partnership with James Madison University have created innovative Lab Schools that provide career exposure through real-world problem-solving. It is exciting that our educators have thoughtfully created pathways to strengthen the talent pipelines to help meet current and emerging workforce needs. We know these pathways begin with setting a strong foundation, so I am delighted with the work our elementary educators do to motivate our students to read, read, and read some more! Educators at J.B. Fisher Elementary, Richmond Public Schools, along with their community, provided students with new books to add to their home libraries. Even the VDOE staff joined the fun to encourage and model the importance of reading with our schools! New Kent County Public Schools’ Quinton Elementary spent time reading with the Office of Instructional Services and Sussex County Public Schools’ Sussex Central Elementary students were joined by staff from the English team!
This month, the Board of Education is holding a series of eight listening sessions across the Commonwealth to provide an opportunity to comment on the development of Virginia’s school performance and support framework. In addition, the Department is spending time with educator stakeholder groups to get focused feedback on the next steps in designing the performance and support framework. I hope all educators will join me at one of these many opportunities to share their thoughts and elevate their voice about this work because of the invaluable role they play in helping our students succeed. Virginia educators are the difference-makers for our students, and I continue to be so inspired by your work!
-Lisa
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News from the Virginia Board of Education
School Performance And Support Framework Listening Sessions
Article: 2024-13-127
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Non-teaching staff
Contact: Katie Carroll, Deputy Superintendent of Student Performance and Support, Katie.Carroll@doe.virginia.gov
At their March Board meeting, the State Board of Education moved forward on their ongoing efforts to revise the Standards of Accreditation, with an intention of creating a school performance and support framework component. The Board has planned Listening Sessions in April across the Commonwealth to help facilitate public engagement to further the development of a school performance framework through Virginia’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) State Plan.
These listening sessions are intended to inform the Board and facilitate public input focused on the new school performance and support framework. The sessions are being coordinated by the Hunt Institute, an independent, non-profit organization.
Parents, educators, and interested citizens are invited to attend the session in their region and comment on their expectations for the new school performance and support framework. All Listening Sessions will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 7:30 p.m. Meetings will continue on the following dates:
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Region
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Date
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Host
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Region 1
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Monday, April 8
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Chesterfield County Public Schools
Chesterfield Technical Center
13900 Hull Street Rd
Midlothian, VA 23112
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Region 2
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Tuesday, April 9
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Christopher Newport University
Torggler Fine Arts Center (TFAC)
1 University Pl
Newport News, VA 23606
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Region 3
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Thursday, April 11
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Fredericksburg City Public Schools
James Monroe High School
2300 Washington Ave
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
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Region 6
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Wednesday, April 17
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Salem Museum
801 E Main St
Salem, VA 24153
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Region 7
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Thursday, April 18
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Washington County Public Schools
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
1 Partnership Cir
Abingdon, VA 24210
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Public Hearings for the Proposed DRAFT 2024 Computer Science Standards of Learning
Article: 2024-14-134
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Teachers
Contact: Keisha Tennessee, Computer Science Coordinator, Keisha.Tennesse@doe.virgina.gov
The Virginia Board of Education will hold public hearings on the proposed revised Computer Science Standards of Learning. The Standards of Learning identify the essential content, processes, and skills for grade levels and subject courses.
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News from our Content Specialists and Special Education
VA Council on Women’s 13th Annual STEAM-H Essay Contest
Article: 2024-09-082
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: women@governor.virginia.gov
The Virginia Council on Women’s (VCW) 13th Annual STEAM-H Essay Contest focuses on supporting female Virginia high school seniors by providing financial scholarships to youth across the Commonwealth. The VCW is a volunteer, governor appointed council whose statutory purpose is to help women reach their full potential and maximize their contributions as wage earners and citizens to the Commonwealth and society. Over the past 12 years, the VCW has awarded more than $185,000 in scholarships to deserving students pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, Computer Arts, Math, and Healthcare.
The VCW will provide one merit-based and one need-based scholarship to female high school seniors in each of the five geographic regions across the Commonwealth through a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Healthcare (STEAM-H) essay contest. This year, merit-based scholarships will be awarded based on the quality of the essay submitted and the need-based scholarships will be awarded based on the quality of the essay and the individual's self-identified financial need. Award amounts may vary and are determined by the Council annually.
The STEAM-H Essay Contest deadline to submit is April 7, 2024.
Literacy Network Implementation Series Session #3
Article: 2024-14-135
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Jill Nogueras, Associate Director of K-12 English Literacy, Jill.Nogueras@doe.virginia.gov
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 #3 will unpack the VLA Implementation Playbook so that participants can understand how it can be used to support efforts. Additionally, teams will explore the enabling conditions for successful VLA and HQIM implementation (including structures, expectations, teacher and leader development, investment, and more) and analyze which conditions for success are already in place within their division, and which to prioritize planning for this spring. Lastly, school divisions will continue developing their Division Literacy Plan with their teams, using guidance from the Playbook.
Attendance is essential for designated teams to successfully implement the Virginia Literacy Act. We look forward to hosting division teams at the dates and locations posted below.
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Region
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Date
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Time
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Location
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Region One
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April 19, 2024
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8:00-11:00 a.m.
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Beulah Recreation Center
6901 Hopkins Road
North Chesterfield, VA 23234
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Region Two
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April 29, 2024
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10:00-1:00 p.m.
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Plaza Annex
641 Carriage Hill Road
Virginia Beach, 23452
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Region Three
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April 18, 2024
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9:00-12:00 p.m.
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Spotsylvania Boardroom
Administrative Services 8020 River Stone Drive Fredericksburg, VA 22407
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Region Four
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April 9, 2024
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1:00-4:00 p.m.
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Meridian High School
121 Mustang Alley
Falls Church, VA 22043
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Region Five
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April 16, 2024
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9:30-12:30 p.m.
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The Plecker Center
Blue Ridge Community College
One College Ln.
Weyers Cave, VA 24486
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Region Six
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April 10, 2024
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9:00-12:00 p.m.
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Salem High School
400 Spartan Drive
Salem, VA 24153
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Region Seven
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April 25, 2024
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9:30-12:30 p.m.
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Southwest VA Higher Ed Center
Grand Hall
1 Partnership Circle Abingdon, VA 24210
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Region Eight
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April 25, 2024
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9:00-12:00 p.m.
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Estes Community Center
316 N. Main Street
Chase City, VA 23924
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Announcing the Career and Technical Education Experience Works 2024: Pathways for the Future Conference
Article: 2024-14-133
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Sharon Acuff, Program Administration and Workforce Development Coordinator, CTE@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 625-3592.
The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education is pleased to offer a live virtual professional development opportunity for Career and Technical Education (CTE) High-Quality Work-Based Learning (HQWBL) stakeholders, “CTE Experience Works 2024: Pathways for the Future,” to be held on June 26-27, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. This professional development opportunity brings together business, industry, and educators to focus on building positive HQWBL experiences for CTE students throughout the Commonwealth. The targeted audience includes CTE Work-Based Learning (WBL) coordinators, CTE teachers and administrators, school counselors, career coaches, and business and industry leaders.
Online pre-registration is open and there is no registration fee to attend. After your pre-registration is received, additional information regarding workshop sessions’ registration will be forthcoming.
Improved Office of Licensure Phone Line
Article: 2024-14-131
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Directors of Human Resources, Licensure Specialists
Contact: Bryan Jackson, Director of Licensure, Bryan.Jackson@doe.virginia.gov
In an effort to improve our customer service, the Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Licensure is pleased to announce a new telephone answering service that will provide callers with options to direct calls to a licensure representative, reliable voicemail service, and a hold queue that answers calls in the order in which it was received with regular wait time updates. We hope the addition of this new phone service improves the customer experience for all our stakeholders and provides you with the personal connection and information that you require. The Office of Licensure phone number is 804-786-2302.
2024 English Standards of Learning Posted
Article: 2024-14-130
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Jill Nogueras, Associate Director of K-12 English Literacy, Jill.Nogueras@doe.virginia.gov
The Virginia Board of Education approved the 2024 English Standards of Learning at their March 28, 2024 business meeting. We appreciate all the educators across the Commonwealth who shared their expertise and participated in the process which began in 2023 Additional resources will be posted as they become available.
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Supporting Early Childhood Care & Education
Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) Web-based Data Collection and Spring Application for Fiscal Year 2025
Article: 2024-14-132
Audience: Superintendents, VPI Coordinators
Contact: Tiffanie Meehling, Associate Director of PreK Programs, Tiffanie.Meehling@doe.virginia.gov
The Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) Spring Application will open on April 8 and is due May 15. Please take the time to thoroughly review this memo (Word) before submitting your division’s VPI Spring Application via the Single Sign-on for Web System (SSWS) portal. This is the only opportunity to accept VPI slots for 4-year-olds as well as apply for additional slots, 3-year-old slots, and Community Provider slots. Through a focus on advancing effective interactions and instruction, VPI programs help ensure all Virginia children enter school fully prepared for success. The VPI Guidelines (Word) describe all programmatic requirements for VPI and are available on the Virginia Department of Education’s website.
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Division Finance and Budgeting
Updated Guidance: Parentally-Placed Private School Proportionate Share Expenditures
Article: 2024-14-129
Audience: Superintendents, Division Finance and Special Education Staff
Contact: Shalonda Lewis, Special Education Financial Data Specialist, Shalonda.Lewis@doe.virginia.gov
The VDOE has been provided with updated guidance about conflicting interpretations of expenditure requirements for parentally-placed private school proportionate share of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Funds. Based on this guidance, parentally-placed private school proportionate share requirements are distinct for IDEA Part B Sections 611 and 619 Funds. As such, expenditures incurred must be charged in accordance with amounts calculated for each Part B Sections.
The Code of Federal Regulations, 34 CFR 300.133(a), indicates that to meet the requirements of § 300.132(a), each local educational agency (LEA) must adhere to the required formula for special education and related services (including direct services) to parentally-placed private school children with disabilities. The requirements must be met separately and cannot be pooled and spent in different proportions between Sections 611 and 619. Therefore, the practice of the pooling of Proportionate Set-Aside (PSA) expenditures under Part B Section 611 will cease with the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023 grant. The LEA is required to spend at least $50,000 from Section 611 and at least $5,000 from Section 619, separately.
If your school division is required to have a PSA for FFY 2023-2024, the school division will need to ensure appropriate amounts are reserved at Object Code 0000 under Sections 611 and 619. If the school division has already expended or has distributed PSA funds within the unspecified-0000 Object Code, a staff member from the VDOE Office of Special Education Finance and Budget will contact you to provide additional guidance.
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Additional Information
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