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News from Across the Commonwealth
We are delighted to share that the 2025 Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year announcements are underway! So far, we’ve recognized and celebrated four incredible educators:
- Mr. Darnell Greene, mathematics teacher at Manassas Park Middle School, Manassas Park City Schools (Region 4)
- Mrs. Beth Marshall, French teacher at Riverbend High School, Spotsylvania County Public Schools (Region 3)
- Mrs. Emily Wilson Overstreet, visual arts teacher at Cumberland Elementary School, Cumberland County Public Schools (Region 8)
- Ms. Chanda Woods, integrated language arts teacher at Crittenden Middle School, Newport News Public Schools (Region 2)
Congratulations to this fantastic group of teachers! Be sure to follow along on VDOE’s social channels as we make our way through the Commonwealth and announce the remaining four regional winners.
All eight Regional Teachers of the Year are nominees for the 2025 Mary V. Bicouvaris Virginia Teacher of the Year Award, which will be announced later this spring.
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Students at Nathanael Greene Primary & Elementary celebrated "Drop Everything and Read Day" (D.E.A.R.) where students are given time to read a book of their choosing. To make this time even more fun, students celebrated with themes such as "Glow in the Dark!" Students took advantage of flashlights and windows to enjoy their favorite books. #EverybodyReadsVA |
Recently, 43 teachers and leaders from Region 2 participated in an interactive workshop designed to engage participants in learning that supports the effective instruction of multilingual learners within the science classroom. This workshop was facilitated by VDOE staff members, Myra Thayer, Science Specialist and Jo-el Cox, Coordinator of Multilingual Learner Instruction. |
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Dr. Lisa Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction
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This week, I visited with an inspiring group of educators and students at Stafford's Grafton Village Elementary School. GVES Principal Michael Sidebotham and his team have put in place meaningful, proactive methods to battle chronic absenteeism including a morning check in system to build relationships and intrinsic motivation. The school’s guidance team shared their school-wide approach to promoting a positive learning environment with supports for all students as well as self-care for teachers. Superintendent Taylor and I visited classrooms to see the innovative tools in place to support students as they learn to navigate emotions by engaging in self-regulating activities like walking on zig zag lines and classroom calming corners. I am so impressed by the school-wide model at GVES for creating a positive culture and a system of support for students to flourish academically and emotionally.
At the March meeting, the Virginia Board of Education received a report from the VDOE Fine Arts Coordinator about the Virginia Arts Education Data Project, and the data confirmed something many of us already know about our programs—students are engaged! Seniors enrolled in four years of fine arts courses each year since 2020 demonstrate a 32% to 50% lower absenteeism rate than those who did not take a fine arts course during high school. These findings hold when comparing data across fine arts disciplines and for key variables such as race/ethnicity, enrollment in Free and Reduced-Price Meal programs, and English Learners. The data supports that our educators have created mechanisms to engage or reengage students in learning through the arts! These programs also provide an outlet for student expression and communication of their emotions. This was beautifully on display at the “Art of Being a Military Child” Exhibit which opened on Wednesday evening. This was a collaborative partnership between the Virginia Beach City Public Schools and Superintendent Robertson, the Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story and Naval Air Station Oceana, and the Lynnhaven Mall. As a military wife and mother, I was extremely moved and inspired by this exhibit and proud of the student’s artwork.
I am also proud of Virginia teachers who work hard to develop our student’s creativity and communication skills like visual arts teacher Emily Wilson Overstreet in Cumberland County Public Schools! She has been named the Region 8 Teacher of the Year by VDOE. She encourages students to use their artistic talents to enrich the community and enhance their learning by making cross-curricular connections. Additionally, I have had the joy of traveling around the Commonwealth as we begin the recognition of the regional teachers of the year. In Region 2, Teacher of the Year Chanda Woods, Newport News Public Schools, inspires her students to believe in their capabilities and challenges them to learn the rigorous content she teaches. Beth Marshall, Spotsylvania County Public Schools, is the Region 3 Teacher of the Year. She shared with me that her goal is for her students to understand that they are citizens of the world. I learned that Manassas Park City Schools teacher Darnell Greene, Region 4 Teacher of the Year, encourages his students to make connections to the world around them, making math come alive for all! Please stay tuned for more regional winners all this month as we celebrate and elevate our regional teachers of the year!
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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 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 Comment on Lab School Applications
Article: 2024-15-140
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Non-teaching staff, Parents, Students
Contact: Claire Bremner, Innovation Coordinator, Claire.Bremner@doe.virginia.gov
The Standing Committee also directed the VDOE to post the lab school application for public comment and send the applications to be considered by the Board of Education at its next meeting.
In order to provide appropriate input from parents, teachers, and other interested parties and to obtain information to assist in its evaluation of the lab school application, the Board of Education is seeking public comment on each application through the following forms:
Public comments for these applications will be accepted through April 25, 2024.
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News from our Content Specialists and Special Education
April Virginia Literacy Act Updates
Article: 2024-15-142
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Jill Nogueras, Associate Director of K-12 English Literacy, Jill.Nogueras@doe.virginia.gov
The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) is among the most comprehensive early literacy policies in the nation. The objective of the VLA is to improve literacy outcomes for all K-8 students. To support school divisions as they continue to implement the VLA, VDOE has released an extensive update on the Virginia Literacy Act.
- Instructional Materials K-5 Core Release
- K-5 Intervention and Supplemental Materials
- 6-8 Intervention and Supplemental Materials
- Use of VALLS 2024-2025
- Professional Development
- Division Literacy Plans & Student Reading Plans
Superintendents are asked to share these resources with key staff.
Revised 2023-2024 National Board Certification Incentive Award Allocations to School Divisions
Article: 2024-15-138
Audience: Superintendents, Directors
Contact: Shawna LeBlond, Office of Apprenticeships Director, Shawna.LeBlond@doe.virginia.gov
On November 9, 2023, the Virginia Department of Education announced the 2023-2024 National Board Certification Incentive Award (NBCIA) allocations to school divisions via the Virginia Education Update Newsletter. The VDOE reopened the data submissions window in February 2024 to allow school divisions to edit original data submissions through the NBCIA applications in the Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) portal. School divisions added eligible teachers who were originally omitted from the Fall data collection or deleted teachers who were ineligible for the 2023-2024 award and were originally reported in error. The VDOE has calculated revised 2023-2024 NBCIA allocations based on the updated data submitted by school divisions.
Enrollment for the Reading Specialist Microcredential Course is now open
Article: 2024-15-137
Audience: Teachers
Contact: Dr. Michelle Wallace, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Michelle.Wallace@doe.virginia.gov
For technical questions related to enrollment or Canvas access: Calypso Gilstrap, Associate Director of the Office of Educational Technology and Classroom Innovation, Calypso.Gilstrap@doe.virginia.gov
The Virginia Department of Education has established a microcredential program through Canvas for the purpose of permitting any teacher who holds a renewable or provisional license to earn a provisional reading specialist endorsement. The course has ongoing enrollment beginning April 11. Teachers enrolled in the course can begin completing modules beginning April 15. Teachers may enroll at any time.
Upon completion of the Reading Specialist Microcredential, participants will have a strong understanding of the cognitive science and reading research that supports an evidenced-based approach to literacy instruction, what strong literacy instruction consists of, and the alignment between the research and the Virginia Literacy Act. Throughout each of the seven modules, participants will have opportunities to reflect on their learning and make connections between the focus topic and comprehensive models of reading development. If you are interested in enrolling in the Reading Specialist Microcredential Course, please complete the interest form.
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School Performance & Support
Assessment Webinar Detailing Item Maps for Grades 3-8 Reading and Mathematics
Article: 2024-15-141
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Division Directors of Testing, School Test Coordinators
Contact: Office of Student Assessment, Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov
The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce that the Office of Student Assessment will present a webinar to highlight the features and instructional use of the Virginia Assessment Item Maps on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 2:30 p.m.
As explained previously in Superintendent’s Newsletter #2024-12, item maps provide descriptions and examples of test items students were likely to answer correctly based on the vertical scaled score they achieved on their state assessment. A vertical scaled score allows comparisons between Virginia Growth Assessments and Standards of Learning (SOL) tests. Each item map provides examples and descriptions of actual SOL test questions at different score points within the vertical scaled score range for a specific grade and subject.
These examples illustrate types of test questions students may see on the state assessments in a particular grade and subject. The descriptions explain what students may know or be able to do at each score point. Some descriptions include an image of a newly released SOL test question with answer options to further show what students would most likely answer correctly if they achieved at or above that score point. This information, along with students’ test results, may be used to plan conversations with families, determine intervention strategies to strengthen understanding, or establish a plan to accelerate learning.
This webinar is intended for Division Directors of Testing and division-level English and Mathematics Supervisors. An email with details for registering for the session has been sent to these staff.
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Division Finance and Budgeting
Preliminary Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 Title I Allocations
Article: 2024-15-136
Audience: Superintendents, Title I, Part A Coordinators, Division Finance Directors
Contact: Tiffany Frierson, Title I Coordinator, Tiffany.Frierson@doe.virginia.gov
The Virginia Department of Education recently received preliminary Title I allocations, authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), from the U.S. Department of Education (USED) for FFY 2024 (school year 2024-2025). These allocations reflect changes to national and state allocations based on the $18.4 billion in Title I, Part A, funds that Congress made available under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024. At this time, it is estimated that Virginia will receive a total Title I allocation of $324,795,732.00, representing an approximate 2 percent decrease in funding compared to FFY 2023 ($331,177,555.00).
Please be aware that the preliminary Title I, Part A, allocations for Virginia school divisions do not reflect the state set-asides, changes in final census data, the state reservation for school improvement activities under Section 1003(a) of the ESEA, and other adjustments required by law. The final allocation for each school division is likely to differ from the preliminary allocation provided by USED.
Refer to the Title I, Part A, website for documents containing calculation information and preliminary allocations for FFY 2024.
Individual Student Alternative Education Plan (ISAEP) Program Application for 2024-2025
Article: 2024-15-139
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Teachers, Division Finance Staff
Contact: Heidi Silver-Pacuilla, Adult Education Coordinator,
Heidi.Silver-Pacuilla@doe.virginia.gov
The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce the availability of Individual Student Alternative Education Plan (ISAEP) grant funds for the 2024-2025 school year to be awarded to school divisions to support the implementation of ISAEP programs, as set forth in the Code of Virginia §22.1-254.E and approved by the American Council on Education as a GED® Options Program. Funds will provide services for students 16 years of age and older who meet program provisions established in the Code of Virginia and in the guidelines of the Virginia Board of Education.
Please refer to the application packet for specific instructions about the submission of application materials. If no program is planned, complete and sign the bottom section of the grant application cover sheet that is included in the Appendix of the application packet and return it to the email address below.
Applications for the ISAEP grant funds must be received by 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2024. The completed application must be emailed to GEDinfo@doe.virginia.gov.
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