I am deeply grateful for the input provided from our schools and communities on the Board’s development of Virginia's School Performance and Support Framework. Over this month I have had the opportunity to visit all eight Superintendent regions and listen to what superintendents, teachers, parents, and community members wanted to see expressed in the new framework. These eight in-person Listening Sessions, along with seven other virtual opportunities, brought over 800 voices to this process. Additionally, over 170 comments were submitted outside of the Listening Sessions for the Board’s consideration on the proposed regulatory decisions and next steps. Moreover, many attendees were at more than one session, requested additional discussion, and have given us valuable suggestions. Some of the key takeaways from these listening sessions include positive support for the mastery index and weighting of performance levels; readiness tasks that measure the 5Cs at both elementary and middle school, and a focus on descriptive performance levels. For a full presentation on feedback, see the presentation shared on Tuesday of this week at the State Board meeting here. 

These discussions will continue, and we continue to schedule listening sessions as requested. I also want to thank our six lab schools that were Board approved this week. The Board approved lab schools with Emory and Henry, George Mason, Roanoke College, Old Dominion University-Newport News, Old Dominion University-Chesapeake, and Paul D Camp Community College. I am incredibly proud of the innovation that these communities have partnered together to provide for the students across the Commonwealth.  

The Board and I also enjoyed meeting with the 2024 Regional Teachers of the Year this week for lunch. They shared important challeges that teachers are facing as well as their excitement for the future.  Thank you for your continued work to support Virginia’s children! 

The Virginia Literacy Act prescribes that educators receive training in evidence-based literacy instruction and science-based reading research. VDOE has contracted with UVA to create modules addressing the training needs of teachers for the 2024-2025 school year. These courses are through Canvas and are tailored to meet the specific needs of the intended audience. Educators can reference the April 2024 Virginia Literacy Updates for a list of these courses. 

At today’s April 25, 2024, Virginia Board of Education Meeting, the Board approved LETRS Volume 1 and Orton Gillingham as alternatives to the state-prescribed training.  Educators who use this option will be required to complete a separate Capstone VLA module which will address components specific to the implementation of the VLA. 

Educators can expect more information in the May Literacy Update. 

Governor Glenn Youngkin is recognizing May 7, 2024, as National Fentanyl Awareness Day in Virginia. This day brings together individuals, parents, teachers, corporations, community groups, and government entities to educate and raise awareness of the serious dangers of fentanyl poisoning from fake pills and other illicit drugs.   

In May 2023, Governor Youngkin signed Executive Order 26 to combat the Fentanyl crisis in the Commonwealth of Virginia. In November 2023, to ensure transparency and community awareness around the safety and well-being of Virginia’s children, Governor Youngkin released Executive Order 28. The Executive Order directed the Virginia Department of Education to issue guidance regarding best practices to support decision-making protocols for school leaders, develop parent notification protocols, and reinforce best practices for law enforcement collaboration.  

For more information, please view the following documents:  

• Best Practices: (Executive Order 28)  
• Resources: (Executive Order 28).  

For more information on how you can recognize Fentanyl Awareness Day in your school and community, please visit the National Fentanyl Awareness Day website.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and May 9, 2024, has been selected as the date for Virginia to recognize Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (CMHAD). The goal of this day is to raise awareness of the importance of every child’s mental health. Intentionally engaging in activities that boost mental health should be prioritized as much as routine physical care.  

For mental health resources and information about Mental Health Awareness Month, you can download Mental Health America’s  Mental Health Month Toolkit. You can also find more information and resources for promoting CMHAD by visiting the American Psychological Association’s webpage. Educators interested in learning more about supporting children’s mental health are encouraged to explore the free resources available on Classroom Well-Being Information and Strategies for Educators (WISE) webpage. And to learn about the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) efforts to address student behavioral health, please visit the Behavioral Health and Wellness webpage. 

Last August, the VDOE announced the Recruitment Incentive for Public Education (RIPE) to support recruitment efforts for school divisions hiring to fill certain instructional positions. We are pleased to announce the 2023-2024 RIPE awards by school division. The grant award period will end July 31, 2024. The RIPE awards are funded by federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.  

The RIPE application is open in the Single Sign-On for Web Systems (SSWS) portal for school divisions to submit information on individuals eligible to receive the incentive award. Division Superintendents or the Superintendent’s designee will be requested to verify that individuals receiving the award are employed full-time in a Virginia school division, received a satisfactory performance evaluation for the 2023-2024 school year, and provided a written commitment to return to the same school for the 2024-2025 school year. The verification report must be submitted by June 14, 2024. 

Additional Terms of Grant Award and Special Terms and Conditions can be found here.  

On March 1, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new Respiratory Virus Guidance. This guidance applies to community settings, including schools and childcare programs. Settings that provide healthcare, like a school health clinic, should continue to follow applicable elements of the CDC’s Healthcare Guidance. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) updated its Respiratory Disease webpage and information for K-12 Schools and Childcare Programs to reflect the updated CDC guidance.  

With this updated guidance, people with respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can return to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both are true: symptoms are getting better overall and fever has resolved (without the use of fever-reducing medication). As a reminder, schools and childcare programs are subject to disease reporting and control regulations. Schools and childcare programs should refer to the Virginia Administrative Code 12VAC5-90-90 or the VDH outbreak reporting website for additional information. If a known or suspected outbreak occurs among students or staff, the school or childcare program should contact its  local health department. You can also report an outbreak using the VDH outbreak reporting portal. Your local health department will work with your facility to provide disease control and prevention recommendations to slow or stop the spread of illness.   

The VDOE is pleased to re-issue the request for proposals for the Grow Your Own – Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program. The Grow Your Own apprenticeship programs are school-based programs that recruit and support staff within the community as they work to become an educator while gaining meaningful on-the-job experience. Apprentices will be working towards their bachelor’s degree and to fulfill all licensure requirements, so upon completion of the program they will be ready to accept a full-time teaching position. Apprenticeship programs can produce teachers that are well prepared without the financial barriers associated with traditional preparation since individuals are paid during their preparation and have the advantage of using federal workforce funds to cover a portion of program costs.   

This solicitation for proposals is to support eligible applicants to implement a teacher apprenticeship program starting in the 2024 – 2025 school year with program completers eligible to become teachers-of-record by no later than May 2026.  

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all funds are obligated. Additional details about eligibility, program requirements, and grant criteria can be found in the 2024-2025 Request for Proposals.

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.   

The most current information about the revision process, as well as public hearing dates and locations, is available on the Review and Revision of the 2017 Computer Science Standards of Learning webpage.  

Article: 2024-17-153
Audience: Teachers, Commonwealth of Virginia Employees
Contact: VMFA, (804) 340-1405

The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA) is offering preschool and K–12 teachers (public and private schools) and Commonwealth of Virginia employees free admission to the new exhibition “Samurai Armor” from the Collection of Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller.  

The exhibition is available at VMFA through August 4, 2024. Commonwealth employees and educators should call (804) 340-1405 to make their reservations and show their employee IDs or badges at the Visitor Services Desk in the museum when picking up their tickets. One free ticket is available per badge. 

Read the full press release from VMFA for details.