This June, elementary and middle school principals and one of the school’s assistant principals are invited to attend a one-day, in-person training on evidence-based literacy instruction and science-based reading research. Topics will include using data to plan instruction, coaching systems change, core instruction, and the role of reading specialists. 

***An email with registration information is being sent on Friday, May 3, 2024, to ELA supervisors as identified in SSWS with registration links and a password. Supervisors should work with division leadership to identify elementary and middle school principals and one of each school’s assistant principals who need this training.*** 

Additional opportunities will be available for a fall session for new principals/assistant principals and those who have conflicts with the summer training dates above. 

Blue Ridge PBS, the Virginia Department of Education, and the Virginia Society for Technology in Education are pleased to announce the release of season one of ActiVAtED Learning, a 12-episode podcast designed to elevate the profession of teaching and explore trends and best practices in instructional technology, including discussions with classroom teachers who share their own philosophies of learning. 

The series features interviews with thought leaders, award winning teachers, technology leaders and others focused on improving instruction in the Commonwealth. The series premiered in January with a conversation with Blended Learning expert and author Catlin Tucker. Recorded on location at the 2023 VSTE Conference in Roanoke before a live audience, the episode set the tone for the rest of the podcast series. New episodes have been released every other Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and Spotify as well as being aired on the ECHO Channel, a broadcast and streaming channel focused on Education, Community, Health and Opportunity. 

New episodes will continue to be released until the season concludes on June 19th. 

This event is specifically for athletic directors and coaches to equip you with key stats, stories and resources regarding the dangers of fentanyl and the power that comes with awareness.  

Webinar on Virginia’s Grow Your Own Opportunities

Article: 2024-18-172
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals
Contact: Shawna LeBlond, Director, Office of Apprenticeships Shawna.LeBlond@doe.virginia.gov   

VDOE and the National Center for Grow Your Own are hosting a webinar discussing “Virginia’s Regional Approaches to Grow Your Own Initiatives” on Thursday, May 9 at 1:30 pm.  Join the National Center for Grow Your Own, the VDOE, Smyth County Public Schools, and VCU to hear how education leaders in Virginia are leveraging Grow Your Own pathways to address statewide teacher shortages. 

Webinar Registration is available now. 

The VDOE is sponsoring content teaching academies on June 24–27, 2024, at James Madison University. The academies are designed to provide professional development to participating Virginia educators to enhance the outcomes of students with disabilities using high-quality instruction and to promote inclusive practices. Detailed information about each academy is included in the VDOE-Sponsored Content Teaching Academies Information Summary. Registration for each academy may be accessed on the JMU Content Teaching Academy 2024 webpage. 

Each academy can accommodate a limited number of participants, and the target audience is specific to each academy’s focus. Priority will be given to school divisions and regions that have demonstrated limited participation in previous content teaching academies and to educators from schools in divisions that are working with the VDOE Office of Special Education Program Improvement and/or the VDOE Office of School Quality. For all public school participants, the VDOE will assume the cost of registration, meals, and double occupancy lodging on JMU’s campus. School divisions are encouraged to cover travel expenses for participants as this cost is not assumed by VDOE. 

During its April 25th Meeting, the Virginia Board of Education completed the first review of the Proposed 2024-2025 VQB5 Guidelines.  

The VDOE hosted a webinar for all Early Childhood Care and Education stakeholders about the proposed Guidelines on Tuesday, April 23. View the recording here.  

The VDOE is also looking for feedback on the new VQB5 Quality Profiles, which will be publicly posted in the fall of 2024. View profile mock-ups and provide feedback by May 10. 

A new Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) Parent Report has been developed and is designed to provide parents additional information about their child's performance this year in a clear and accessible format. 

The Parent Reports are available to parents whose students have already completed the spring SOL assessments in school divisions around the Commonwealth and can be obtained directly from their child's school. For students who have not yet taken their SOL assessments, parent reports will be available after those students have completed their tests. 

The Spring SOL Parent Report informs parents if their child’s test scores show that the child needs additional support, is considered at-risk of falling behind, or if the child is performing on grade level or above. Designed to provide a year-long look at a student’s academic progress, the Parent Reports tie together the Virginia Growth Assessment scores previously taken and the current spring SOL results to show the current trend in the student’s academic progress. These results help show in which content areas and skills a student may need additional support and where more time with a teacher or tutor could be beneficial to the student’s academic success.   

Sample parent reports are available for Grades 3-8 reading and math, and all other SOL tests (except writing). Additional resources for parents, including a video explaining the Spring Parent Reports and a tool for parents to help facilitate conversations with their child’s teacher regarding their child’s performance can be found on the Parent Resources page of the VDOE website under the Assessment tab.  

Use of IDEA Part B Funds for Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) Survey 

Article: 2024-18-169
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Assistant Superintendents, Directors of Special Education, and Finance
Contact: Office of Special Education Data, spedprogramdata@doe.virginia.gov 

2024-2025 Identification of Title I Schools 

Article: 2024-18-168
Audience: Superintendents, Title I, Part A, Coordinators
Contact: Tiffany Frierson, Title I Coordinator, Tiffany.Frierson@doe.virginia.gov 

To satisfy certain requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, the Virginia Department of Education must identify all Title I, Part A, schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The accurate reporting of Title I schools is critical when completing federal reporting requirements. 

The Office of ESEA Programs annually requests that school divisions update the Title I status of their schools. The Title I, Part A, coordinator from each division should complete the 2024-2025 Identification of Title I Schools Form and submit it by email to the ESSA mailbox at essa@doe.virginia.gov by Tuesday, June 4, 2024. The Identification of Title I Schools Form can be found on the Title I, Part A, webpage. 

Superintendent’s Memorandum #059-23 announced the Recruitment and Retention Support (RARS) grant recipients on March 31, 2023. The VDOE is pleased to offer a no-cost extension through August 30, 2024, for this funding opportunity. Please note, no additional funding will be added with this no-cost extension, however school divisions will have additional time to spend down their award.  

School divisions do not need to submit budget modifications if they are following their approved proposal during this extension. If a school division wishes to divert from the approved proposal, then budget modifications should be submitted to Shawna LeBlond.  

For example, if a school division’s approved proposal was for continuing education support, they do not need to submit a budget modification to offer support through the summer 2024 semester. However, if a school division was offering retention bonuses and they have a balance which they would like to use for continuing education support, then a budget modification is required.  

The updated terms of the grant award can be found here. School divisions are encouraged to pay special attention to the new reporting deadlines.  

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.  

May 15, 2024, is Decision Day in Virginia

Article: 2024-18-170
Audience: Superintendents
Contact: Brittany Everett, Postsecondary Access & Success Specialist, Brittany.Everett@doe.virginia.gov

On May 15, 2024, Virginia will celebrate “Decision Day,” a day to recognize the hard work and dedication of Virginia’s high school students who have decided to pursue education or training after high school. This includes joining the military, attending college, or obtaining an industry-recognized certification.  

To mark this special occasion, the Secretary of Education’s Office, the State Council of Education for Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Education invite all state employees to join in a group photograph on the Capitol steps at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Show pride in your experience by wearing your college or military gear.