In response to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky’s action earlier this week enjoining and restraining the U.S. Department of Education from implementing, enacting, or enforcing its Final Rule regarding Title IX, Virginia Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera released the letter below urging public schools and other impacted entities to immediately cease implementing the Final Rule and its regulations.  

View Secretary Guidera’s full letter here:

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 
• Use of VALLSS and Student Reading Plans 
• Professional Development 
• Planning 
• Frequently Asked Questions from the Field  

Superintendents are asked to share these resources with key staff. 

In order to continue support of local school divisions with their implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act, the VDOE is seeking K-8 special education teachers, general education teachers, literacy interventionists, and reading specialists who work directly with children for more than 50% of the school day to participate in a Multisensory Structured Language Instruction Training. This professional development is based on the Orton-Gillingham instructional approach, which is direct and systematic to teaching language structure for reading remediation. It is designed to address the needs of students who have difficulty with reading, spelling, and writing including those with a specific learning disability such as dyslexia. Approximately 120 participants will be selected through a competitive application process. Those applicants who have applied for this opportunity more than once will be given priority consideration. 

All applicants who wish to participate may apply by completing the Teacher Application by July 5, 2024. Access to the Teacher Application, training dates, and additional application and selection criteria details will be provided to Directors of Special Education via an Assistant Superintendent of Special Populations email.  

A recommendation from the applicant’s principal, written on school letterhead, is required and must be attached to the application. Once applications are reviewed, notification and registration information will be sent to participants via email within ten days from the due date. 

New resources to support mathematics teaching and learning have been released and are located on the 2023 Mathematics Instructional Resources webpage.

The Mathematics Instructional Guides provide support to mathematics educators as they implement the 2023 Mathematics Standards of Learning. They include three sections: Understanding the Standard, Skills in Practice, and Concepts and Connections. Mathematics Instructional Guides are available for grades K-8, Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra 2.

A Mathematics Instructional Guide FAQ Document (Word | PDF) has been developed to provide information about the purpose, structure, intended audience, and use of the Mathematics Instructional Guides.

A supplement to the Mathematics Instructional Guides, the Concepts and Connections Articulation Guide (Word | PDF) provides support in identifying concepts aligned to the 2023 Mathematics Standards of Learning that articulate across mathematics grade levels or courses.

The Virginia Department of Education is seeking applications from individuals who are qualified and available to serve on the VDOE Seal of Biliteracy Advisory Committee. Selected members will serve a two-year term with quarterly virtual meetings to review and make recommendations on acceptable evidence of proficiency and other criteria for awarding a Virginia Seal of Biliteracy.  

Applicants should be teachers, content specialists, or other educators who are knowledgeable about the Seal of Biliteracy. All individuals who wish to serve on this committee, including those who have previously served, must submit an online application. Approximately 5-7 members will be selected. The application will require a professional reference and supervisor approval.  Completed applications are due to the Virginia Department of Education by July 19, 2024. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all required parts of the application are complete by this date. Committee applicants will be notified of their selection status within two weeks of application closing. 

The Virginia Department of Education Department of Special Populations invites all newly hired local Directors of Special Education to the 2024-2025 Academy. This yearlong professional development opportunity aims to support their roles and responsibilities within their local school divisions and to enhance the outcomes of students with disabilities across the Commonwealth aligned to the 2024 Roadmap for Special Education.   

This yearlong academy will include six sessions that alternate between in-person and virtual. The schedule and details for all academy sessions will be disseminated via email to registered participants in July 2024. Each new director will be assigned an experienced mentor to provide support in their new role.  

A new Director of Special Education is defined as one who is new to the position and has not been a special education director in another local school division or was new after last year’s Academy. If your school division has employed a new special education director, please complete the Registration for the 2024-2025 Academy for New Directors of Special Education by June 30, 2024, so that information about this academy may be provided. 

As part of VDOE’s ongoing efforts to elevate the great work of Virginia educators, the Department annually seeks recommendations from school leaders of distinguished teachers, principals, and specialists to maintain on file. These recommendations provide VDOE with the opportunity to elevate educators for membership on advisory committees, boards, and task forces, as well as candidates for recognition programs. Your recommendations will assist VDOE in identifying educators who will be of great value to the Commonwealth due to their expertise. 

We are fortunate to have a rich base of veteran educators in our current talent pool. They have been and continue to be a valuable resource in our state efforts. Based on our current talent pool, there is a need for educators who are relatively new to the profession and exhibit outstanding instructional and leadership abilities. Such persons exhibit strong potential for professional leadership and inspiring presence which impacts students, colleagues, and community. VDOE is therefore especially interested in receiving recommendations of such individuals.  

Members of this talent pool are building-level personnel with a required minimum of five years in education. They are typically classroom teachers and are recognized by peers and supervisors as unique in their leadership and results with students. Of special interest are educators who are outstanding and have not received other recognition. 

Do you know a relatively new educator who is not only one of Virginia’s, but also the nation's best? Whose lessons inspire and provide models for others? Who has distinguished him/herself above and beyond established top-quality professionals in our schools? If you have an educator in mind, please provide CONFIDENTIAL, succinct, and specific information for a candidate using this recommendation form. Include a one-page recommendation that addresses how the candidate meets the criteria mentioned in this letter, and a resume from their personnel file. We ask that you keep this recommendation confidential and do not share it with the individual or collaborate with a colleague to complete. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. 

Submissions are due by 5 p.m. on July 10, 2024. Send to TeacheroftheYear@doe.virginia.gov and submit the saved file as Talent_School Division_Educator Last Name. Your cooperation and assistance are greatly appreciated.     
#ElevateEducatorsVA 

Please review the 2024-2025 Clinical Faculty Program request for proposals for additional information including comprehensive instructions, proposal preparation and submission instructions. The deadline to apply is July 26, 2024.

The Virginia Board of Education is seeking nominees for several vacancies on the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure (“ABTEL”) and the State Special Education Advisory Committee (“SSEAC”). A full list of open seats is available on the VDOE website.  

Please note that, by state or federal law or regulation, some of the vacancies on advisory committees require specific categories of expertise, qualifications, or geographic representation. A map of the VDOE Superintendent’s Regions is available here.   

Members of advisory committees do not receive compensation for their service but may be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with state travel guidelines set forth by the Department of Accounts.  

Educators, parents, administrators, and other individuals are invited to apply by completing this nomination form before 5 p.m. on Friday, July 5, 2024.