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Highlights
News from Across the Commonwealth
Henry County Microbits
Fourth and fifth graders at Mt. Olivet Elementary in Henry County Schools explore coding with micro:bits borrowed from the New College Institute. These young innovators are learning to create simple animations using code. It’s incredible to see their creativity and problem-solving skills in action!
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Good Citizen Project
Students at Battlefield Park Elementary in Hanover County Schools completed a paper chain activity in conjunction with 9/11. Students discussed how a good citizen helps others. The activity, led by teachers and organized by the Hanover Education Foundation, demonstrated that kind actions to help others can have a large impact on a community.
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Superintendent's Message
Dr. Lisa Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Good Afternoon,
Today, the Virginia Board of Education recognized three elementary mathematics and science teachers as the 2024 state-level finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST).
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Elizabeth Lynch is the STEM teacher at Patrick Henry Elementary School in Martinsville City Schools. In her position, Ms. Lynch works with all 22 classes of students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 to provide a STEM-based education.
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Jennifer Gates is a 5th grade teacher at Randolph Elementary School in Goochland County Public Schools. Gates is a master of cross-curricular instruction, crafting student experiences that integrate content areas. In 2023, she led her class in founding Youth United, a nonprofit that connected students with the Goochland community, focusing on environmental, animal, and human welfare.
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Laurie Sullivan is a distinguished educator with over 30 years of teaching children and advancing science education within Arlington Public Schools. She is currently the Project Discovery Science/STEM/STEAM teacher at K. W. Barrett Elementary School. In this role, she teaches students in Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades. Dr. Sullivan also teaches special needs students that include Functional Life Skills and the Multi-Intervention Program for Students with Autism (MIPA).
We appreciate the opportunity to continue recognizing such high-quality educators and are thankful for the great job our teachers are doing in Virginia’s classrooms. #ElevateEducatorsVA
I also want to congratulate our newly announced Blue Ribbon Schools. Eight Virginia schools from across the Commonwealth were named this week as 2024 National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. The Virginia schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools in the Exemplary High Performing Schools category were:
- McLean – Spring Hill Elementary School, Fairfax County Public Schools
- Virginia Beach – Green Run Collegiate, Virginia Beach City Public Schools
- Langley AFB – Bethel Manor Elementary School, York County Public Schools
- Clifton – St. Andrew The Apostle School, Arlington Diocese
The Virginia schools named as National Blue Ribbon Schools in the Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools category were:
- Fincastle – Central Academy Middle School, Botetourt County Public Schools
- Gate City – Gate City Middle School, Scott County Public Schools
- Nokesville – T. Clay Wood Elementary School, Prince William County Public Schools
- Saltville – Saltville Elementary School, Smyth County Public Schools
This Blue Ribbon status recognizes the strong commitment from these schools, educators, and communities to the success of all students and they should be celebrated for their achievement.
Many of you had the opportunity to participate in the fireside chat with the First Lady and Dr. Haidt last week. They explored the insights from Dr. Haidt’s book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. The link above allows you to host additional events along with the facilitator’s guide available on our website. I would like to express my gratitude to our school divisions and school leaders for your focus on removing cell phones and having the important conversations with families about the mental health dangers that cell phones and social media can cause.
To support school divisions continuing this work, we want to again share the now available microgrants. Whether it’s organizing educational workshops or hosting community events like the fireside chat, these grants enable schools and parents to develop collaborative conversations together. Also last week, we shared a new resource, the VDOE School Leader Cell Phone-Free Learning Implementation Toolkit. The Toolkit equips school division and school leaders with evidence-based resources, decision trees, and strategies for effectively ensuring students experience “bell-to-bell” learning free of cell phones.
Finally, VDOE has been awarded a $30 million Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) grant. This grant will provide additional literacy support for those schools with high numbers of English Learners and students with disabilities. The CLSD grant will enable VDOE to build upon the foundations laid by the Virginia Literacy Act. We are excited about the partnerships that will be established between national experts and the additional support for our schools to improve literacy instruction for every child in Virginia.
Thank you for everything you do to ensure every child matters, every day.
In appreciation,
Lisa
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Teaching & Learning
Technical Review Schedule for Submission of Local Divisions’ Plan for Gifted Education
Article: 2024-38-408
Audience: Superintendents, Directors
Contact: Kevin Carr, Specialist for Governor’s Schools and K-12 Gifted Education, kevin.carr@doe.virginia.gov
School divisions in Region V West (modified) and Region VI are required to submit their Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted by October 17, 2024. This submission is part of VDOE's ongoing cycle of technical reviews, where each school division's gifted plan is evaluated every five years, as mandated by the Regulations Governing Education Services for Gifted Students (8VAC20-40-60).
Participating divisions include:
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Region V West (modified): Amherst, Bath, Bedford, Buena Vista, Campbell, Highland, Lexington, Lynchburg, Nelson, Rockbridge
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Region VI: Alleghany, Botetourt, Covington, Craig, Danville, Floyd, Franklin County, Henry, Martinsville, Montgomery, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Roanoke City, Roanoke County, Salem
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Save as a PDF using the following convention: <full division name> Local Plan Fall 2024.pdf.
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Email to kevin.carr@doe.virginia.gov, Specialist for Governor’s Schools and Gifted Programs, by October 17, 2024.
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School Performance & Support
VVAAS Student Assessment Summary Report – Division distribution
Article: 2024-38-406
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Technology, VVAAS contacts
Contact: Morri Pace, VVAAS Coordinator, at vvaas@doe.virginia.gov
The Virginia Department of Education is requesting that all divisions provide families with the Student Assessment Summary (SAS report). The report exists in the Virginia Visualization and Analytics Solution (VVAAS). The dissemination of this report can begin on November 25 once all enrollment updates have been completed based on the final SRC collection.
The VDOE will have all supporting materials updated and posted on the VDOE VVAAS Resources for Parents webpage, which is included at the bottom of the SAS report. All school divisions are asked to distribute the reports to parents by backpack, mail, and/or division parent portal between November 25, 2024, and January 31, 2025.
In order to support divisions, there will be a webinar on Thursday, October 10, at 1 p.m. The webinar will discuss the Student Assessment Summary report, educator and family resources, and report access/dissemination options. All divisions that want bulk files via EVAAS SFTP option should attend the webinar for further details.
The purpose of the report is for families to learn about a student's assessment patterns. The patterns show how a student performed within a specific subject over time, as well as how the scores compare to all others that took the same test. This information, along with year-end grades and other assessment results shared by your division is a great place to start engaging with families. We suggested to families in the “Student Assessment Summary Letter” that if a student’s report shows areas of deficiency or concern, they reach out to the student's school to further discuss the data and develop a plan of action for improvement.
For questions regarding this VVAAS Student Assessment Summary report, please contact Morri Pace, VVAAS Coordinator, at vvaas@doe.virginia.gov.
2024 Fall Position and Exits Collection
Article: 2024-38-410
Audience: Superintendents, Division HR and IT personnel
Contact: Myesha Garnes, Data and Technology Specialist, myesha.garnes@doe.virginia.gov
In order to comply with the requirements of the Code of Virginia (§§ 22.1-79 and 22.1-290.2) and ESEA TITLE II, PART A reporting, the Virginia Department of Education will be conducting the Fall Positions and Exits Collection (Fall PEC) for the 2024-2025 school year. The Fall PEC opens on October 1, 2024. A successful submission is due no later than October 18, 2024. Superintendents must electronically approve the verifications no later than November 1, 2024. For complete details about this requirement, access our 2024 Fall Position and Exits Collection Guide.
School Leaders Series on Including Students with Disabilities in Assessments
Article: 2024-37-405
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Administrators and Division Directors of Testing (DDoTs)
Contact: Deborah Johnson, Specialist-Intellectual Disabilities, Deborah.Johnson@doe.virginia.gov
The VDOE revised and augmented its guidance regarding Virginia Alternate Assessment Program (VAAP) participation, effective July 1, 2024. The purpose of the revision is to ensure Individualized Education Program (IEP) Teams are identifying the appropriate students for VAAP participation. The VDOE continues to support school divisions in improving the implementation of the VAAP participation guidelines, available on the VDOE’s Teacher Resources & Training for VAAP webpage. The goal is to ensure that the appropriate students are assessed using this alternate assessment. In order to provide assistance to ensure that the appropriate students are assessed using this alternate assessment, school and division administrators are encouraged to review the School Leaders Series on including Students with Disabilities in Assessments. Information in this series can be tailored to meet school division needs and continue to support IEP Teams in their decision-making process regarding assessments and preceding academic instruction to promote positive outcomes for students with disabilities.
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School Finance
2024-2025 Title I, Part C, Allocations and Title I, Part C, Consortium Incentive Grant Allocations
Article: 2024-38-404
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Title I, Part C, Federal Program Coordinators
Contact: Sarah Gallagher, Title I, Part C Specialist, sarah.gallagher@doe.virginia.gov
The procedures and forms for submitting an application for Title I, Part C, were previously provided to school division program coordinators. Applications were due on July 1, 2024.
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Recognitions
Deadline Approaching for Virginia RISE Award Nominations - Due October 7, 2024
Article: 2024-38-409
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Child Care Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff
Contact: Christine Harris, Executive Director, Educator Partnerships
There is still time to nominate your school division’s candidate for the 2025 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award. The RISE Award is intended to honor and elevate classified school employees who provide exemplary service to students.
Each school division may submit one candidate to be considered for this recognition. Submit your nominees using the VDOE Qualtrics online application for the Virginia RISE Awards by October 7, 2024, at 5 p.m. Virginia will select and celebrate two RISE Award recipients announced mid-winter. These two candidates will then be considered at the national level for the U.S. Department of Education RISE Award.
A classified school employee is defined as an employee of a state or any political subdivision of a state, or an employee of a nonprofit entity, who works in any grade from prekindergarten through high school in any of the following occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades. Additional information about the RISE Award is available on the VDOE Educator Recognition webpage.
Senate and House Page Programs
Article: 2024-38-407
Audience: School Principals, Teachers
The Virginia General Assembly’s Senate and House Page Programs are exciting opportunities for students ages 13 & 14 to participate in-person in the legislative process and become more engaged citizens and effective leaders.
More information in these highly competitive programs can be found on the Virginia General Assembly’s Capitol Classroom webpage. The deadline for this upcoming legislative session’s House Page program is October 18.
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