Yesterday, I walked through digital design, CNA, and culinary arts programs at Scott County’s Career and Technical Center. In addition, the Scott County team demonstrated an impressive student-based enterprise program. Students create everything from decals, posters, and succulents, to welding projects to sell in their community-market space (located on the Center’s campus) so students are not only learning valuable workplace crafts, they are also learning to be entrepreneurs.  

Today, in Bristol City, we saw the dedicated efforts of elementary staff implementing their new literacy curriculum and their LETRS training. While their principals and staff mentioned that this was hard work, all staff mentioned they are already seeing great things from their students. 

VDOE continues to be incredibly proud of educators across Virginia. From the cell-phone free success in Fredericksburg, the innovative attendance supports in Norton City, to the literacy programming in York County, and the career expos and innovative 3 E Readiness programming across the state, we are proud of the work you have accomplished in 2024.  

We hope that each of you take time over the holidays to rest and recharge with family and friends over the holidays.  

-Lisa 

On January 22, 2025, and February 5, 2025, VDOE will be hosting a virtual WIDA workshop series for Virginia K-12 educators who work with multilingual learners who are dually identified for language and disability. The WIDA Virtual Workshop Series–When Language and Disability Meet: Planning for Instruction to Support Dually Identified Students–will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. on both dates.   

Participants will explore principles of Universal Design Learning and think about shared responsibility and advocacy when planning for multilingual learners who are dually identified for language and disability.  

The registration deadline for the webinar series is January 17, 2024. Please use this link to register. 

As released on June 27, 2024, in Superintendent’s Memo 003-24, beginning July 10, Literacy Office Hours have been held for division instructional leaders to ask questions about the VLA implementation and give feedback on implementation.   

Office hours are jointly hosted by VDOE and VLP staff. Literacy Office Hours are offered bi-weekly and in the new year will be held on Monday mornings from 10:30-11 a.m. starting on January 6, 2025.    

Updated Zoom links will be sent to division instructional leaders who have been designated as such in Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) to register for the Office hours. Once registered, you may attend any of the sessions without re-registering. Division literacy leaders can reach out to vla@doe.virginia.gov for more information on registration. New division literacy leaders need to contact the school division Educational Registry Application manager for the SSWS platform to update the literacy contact information.   

The 2025 Multidivision Online Provider application process and forms are now available on the Multidivision Online Provider Approval, Renewal, & Course Submission Information webpage. Applications for the 2025-26 school year may be submitted beginning January 2, 2025. Completed applications must be received by the VDOE by 5 p.m. on January 31, 2025. In addition, previously approved providers may submit new or revised courses during this application window. 

The applications will be reviewed based on the Criteria for Approval of Multidivision Online Providers. As a general reminder, all providers must adhere to the conditions included in their original application to maintain approval. Approved applicants will also be publicly available on the VDOE website.  

Courses submitted for approval must align with the newest revisions to the Standards of Learning. A MOP serving students in Grades K-8 English classes must adhere to the provisions of the Virginia Literacy Act. The VDOE will provide the applicant with a written decision regarding the approval or denial of the application within 45 business days of the close of the application period.  

To receive Title I, Part A funds, a school division must verify comparability of services for Title I and non-Title I schools as stipulated in Section 1118(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 . Virginia school divisions are required to verify comparability of services by completing the Title I Comparability Report on the Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) portal. 

The 2024-2025 Title I Comparability Report will be available beginning Friday, December 20, 2024. Detailed instructions are provided with the web-based report. 

Once the comparability report has been completed, the division superintendent or superintendent’s designee must electronically verify the report through SSWS. The report will not be submitted until this step is completed. The report should be submitted no later than Friday, February 7, 2025. The school division should maintain a copy of the entire verification report on file for audit purposes. 

A webinar will be hosted on Monday, January 13, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. to provide an overview of how to complete the report in SSWS for new Title I Coordinators. Register for the webinar.   

In partnership with the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals and the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, VDOE is excited to announce a new program to recognize the work of our state’s highly accomplished principals. In Section 8VAC20-23-620 (F) of the Virginia Administrative Code, the Virginia Board of Education outlines pathways for a principal to be recognized as a Principal of Distinction.  

The statewide Principals of Distinction program is an opportunity for principals to garner recognition as a principal of distinction, while also gaining valuable experiences for professional growth. Successful applicants will display strong leadership in the areas of improved student achievement, effective instructional leadership, and developing a strong school culture and climate through the removal of barriers. After a successful application is selected by the Virginia Principals of Distinction Selection Committee, candidates will participate in a four-day professional training symposium and complete a high-quality professional development capstone project at their school over the next six months.   

A building-level administrator may seek the Principal of Distinction, Level II endorsement in administration and supervision PreK-12 after: 

• Successfully serving as a building-level administrator for at least five years in a public school or an accredited nonpublic school, and  
• Successfully completing a formal induction program as a principal or assistant principal. 

The deadline to submit an application to VDOE for consideration by the Virginia Principals of Distinction Selection Committee is February 15, 2025. Final applications must have a letter of endorsement from the division superintendent.  

Applications can be submitted to rob.gilstrap@doe.virginia.gov. 

Please contact Rob Gilstrap at rob.gilstrap@doe.virginia.gov if you have any questions regarding the application or application process.   

The Virginia Department of Education announces the opening of the Granville P. Meade Scholarship, offering financial assistance to academically accomplished students facing financial challenges in attending college. The scholarship provides $2,000 per year for four years to eligible Virginia high school seniors attending any of Virginia's public or private colleges or universities. 

Application Process:  

All submissions to the Virginia Department of Education must be through the SSWS Dropbox to ensure security and efficiency. The application window opens for all students on January 6, 2025.  Superintendents should provide contact information for their divisions and region using the Procedures and Contact Form. For detailed instructions, deadlines, and procedures, visit the Granville P. Meade Scholarship webpage.