As we continue to experience hurdles with Mother Nature, I sincerely appreciate your efforts to keep school open and support your students. Please review our virtual options and resources to support your efforts. I hope that each of you has been able to navigate the challenges posed by this week’s winter storm. The team has collected some helpful resources to support you.  

Recently, we shared updated guidance  on in-person flexible attendance recovery. Please review this guidance and note the changes for elementary in-person flexible attendance recovery and suspension coding. The State Board will be meeting next week for the February State Board meeting. Their agenda is the Final approval of work-based learning guidelines. Several additional items including an expanded Math textbook list and VLA Intervention and Supplemental materials are included as well.  

We continue to keep the focus on the many schools throughout the Commonwealth who are doing outstanding work with their children.  Washington County Public School’s Watauga Elementary School is an exceptional example of a high-performing school being recognized by the School Performance and Support Framework.  Washington County Public Schools Superintendent Keith Perrigan explains that for decades Watauga Elementary has consistently nurtured generations of learners, fostering a culture of curiosity, critical thinking, and personal growth. “One of the secrets to their success is the strong relationships that they build which enables teachers to help students grow based on their individual needs.” 

Watauga’s use of data-driven flexible groupings has revolutionized how the school meets the diverse needs of its students. By tailoring instruction based on individual student data, teachers, specialists, and tutors collaborate seamlessly to provide personalized, targeted support that fosters maximum student growth. The school’s All In tutoring program, using the VDOE-provided tools such as Lexia and Zearn, plays a pivotal role in reinforcing essential skills, offering explicit practice and support while actively involving parents in the learning process. Through targeted remediation before, during, and after school, Watauga helps close achievement gaps and mitigates the effects of chronic absenteeism. The school’s unwavering commitment to personalized learning ensures every student receives the necessary support to succeed. 

At the core of Watauga’s academic success is its implementation of Structured Literacy, which is grounded in evidence-based methods such as the Orton-Gillingham approach. This district-wide initiative, backed by extensive teacher training, ensures that literacy skills are developed consistently from preschool through fifth grade. The approach is multisensory, providing students with hands-on, engaging learning experiences that extend across content areas like mathematics, science, and history. Additionally, a strong emphasis is placed on vocabulary development within these subjects, supported by morphological literacy practices to deepen student understanding. 

Watauga also excels in offering supports through partnerships with Highlands Community Services and Communities in Schools/Appalachian Highlands. These collaborations provide in-school counseling services and behavioral support to address attendance issues and encourage positive behavior. Through a combination of counselors, school-wide incentives, and targeted student lunch groups, Watauga ensures students receive the necessary support both inside and outside the classroom, fostering a positive and nurturing learning environment. 

With research based instructional strategic, a data driven focus, and the use of a balanced calendar to provide wraparound supports, Watauga Elementary School stands out for their work exceeding the School Performance and Support Framework’s high expectations for mastery with a 97% Overall Framework Score and scoring 23.68 out of 22.5 in Reading, 23.66 out of 22.5 in Mathematics, and 10.62/10 in Science. In growth, the school scored 14.35 out of 17.5 for Reading and 15.75 out of 17.5 for Mathematics and their Chronic Absenteeism yielded 8.75/10.   

Principal Allyson Willis points to the foundation of Watauga’s success. "The success of our school can truly be attributed to the collaborative effort of our entire school community.  Our staff works tirelessly to align our instructional efforts so that each level is a strong foundation for the next to build upon.  It is our belief that positive relationships, consistency, and routine breeds comfort and success for all our students” In addition to the instructional supports and structures that she has put into place, Principal Willis recognizes this is a team effort and shares “I am extremely proud of our staff in making this a daily reality for each of our students."  

Watauga Elementary School remains a shining example of how dedication, collaboration, and innovation can create an environment where all students succeed. 

In these sessions, ALL In leaders will reflect on implementation successes and opportunities, discuss strategies for supporting educators in promoting student progress, and plan next steps to strengthen implementing Lexia® with fidelity to drive student literacy growth.

Divisions have nearly completed VALLSS Mid-Year score entry and many educators are seeing Scaled Score growth, positive risk-band and subtest Instructional Indicators changes from Fall to Mid-Year.  

Educators will find data interpretation resources on VAConnects > Resources > Data Interpretation. Additionally, Virginia Literacy Partnerships at the University of Virginia has been collecting and analyzing Fall and Mid-Year VALLSS data. Divisions can anticipate a VALLSS Fall Statewide report in March, followed by division-specific reports delivered through the VDOE Single Sign-on for Web Systems. Once Mid-Year data is fully analyzed, a VALLSS Mid-Year Statewide report will be released, as well as division-specific reports through SSWS. 

On December 3, 2024, the Board of Education approved the addition of three International Baccalaureate (IB) courses — IB Global Politics, IB Design Technology, and IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science — to the Board of Education Approved Courses to Satisfy Graduation Requirements for the Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas in Virginia Public Schools. The addition of the IB courses provides additional flexibility for IB Diploma students to earn an advanced diploma and expands options for all students in IB designated schools to take advanced coursework and meet graduation requirements.  

School divisions and families should consult the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Diploma Requirements technical assistance document for further clarification on the IB Programme and graduation requirements reflected in the Standards of Accreditation. This resource includes information on graduation requirements for IB Diploma candidates, best practice considerations for school divisions and families, and answers to commonly asked questions. 

The Virginia Department of Education is offering an exciting opportunity for school divisions to expand virtual learning opportunities to secondary students (Grades 6-12) students in the Commonwealth this summer. The Virtual Virginia Summer Session 2025 Free Allotment Grant application is open to all public-school (LEA) divisions within Virginia. Funding for a total of 800 Virtual Virginia Summer Session 2025 free course enrollments will be awarded. Priority will be given to applicants who plan to support students with taking courses for high school credit or credit recovery courses needed for graduation requirements.  

By 4:00 PM on Monday, February 24, applicants must complete the Application on Microsoft forms and email the signed Statement of Assurances PDF to etci@doe.virginia.gov.

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of experts based on the following criteria. 

• Demonstrated need for intensive support, especially for high school credit or credit recovery towards courses for graduation requirements. 
• Clearly implementing or expanding virtual learning opportunities to all students, especially those who would not normally have the access. 
• Clarity of an evaluation plan to demonstrate needs have been met with funding. 

Homeschool and private school students are also eligible if enrolled through a Virginia public school. Priority will be given to school divisions that demonstrate a significant need for intensive support to implement or expand virtual learning programs. Please note that school divisions are only permitted to submit one grant application for the division.  

Summer Session 2025 enrollment begins on Wednesday, February 26. Schools and divisions selected as awardees will need to enroll secondary students (grades 6–12) and use grant funds to pay the invoice. Once the grant funds are exhausted, all Summer Session 2025 enrollments are subject to the existing VVA Summer Session fees. Virginia public school enrollments made using the free enrollment allotment are non-transferable once registration closes. 

Due to school closings and delays caused by inclement weather, the VDOE has extended the Fall 2024 Non-Writing Test Administration and the Winter Growth Assessments test administration windows to Wednesday, February 19, 2025. Students who were required to be assessed but were not will need to be accounted for in accordance with directions in the Test Implementation Manual. 

For future test administrations, divisions are encouraged to consider choosing a local test window that would allow for flexibilities that may be needed for inclement weather. 

If you have questions, please contact assessment staff at student_assessment@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-2102. 

To help support student academic and career planning, the top 100 professions in the Commonwealth by median pay and the education, training, and skills required for each profession, and the top 10 degree programs at institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth by median pay of program graduates have been updated: 

• View the Top 100 professions in the Commonwealth by median pay and the education, training, and skills required for each such profession  
• View the Top 10 degree programs at institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth by median pay of program graduates  

The University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in collaboration with the VDOE has researched and compiled this data for the 2024-25 school year. The information is based on occupational employment statistics and educational attainment data produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics as well as longitudinal wage data produced by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia.   

On February 2, 2025, the Senate Finance and Appropriations and House Appropriations Committees adopted separate changes to the amended 2024-2026 biennial budget as introduced by Governor Youngkin. The budget recommendations of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee were adopted by the full membership of the Senate and the budget recommendations of the House Appropriations Committee were adopted separately by the full membership of the House of Delegates on February 6, 2025.  These amendments include: 

• Increases to support positions funded in Basic Aid 
• Additional funding to support special education students
• Bonus payments based on SOQ-funded instructional and support positions in addition to the compensation supplement included in the budget (3%) 

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has developed a distribution summary spreadsheet based on amendments adopted separately by the Senate and the House of Delegates.  This document can be accessed from the VDOE website. 

VDOE will provide additional information during the General Assembly session as changes to the estimated Direct Aid payments occur. After the conclusion of the General Assembly session, VDOE will publish a calculation template pursuant to §22.1-93 of the Code of Virginia.  

Important Reminder Concerning Submission of Grant Reimbursement Requests

Article: 2025-06-53
Audience: Superintendents, Finance Directors
Contact: Christina P. Berta, Chief Operations Officer, Christina.P.Berta@doe.virginia.gov

As we approach the end of the fiscal year, it is important to ensure that you are maintaining financial management and compliance as it relates to all funds including federal grant funds with reimbursement requests being submitted through OMEGA. School divisions are encouraged to submit your grant reimbursement requests at least monthly.

Following these best practices helps improve the chances of a successful reimbursement process and supports financial health. 

If you need support with OMEGA please email OMEGASupport@doe.virginia.gov. If you have any questions related to your federally issued grants, please contact the individual grant program offices for support.   

The Office of Behavioral Health and Student Safety is hosting the Beyond the Threat Assessment: Best Practices for Developing Student Support Plans webinar on Monday, March 3, from 1-2:30 p.m. This presentation explores the critical steps following a school threat assessment, focusing on developing comprehensive support plans to prevent future incidents and address root causes. Key topics include:  

• Post-assessment action planning  
• Best practices for support plan design 
• Implementing proactive interventions to mitigate risk factors

This session will provide suicide risk and threat assessment teams with evidence-based strategies to effectively support students post-threat assessment, fostering a safer school environment and reducing the likelihood of future violent incidents. School counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, and administrators are encouraged to attend.

Those interested in attending can register via the Beyond the Threat Assessment registration form. A recording will be made available to all registrants.   

To support attendance improvement for Virginia’s schools, the Office of Behavioral Health and Student Safety will facilitate a four-part webinar series dedicated to sharing attendance successes and growth. Each session will highlight a specific barrier to attendance and share best practices on improving attendance in that area.  

Those interested in attending can register via the registration link. Participants are encouraged to attend each session, but this is not required. Webinar recordings will be sent to all registrants.   

• Session 1 (Attendance Specialists): March 4, 2025, 12:30-1:45 p.m.  
• Session 2 (Transportation): March 18, 2025, 12:30-1:45 p.m.  
• Session 3 (Mental Health): April 1, 2025, 12:30-1:45 p.m. 
• Session 4 (Parental Involvement): April 15, 2025,12:30-1:45 p.m. 

Additional information and resources for improving attendance can be found on the Attendance and School Engagement webpage. 

In 2026, the United States will mark our Semiquincentennial: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Students are encouraged to participate in America’s Field Trip Contest. America’s Field Trip is a contest that invites students across the country in Grades 3-12 to be part of America’s 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them – with the opportunity to earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.

Students are asked to submit writing or original artwork in response to the contest’s prompt: “What does America mean to you?” 

Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 5 p.m. EST. See official rules for full details including how to enter, eligibility requirements, prize description/restrictions, and judging procedures.  

High school students, parents, and guardians who are interested in learning about financial aid options for college are invited to attend one of the “After the FAFSA: What Happens Next?” webinars hosted by Level Up Virginia and Virginia Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.  

Topics covered include how to review your FAFSA, submission summary, what to expect from colleges, the verification process, how to interpret your award offer, and additional funding options.  

Register today with the After FAFSA Webinar Registration Form to attend a session on February 20 or February 27 from 6-7:15 p.m. Both sessions are free and will cover the same information.