Additional guidance on the appeals process was provided to the Virginia Department of Education today, April 3, 2025. VDOE will be holding a virtual meeting with the fifteen impacted LEAs on Friday, April 4, 2025, with impacted school divisions’ Superintendents and Finance Directors to review the appeals process as outlined in the April 3 follow-up message. VDOE is committed to supporting our affected school divisions through this process.  

We are also working on the necessary appeals for state-level projects that move the needle on student recovery, and this is a top priority of the Department. We will continue to share additional information as VDOE receives further communication and guidance.

Reminder: Parental Rights Laws

Article: 2025-13-149
Audience: Superintendents, School Principals, Teachers, Parent/Family Engagement Liaisons
Contact: Office of Parental Engagement, parents@doe.virginia.gov

On Friday, March 28, USED’s Student Privacy Policy Office reminded State education agencies (SEAs) and local educational agencies (LEAs)receiving federal financial assistance by USED of their obligations under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) as well as the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). The letter serves as guidance in conjunction with the Department’s annual notification required by 20 U.S.C. § 1232h(c)(5)(C). 

You can review Secretary McMahon’s letter as well as the Student Privacy Policy Office memo to Chief State School Officers and Superintendents here. 

U.S. Department of Education Directive Concerning Compliance with Title VI and Students V. Harvard

Article: 2025-13-148
Audience: Superintendents, School Governing Board Members
Contact: federalcompliance@doe.virginia.gov

After last week’s Reclaiming Childhood event with Dr. Arthur Brooks and the approaching Screen Free Week April 13-19, we thought we would share on some approved bills relating to students’ health and safety including:   

• HB1961/SB738 Public elementary & secondary schools; student cell phone & smart device possession and use policies. Codifies Bell-to-Bell cell phone-free requirements by directing each school board to develop and each public elementary and secondary school to implement age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate policies relating to the possession and use of cell phones by students on school property.  
• HB2774/SB1240 School-connected student overdoses; policies relating to parental notification, guidelines. Requires public school principals and heads of private schools in the Commonwealth to report certain information to the parents of enrolled students within 24 hours of a confirmed or suspected school-connected student overdose, as defined in the bill.  
• HB1910/SB1289 Public elementary and secondary schools; nutritional standards for school meals and other foods. Prohibits any public elementary or secondary school from offering or making available to any student any food served as a part of a school meal or any competitive food, as defined in applicable law, that contains any of the seven color additives listed in the bill. The bill directs the Board of Education to amend its nutritional guidelines for competitive foods promulgated pursuant to relevant law in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2027.
• HB2051 Division superintendents, etc.; annual meetings on school grounds with local law enforcement. Permits each division superintendent or his designee and the school safety audit committee established by the division superintendent to meet annually on the grounds of any public school in the local school division with the chief law-enforcement officer of the locality or a designee from the local law-enforcement agency to discuss the annual school safety audit completed for such school.  
• HB2226 Noncustodial parent; disclosure of student address. Requires (i) notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, upon written request of the foster parent of an enrolled student, a school board employee to redact the address of the foster parent prior to providing such student's parent any record otherwise containing such address and (ii) at the time a child is placed in foster care, each local department of social services to, if applicable, notify the foster parents of their right to make a written request pursuant to clause (i).  
• HB2543/SB1370 Model memorandum of understanding; counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth. Provides that the model memorandum of understanding developed by the Department of Education for partnerships with community mental health services providers or school-based telehealth providers shall include procedures allowing for students to receive counseling from school counselors by way of telehealth.  
• HB1663/SB1104 Public schools; guidelines and policies on student-athlete extreme heat safety and protection. Requires the Board of Education to develop, biennially review and update as necessary, and distribute to each local school division guidelines on policies relating to extreme heat safety and protection for student-athletes. The bill requires each school board to develop and update, in accordance with the guidelines developed by the Board of Education, policies on student-athlete extreme heat safety and protection that (i) are consistent with any heat guidelines based on Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) levels. 

The History and Social Science Program is pleased to announce the release of the history and social science instructional guides. Instructional guides are companion documents to the 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning – amplifying each standard by defining the core knowledge and skills in practice, supporting teachers and their instruction, and serving to transition classroom instruction from the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning to the newly adopted standards. The local History and Social Science curriculum should include a variety of information sources, readings, learning experiences, and forms of assessment selected to create a rigorous instructional program. 

Instructional guides include five distinct sections, now inclusive of dynamic and interactive components: Changes and Revisions, Understanding the Standard, Supporting Questions, Skills in Practice, and Concepts and Connections aligned to each standard. 

History and Social Science Instructional Guides will be released as follows (*updated with resource links):

On March 27, 2025, the Virginia Board of Education received the Final Review of Additional Proposed State Approved Textbooks for K-12 Mathematics and Instructional Materials. The Board of Education took action to approve the list of proposed mathematics textbooks and instructional materials. The Department of Education has published a consolidated list of approved textbooks on its Mathematics Textbook and Instructional Materials Review | Virginia Department of Education webpage.    

The Code of Virginia permits local school boards to use textbooks not approved by the Virginia Board of Education. If a local school board opts to use a textbook not approved by the Board of Education, a local textbook review process should be conducted that includes components similar to the state-level review with a focus on High-Quality materials. The Guidelines for Local Textbook Approval, updated by the Board of Education in September 2011, provide additional information.   

A comprehensive overview of the current textbook review process, along with the Regulations Governing Local School Boards and School Divisions, are available in Virginia’s Textbook Review Process.   

On March 27, 2025, the Virginia Board of Education received for Final Review the Virginia Literacy Act Intervention Instructional Program Guide and Supplemental Instructional Program Guide for Grades 6-8. The Board of Education took action to approve the list of proposed intervention and supplemental programs for Grades 6-8. The Department of Education has published the approved guides on its Intervention Instructional Program Guide & Supplemental Instructional Program Guide | Virginia Department of Education webpage. 

The Virginia Literacy Act requires school divisions to select and use Approved Core Instructional Programs for Grades K-5 | Virginia Department of Education, Approved Supplemental and Intervention programs for Grades K-5, and these approved Supplemental and Intervention Programs in Grades 6-8. For more information about the Virginia Literacy Act, please visit Virginia Literacy Act | Virginia Department of Education. 

VDOE and Just Right Reader kicked off a three-part webinar series last month, focusing on Setting Up Implementation Success. There was excellent turn out from many divisions across Virginia. 

The second webinar will be held on Tuesday, April 29th at 1:00 p.m. The focus of this webinar will be Adapting Instruction to Reach Every Learner. Attendance is encouraged to learn more about using decodable text to adapt instruction for all students, including English learners and students with disabilities, to support foundational reading skills. Please register at the link provided. 

Section 22.1-92, Code of Virginia, requires school divisions to prepare and distribute “notification of the estimated average per pupil cost for public education in the school division for the coming year” as well as “actual per pupil state and local education expenditures for the previous school year.”  This communication provides data related to actual per pupil expenditures for fiscal year 2024 as well as a methodology that school divisions may use to estimate per pupil expenditures for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. 

An Excel worksheet providing an illustration of how Table 15 of the Superintendent’s Annual Report is calculated as well as a worksheet for estimating total and per pupil expenditures by fund source for fiscal years 2025 and 2026 is available at: 

Table 15 of the Fiscal Year 2024 Superintendent’s Annual Report. 

Table 15 shows the total and per pupil expenditures for public school operations by fund source for each school division and statewide. The source for this table is the fiscal year 2024 Annual School Report Financial Section (ASRFIN) data submitted by school divisions. Please note that, for purposes of reporting Table 15, data for the three jointly-operated school divisions are combined and reported under the fiscal agent division. 

As a requirement for federal Title I, Part A funding, all school divisions must meet the local educational agency (LEA) maintenance of effort (“MOE”) requirement as specified in Sections 1118(a) and 8521 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Divisions must expend at least 90 percent of the preceding year’s effort from local and state expenditures, including sales tax, either on a total expenditure basis or a per pupil expenditure basis. The Department has completed the ESEA LEA maintenance of effort calculation for fiscal year 2024, as compared with fiscal year 2023. This calculation is based on data from the fiscal year 2023 Table 15 and fiscal year 2024 Table 15, excluding the Community Services sub function, as reported by school divisions on the ASRFIN.  The MOE Excel file and associated instructions will be located on the Department’s Web site at: 

VDOE Budget & Grants Management Website. 

If you have questions, please contact the Budget Office at (804) 225-2025 or email at DOEBUDGETOFFICE@doe.virginia.gov. 

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 5:00 p.m. EST. See official rules for full details including how to enter, eligibility requirements, prize description/restrictions, and judging procedures.  

Help celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence by making history come alive, sparking a civics renaissance, and celebrating democracy. Through the work of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250), the Commonwealth is continuing its commemoration with educational activities, community and statewide events to celebrate that “Virginia’s History is America’s Story.”    

The Virginia Secretary of Education, Aimee Guidera, would like to invite students to join in this effort with the Expressions of Freedom competition – an opportunity for students to share their ideas and perspectives through artwork, videos, audio recordings, poetry or essays in response to the question: “What does Freedom mean to you?” 

The competition is open to students in Grades 3-12. Selected work will be chosen to be placed in a time capsule in the restored pedestal of the statue of George Washington located in historic Trafalgar Square, London, England. This statue serves as a reminder of the enduring friendship and shared ideals, principles, and sacrifices between America and England.

For more information, please visit VDOE-VA250.  All competition entries must be submitted electronically by no later than 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 18, 2025, by using the Expressions of Freedom link.

Sign-up for the VA250 Newsletter!

Article: 2025-13-134
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Christonya Brown, History and Social Science Coordinator, vdoe.hss@doe.virginia.gov, and Cheryl Wilson, VA250 Executive Director, cwilson@va250.virginia.gov

Established by the General Assembly in 2020, VA250 serves to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the Independence of the United States in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Educators and division leaders are highly encouraged to sign up for the VA250 Newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of the latest news and events across the Commonwealth to celebrate Virginia’s 250th commemoration.

The April 2025 edition features exciting updates such as –  

• Two Lights for Tomorrow is a nationwide initiative to commence the celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The famous ride of Paul Revere occurred April 18 – 19, 1775. 
• Patrick Henry’s Speech - Patrick Henry ignited the flames of revolution with his legendary speech and galvanized the Virginia delegation, leading to a resolution that committed Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War. 250 years later, VA250 brought history alive with a reenactment of the speech. Relive that moment through the archived livestream of the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s, “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech.  
• The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience is a hands-on, interactive, and immersive “museum on wheels,” the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience titled “Out of Many, One,” is housed in a quad-expandable tractor trailer that is traveling throughout Virginia and beyond. The mobile museum brings key stories of Virginia’s rich history to schools, museums, local events, fairs, and more, highlighting every region of the state. School divisions are invited to sign-up for the Mobile Museum for a unique experience.  

Through the work of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250), the Commonwealth is continuing its commemoration with educational activities, community and statewide events to celebrate that “Virginia’s History is America’s Story.”    

School health data is imperative for policy development, allocation of resources, targeted interventions, and enhanced academic performance. Data tells a story, providing stakeholders with clear snapshots into student wellness and informing decisions regarding best practices. Adequate use of school health data can also lead to robust and comprehensive school health programs, improved health outcomes for students, and stronger healthier communities. 

The annual mandated school health data portal will open Tuesday, April 15, 2025. Annual mandated hearing and vision data along with collected school health data is entered through the Single Sign-on Web Systems. Please contact your school division’s SSWS administrator if you need assistance logging in. All data entries are due by close of business Monday, June 30, 2025. School nurse coordinators will receive an email with further information along with supplemental guidance for data entry Thursday, April 10, 2025. 

The Virginia Department of Education will be participating in a “Virginia Military Signing Day” event at the Virginia War Memorial Friday, May 16, 2025, 5-6:30 p.m. This is the agency’s fifth year participating in a celebration of this kind.

We are requesting that school divisions across the Commonwealth consider providing transportation to the ceremony in Richmond for their honored students. If this ask is beyond your division’s ability, please consider holding a similar celebration locally. At minimum, schools should consider setting aside recognition of these students during end-of-year senior assemblies. VDOE would like to assist school division efforts to build awareness of their Military Signing Day celebrations. Please consider sharing information about your event and posting any highlights via social media using #VirginiaMilitarySigningDay. 

To assist you in sharing the event and honoring your students, please feel free to utilize the recognition certificate signed by Superintendent Emily Anne Gullickson, and Charles Zingler, Commissioner, Department of Veterans Services. A digital copy of this certificate can be found on the VDOE Military Families webpage. 

The Virginia Department of Education encourages all Virginians to recognize and appreciate the contributions of school libraries and librarians in their communities. Schools across the Commonwealth are encouraged to participate in activities and events that highlight the importance of school libraries during the month of April. 

Purple Star Designation  

The application window for those schools seeking or renewing their Purple Star Designation for school year 2024-2025 will begin April 1, 2025, and close September 19, 2025. Schools can visit the Purple Star Designation webpage for more information on what is required to apply.

For more information on recognizing and celebrating military students, the Virginia Department of Education has developed resources that are available on the VDOE Military Families webpage.