#2025-37 Virginia Education Update November 6, 2025

Virginia Department of Education sent this bulletin at 11/06/2025 03:20 PM EST

View this message online

#2025-37 | Update for November 6, 2025

Download Superintendent's Briefing Note (To-Do & Article List)

Latest Federal Updates

Presidential Fitness Test

Article: 2025-37-568

Governor Youngkin issued Executive Order 55 on November 4 to reinstitute the Presidential Fitness Test in Virginia’s public schools by the 2026-2027 school year, aiming to promote student health and readiness for life by linking physical wellness to academic success, civic readiness, and overall development. The Order directs the Virginia Department of Education to align the test with current 2022 Virginia Physical Education Standards of Learning, form a task force for implementation, and incorporate forthcoming federal guidance. The Presidential Fitness Test was introduced in in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and later formally established in schools in 1966 under President Lyndon B. Johnson. The test has remained a nationally recognized benchmark of youth physical education. The Governor’s full Executive Order is here.

Superintendent's Message

Investing in Schools Is Investing in Virginia’s Future

In Virginia today, we face a clear imperative: our public school facilities must not only meet the needs of students today but also must be designed to adapt to the needs of tomorrow. With $250 million available this school year through the School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP), we have an opportunity to channel smart investment into learning environments that serve children, strengthen communities, and reflect financial discipline.

Putting Kids First

Safe, well-designed buildings are foundational to student success. Modernizing our schools means giving every child from rural Virginia to suburban communities a space where they are ready to learn. When schools are built or renovated with purpose, they send a message that we believe in these children and their future.

Investing in students is smart government. It’s ensuring public funds are directed toward proven public goods: human capital, community stability, and workforce preparedness. A well-designed school is a cornerstone of that. That’s why we are making sure every school division knows about these facilities grants as no local match is required like other funding opportunities.

Incentives for Flexible Spaces

The amended SCAP guidelines rightly emphasize flexible space concepts such as school-within-school concepts, public micro schools, and innovative spaces for redesigning underutilized or consolidated spaces. These are reflections of real shifts in how instruction works: blended learning, project-based instruction, smaller learning communities, multidisciplinary hubs, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) labs.

By encouraging school divisions to propose facilities projects that build in flexibility and innovative spaces, Virginia is better aligning facilities with workforce realities. Consider CTE spaces that allow students to move seamlessly from classroom theory to hands-on labs for high-demand sectors like aerospace and manufacturing. A design that empowers educators to reconfigure rooms with ease, share equipment, and integrate across subjects.

Flexible facilities also mean longevity: when major renovations and expansions are made with flexibility in mind, the building can more easily serve future generations without requiring complete teardowns.

Redesigning Excess & Underutilized Spaces

We know some divisions are facing the challenge of declining student enrollment or buildings that no longer reflect community needs. Empty wings, dated layouts, or labyrinthine corridors that all impact instruction and morale. The amended SCAP guidelines explicitly invite applications that address underutilized space through consolidation or re-use.

We encourage divisions to seize that invitation. Instead of letting large, old buildings sit idle or inefficient, there is opportunity along with new laws like Seat Time Flexibility to redesign these spaces into multiple learning zones, learning hubs, and shared regional CTE centers. Communities will benefit from school buildings supporting local innovation, workforce development, and optimizing space to help reduce maintenance costs.

A $250 Million Moment for Virginia

After $1 billion already invested in school facilities this administration, this year’s funding level of $250 million is significant. This fall grant cycle provides an opportunity to advance multiple priorities: modernizing aging infrastructure, responding to evolving instructional models, and right-sizing facilities to shifting demographics.

School divisions should view this as a tactical moment to use this funding to align your capital-improvement plans with the future of teaching and learning, prioritize flexible and efficient designs, and show how the investment translates into better student outcomes. By leveraging state funds to amplify local investment and improve facilities, Virginia is positioning its students, economy, and communities for the demands of the next decade.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s webinar to learn more: November 7, 2025 10-11AM

Applications are due by November 24, 2025. We encourage your local division to apply!

Emily Anne

Highlights

News from Across the Commonwealth

In a recent OpEd, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush commended Governor Glenn Youngkin and the Virginia Board of Education for their bold leadership over the last four years in building one of the nation’s most forward-thinking systems to meet the needs of today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce. He noted that the 3E Framework redefines readiness in the Commonwealth by including more learners while expanding more pathways to success.

🏆 The Commonwealth of Virginia has been named the recipient of the 2025 State Achievement Award from the State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) for its visionary leadership and statewide professional learning program in artificial intelligence (AI). The State Achievement Award recognizes a state that has made exemplary progress in advancing digital learning, access, and innovation.

Under Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 30 on Artificial Intelligence, the Virginia Department of Education developed a comprehensive program for the responsible implementation of AI across the state’s education system. The initiative aligns policy, professional learning, and technology integration to help educators harness the potential of AI while protecting student privacy, academic integrity, and equitable access. This year’s honor highlights Virginia’s pioneering work in integrating AI across K–12 education through professional development, policy guidance, and strategic partnerships that prepare both educators and students for an AI-driven future.

Students from Signal Knob Middle, Peter Muhlenberg Middle, and North Fork Middle recently took a field trip to Triplett Tech to learn about all of the CTE programs and options available to them when they get to high school! This was not only an important opportunity to expose 8th grade students to the world of CTE, but it also allowed Triplett students the chance to put their skills on display and explain why they chose their specific CTE pathway.

Danville Public Schools is joining schools across the country to celebrate National Literacy Month! Through fun dress-up days and special reading events, staff is inspiring a love of reading for students and fostering a lifelong love for learning. #EverybodyReadsVA

🆕 analysis by The 74 compares analyzes public schools across the country that are doing the best job of teaching kids how to read. In total, there are more than 2,000 bright spot sites where third-grade reading scores are much higher than might be expected based on the schools’ poverty rates. Get to know the 35 Virginia public schools that are beating the odds and teaching kids to read.

Read in the Farmville Herald about the 10 publicly-funded early education programs in Prince Edward, Buckingham and Cumberland counties which received “meets expectations” ratings and the two nearby programs, one each in Charlotte and Lunenburg counties, which received "exceeds expectations" in VQB5.

Phones in Focus Survey

Be Part of National Research on Student Cell Phone Use

Article:2025-37-567

Researcher Dr. Angela Duckworth (author of "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance") invites you to keep the momentum going in the national study examining school cell phone policies and their effects on student learning and well-being. Why join? Virginia is leading the way with these efforts and wants to increase our participation from last year’s survey. Thousands of your fellow educators have already contributed their insights, including many of you right here in the Commonwealth! Your perspective will directly shape smarter, evidence-based policies and best practices for classrooms nationwide.

Quick Facts:
-Just 5 minutes of your time
-Completely confidential
-No cost to participate
-Instant snapshot of current results at end of survey

Make your voice heard today!
Go to: www.phonesinfocus.org

VA250

VA250 Reading Revolution – A Huge Success!

Article: 2025-37-558
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Christonya Brown, History and Social Science Coordinator,Christonya.Brown@doe.virginia.gov; Brandi McCracken, History and Social Science Specialist, Brandi.McCracken@doe.virginia.gov

In partnership with the VA250 Commission, the Virginia Department of Education joined 262 schools across the Commonwealth in the Second Annual Reading Revolution held October 13-17, 2025. The Reading Revolution encouraged educators, community leaders, reenactors, museum partners, and parents throughout the state to celebrate the upcoming 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution by reading to elementary students.

The participation from across the Commonwealth was tremendous as we celebrated the people, places, and events of the Revolutionary era, freedom and democracy, the Constitution, or civic principles that founded this great nation. For additional photographs from the day, along with upcoming VA250 events, visit the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission | Virginia Department of Education webpage.

Innovation

Unlocking Innovation: VDOE’s Seat Time Flexibility Action Kit Empowers School Divisions

Article: 2025-37-557
Audience: Superintendents
Contact: Calypso Gilstrap, Executive Director of Innovation, calypso.gilstrap@doe.virginia.gov

The Virginia Department of Education has launched the Seat Time Flexibility Action Kit to help school divisions redesign instructional time and expand learning opportunities. Enabled by § 22.1-200.3 of the Code of Virginia, divisions can now implement alternative instructional time models that prioritize mastery and engagement over traditional schedules.

The Action Kit offers five model pathways:

Alternative Hour Models: Extend learning beyond the traditional school day.
Course Structure Innovations: Allow students to accelerate or extend time based on mastery.
Flexible Learning Settings: Enable credit-earning through work-based and remote learning.
Blended Course Structures: Combine subjects for interdisciplinary learning.
Emerging Local Practices: Support locally developed or hybrid models.

To guide implementation, the kit includes templates for the required Notice and Monitoring Forms, and highlights examples from Virginia divisions already embracing flexible approaches. Divisions are encouraged to review the kit and begin planning for board-approved models that meet the law’s requirements and unlock new possibilities for instruction. Additional office hours and webinars of models to learn from are coming soon.

Meeting Workforce Needs

Licensure Assessment Assistance Grant

Article: 2025-37-560
Audience: Superintendents, Directors
Contact: Ahmad Saidi, Grants Manager, Office of Educator Preparation, Ahmad.Saidi@doe.virginia.gov

The General Assembly appropriated state funding, for up to $10,000, to provide licensure assessment assistance including subsidizing test fees and tutoring for provisionally licensed teachers seeking full licensure in Virginia.

School divisions, teacher preparation programs in public institutions of higher education, or nonprofit organizations in all regions of the state may apply by 4 p.m. on December 1, 2025.  

Interested applicants should review the complete 2025-2026 call for proposals which includes a statement of needs, cover page and assurances, and budget summary. In the selection process, the Virginia Department of Education may consider the geographic distribution of grant recipients. 

Reminder: Applications for Scholarship and Tuition Assistance for Teachers Interested in Teaching High Demand Industry Credentials and Dual Enrollment

Article: 2025-37-559
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Dual Enrollment Coordinators, CTE Coordinators
Contact: Ahmad Saidi, Grants Manager, Office of Educator Preparation, Ahmad.Saidi@doe.virginia.gov

The Department continues to accept applications for the Scholarship and Tuition Assistance Program supporting teachers who wish to become qualified to teach dual enrollment and high-demand industry credential course which was announced on July 17, 2025 via the VA Education Updated Newsletter.

School divisions are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity throughout the 2025-2026 school year. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through March 13, 2026. School divisions should refer to the grant application for additional details including the specific grant application process, guidelines around eligibility, and payment processes.

Application packet is also linked as a fillable PDF. Link:

Dual Enrollment and Industrial Credentials RFP

ALL In VA

Check out how Virginia schools are leveraging Zearn Math!

Article: 2025-37-556
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Vickie Bohidar, Mathematics Coordinator, Victoria.Bohidar@doe.virginia.gov

Educators across the Commonwealth have been leveraging Zearn Math to support high-intensity tutoring as part of ALL In VA, and students are rising to the challenge.

Southampton Elementary School of Richmond Public Schools launched a schoolwide challenge to encourage students to complete 100 Zearn lessons.
At Harry E. James Elementary of Hopewell City Public Schools, teacher Taylor Scott designed a Zearn t-shirt to spark excitement for math learning.
Red Oak–Sturgeon Elementary School of Brunswick County Public Schools recognized students who reached their first 20-lesson milestone.

Join these schools in celebrating student progress! Visit Zearn’s Math Motivation Hub for downloadable resources — like lesson trackers, completion challenges, certificates, and posters — to engage students and recognize their math learning.

Implementation Strategies to Support Success with Zearn

Article: 2025-37-555
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Vickie Bohidar, Mathematics Coordinator, Victoria.Bohidar@doe.virginia.gov

When students consistently complete Zearn digital lessons, they can experience learning gains. Explore three strategies that help districts and schools improve student outcomes with Zearn.

Dedicate consistent time for Zearn. Building Zearn into the schedule for at least 90 minutes per week ensures students have time to complete 3+ digital lessons each week. 
Train all teachers and leaders on Zearn’s approach to grade-level learning. As part of the statewide ALL In Tutoring initiative, all participating school divisions can receive live training from the Zearn team at no cost to support strong implementation and drive impact. School division leaders should contact their Zearn representative to schedule live training for teachers and leaders. 
Develop routines for data review. Regular data reviews support classroom engagement and help motivate students’ learning with Zearn. Log in to Zearn to view real-time data on student learning.

Instruction Implementation,
Support & Evaluation

English Language Arts Walkthrough Tool Training Webinar

Article: 2025-37-563
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Jill Nogueras, Associate Director of K-12 English & Literacy jill.nogueras@doe.virginia.gov

The Virginia Department of Education's Office of English is providing school divisions and literacy leaders with the K–12 Comprehension Walkthrough Tool,as well as the K–3 Foundational Skills Walkthrough Tool. These resources may be used or adapted by divisions to meet local needs and to support high-quality literacy instruction across the Commonwealth.

To support implementation, the Office of English is offering virtual training sessions for school divisions and literacy leaders on both tools. These webinars will provide an overview of the Virginia English Language Arts Walkthrough Tools, including:

Guidance on when and how to use each tool
Key considerations for interpreting and applying ratings
Strategies to support educators in planning effective literacy instruction aligned with the Walkthrough Core Actions

It is recommended that division, school and literacy leaders attend these sessions together. Following the sessions, divisions can use the previously provided Literacy Planning Cycle found in the VLA Implementation Playbook to support successful HQIM implementation with the added support of the walkthrough tools.

Leaders must register using this form, and the webinar link will be shared prior to the live session.

K–12 Comprehension Walkthrough Tool Training:
November 20, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
K–3 Foundational Skills Walkthrough Tool Training:
November 20, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.

Considerations for Planning Reading Intervention in Grades 4-8 Webinar

Article: 2025-37-562
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Jill Nogueras, Associate Director of K-12 English & Literacy jill.nogueras@doe.virginia.gov

The Virginia Department of Education's Office of English is providing school divisions and literacy leaders with support for scheduling, planning, and implementing intervention services for students in grades 4–8 through the Considerations for Planning Reading Intervention document. This resource offers key considerations in the following areas: School Personnel, Programs and Implementation, Scheduling Intervention, Instructional Approaches to Support Intervention, and Strategies to Ensure Interventions are Data-driven.

To accompany the Considerations for Planning Reading Intervention document, the Office of English will host a webinar for division and building leaders which will take place on November 20, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Leaders must register via this form and the webinar link will be provided prior to the live session.

Divisions with additional questions or requests for clarification regarding areas of support are encouraged to contact the Office of English via registration form by November 10, 2025. These inquiries will be addressed during the upcoming webinar on November 20, 2025.

K-12 English Resources aligned to the 2024 Standards of Learning Available

Article: 2025-37-554
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Jill Nogueras, Associate Director of K-12 English & Literacy jill.nogueras@doe.virginia.gov

The Virginia Department of Education's Office of English continues to provide resources aligned to the 2024 English Standards of Learning to support divisions and schools with implementation. Newly added resources are available on the 2024 SOL Instructional Resources | Virginia Department of Education webpage and the Text-dependent Questions: Samples and Resources | Virginia Department of Education webpage. Materials on these webpages include webinars, slide decks, and support documents. Topics covered include foundational literacy skills, integration of standards, purposeful planning, text dependent questions, developing skilled readers and building reading stamina support, and utilizing instructional guides to support all components of comprehensive literacy instruction.

Resources to support divisions and schools are updated frequently, and educators are encouraged to bookmark these pages for future reference.

Student Reading Plan Samples for Grade 4 – Grade 8

Article: 2025-37-553
Audience: Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Virginia Literacy Partnerships literacy@virginia.edu or vla@doe.virginia.gov

The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) requires that “each local school board shall provide reading intervention services to students in kindergarten through grade eight who demonstrate substantial deficiencies based on their performance on the Standards of Learning reading assessment or a literacy screener provided or approved by the Department. Such reading intervention services shall consist of evidence-based literacy instruction, align with science-based reading research, and be documented for each student in a written student reading plan... (§ 22.1-253.13:1G).” Beginning in 2025-2026, school divisions will implement student reading plans for students in grades 4-8 who require intervention support. Virginia Literacy Partnerships (VLP), in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education have developed sample Student Reading Plans and a Student Reading Plan Frequently Asked Questions document for Grades 4-8. The sample Student Reading Plans show a variety of ways divisions could provide intervention services to students.

The information in Student Reading Plans will be dependent on the school and division’s resources and should reflect the division’s selected Board of Education approved materials as outlined in the Division Literacy Plan. Student Reading Plans can be updated at any time based on new student data, teacher and family input, and student progress monitoring data.

Division and school leaders are asked to share these resources with key literacy staff and teachers to support implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act for Grades 4-8.

School Finance

Mathematics Innovation Grant Application Reminder

Article: 2025-37-564
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals
Contact: Dr. Michelle Wallace, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, michelle.wallace@doe.virginia.gov;Dr. Anne Petersen, Director of STEM, anne.petersen@doe.virginia.gov; Vickie Bohidar, Mathematics Coordinator, victoria.bohidar@doe.virginia.gov

There is still time to submit an application for the Mathematics Innovation Grant. The application opened on October 23, 2025, and closes on November 13, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.

The Mathematics Innovation Grant supports local school divisions in strengthening mathematics instruction and student outcomes. Item 117 in the 2024-2026 Biennium budget allocates $10,000,000 from the general fund for the Mathematics Innovative Grant for:  

Mathematics Curriculum 
High-Quality Instructional Materials 
Competency-based/Mastery Learning Models 
Regional Networks

Additional information can be found on the Mathematics | Virginia Department of Education webpage.

Virginia Community Schools Designation Application – Closes December 12

Article: 2025-37-561
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Community School Coordinators, School Social Workers, School Counselors
Contact: Alexandra Javna, School Social Work Specialist, Alexandra.Javna@doe.virginia.gov

The Virginia Community Schools Designation Process is designed to recognize schools demonstrating a strong commitment to the community school model and ensures consistency, accountability, and quality across implementation efforts statewide. Current implementers and the Community Schools Task Force shared their experiences and feedback to guide the Virginia Community Schools Designation Process.

Before applying to become a designated Virginia Community School, the interested school is encouraged to submit an Intent to Apply for the Virginia Community Schools Designation Form. All interested applicants must watch the Virginia Community Schools Designation Application Webinar prior to applying. To apply for the designation, community school teams must complete the Virginia Community Schools Designation Application by December 12, 2025.

Five Career and Technical Education (CTE) State Entitlements

Article: 2025-37-552
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Finance
Contact: William Hatch, Associate Director, Program Administration and Workforce Development, Office of Student Pathways & Opportunities, cte@doe.virginia.gov

State Lottery and general funds for five Career and Technical Education state entitlements have been continued in this year’s budget. Each of the five state entitlement links below include a description on permitted uses of funding, school division and CTE regional center allocations, and reimbursement forms. 

Reimbursement requests must be submitted to the Virginia Department of Education by May 1, 2026. Any unreimbursed school division and/or CTE regional center funds from the five state entitlements will be reallocated on May 11, 2026, to school divisions and regional CTE centers that have submitted approved reimbursement requests that exceed their initial School Year 2025-2026 allocated amount.  

Project Graduation Funding 2025-2026

Article: 2025-37-551
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, High School Principals, Financial Staff
Contact: Dr. Michelle Wallace, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, michelle.wallace@doe.virginia.gov

Project Graduation funding is available to school divisions to provide instructional support for students in need of verified credits for graduation. Instructional support activities provide intervention and/or remediation to assist targeted students who have received passing grades for standard credit-bearing course(s) but failed the required Standards of Learning (SOL) assessment needed to earn verified credit(s) to complete their diploma requirements.

Project Graduation funding is provided through Lottery proceeds, which are available by January of each year. School division formula-based allocations will be paid on a recurring basis twice monthly between January and June each year. School divisions can locate their annual division allocations using the latest Calculation Tool found on the Direct Aid Payment Budget Calculation Templates and Planning Tools webpage.

Appropriate expenditures include the following:

teacher/tutor salaries/stipends;
student incentives to encourage participation;
instructional resources aligned to the current SOL, for tutorials and administration of approved substitute tests;
materials and supplies necessary for instruction and assessment;
student transportation; and
administrative costs associated with implementation and administration of special education requirements.

For questions regarding Project Graduation, please contact Dr. Michelle Wallace, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, michelle.wallace@doe.virginia.gov.

Updated ESEA Programs Reimbursement Procedures

Article: 2025-37-550
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, ESEA Programs Division Coordinators (Title I, II, III, IV, & V)
Contact: Dr. Randall Johnson, Title II Coordinator,randall.johnson@doe.virginia.gov

This message is to inform you of an important update to the reimbursement procedure. Effective immediately, all reimbursement requests from private schools must be submitted separately from those associated with LEA expenditures. This change is intended to streamline processing and ensure compliance with federal reporting requirements. 

Please note the following important changes: 

Private school and LEA line items should no longer appear on the same reimbursement request. 
Each private school reimbursement request must clearly include the designation “PS” or “Private School” and identify the name of the private school.  
Private School can be selected as the Program Area for Title I, Part A reimbursements. 
For Title IV, Part A, divisions must continue to identify and include the relevant program category—such as Well-Rounded Educational Opportunities, Safe and Healthy Students, or Effective Use of Technology—when submitting reimbursements. 
A single reimbursement request may include multiple private schools; it is not necessary to submit separate requests for each school.

We ask that you share this information with your finance personnel and staff members responsible for submitting reimbursement requests in OMEGA (to VA Tech for Title III Statewide Consortium members) to ensure compliance with these revised procedures. 

Thank you for your attention to this update and for your continued partnership in administering ESEA programs. 

Revisions to 2024-2025 Title III, Part A, Allocations under Provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended

Article: 2025-37-549
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Title III Coordinators and Federal Program Staff, Finance staff
Contact: Nicki Saunders, Title III Coordinator, nicki.saunders@doe.virginia.gov

The revised 2024 Title III, Part A, English Learner (EL) and Immigrant Youth (IY) allocations for each school division receiving over $10,000 are now available. The revised 2024 Title III English Learner reallocation for statewide consortium divisions receiving under $10,000 and the Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements are all available on the Virginia Department of Education Title III, Part A, website.     

The IY allocations are final and were revised in accordance with the procedures provided in Superintendent’s Memorandum #179-17.

Title III, Part A coordinators can submit an application amendment based on the revised FY 2024 allocation through the Online Management of Education Grants Award (OMEGA) application in Single Sign-On Web Systems (SSWS). Statewide Consortium members can submit an amendment to the Title III inbox (t3statewideconsortium@doe.virginia.gov).

Student Opportunities

2026 Governor’s World Language Academies (GWLA)- Applications Now Open

Article: 2025-37-566
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, World Language and Title III Coordinators
Contact: Dr. Lisa Harris, Coordinator of World Languages, and Jo-el Cox, Coordinator of English Learner Instruction, WorldLanguages@doe.virginia.gov

The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce that the 2026 Governor’s Latin and Japanese Academies will be held from June 28 to July 12, 2026, at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. These two-week residential programs offer motivated students the opportunity to immerse themselves in language and cultural studies through a dynamic and engaging curriculum.

The Latin and Japanese Academies are part of the Governor’s World Language Academies (GWLA), a long-standing initiative that also includes full-immersion Academies in French, German, and Spanish. These three-week programs will once again be hosted at Washington and Lee University from June 20 to July 11, 2026.

The student application period is now open, with all submissions due by January 31, 2026. Students are selected through a competitive statewide application process and must be nominated by their schools.

Since 1987, the GWLA has provided over 10,000 Virginia students with transformative summer experiences in world language learning. For more information about the Academies and the application process, visit the Governor’s World Language Academies website.

Behavioral Health & Student Safety

Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor Certification Training – Register by November 7

Article: 2025-37-565
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Child Care Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff, School-Based Mental Health Professionals
Contact: Sarah Bazemore, Behavioral Health and Instructional Supports Coordinator, Sarah.Bazemore@doe.virginia.gov

The Virginia Department of Education's Office of Behavioral Health and Student Safety is facilitating a Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Instructor Certification Training opportunity for school personnel, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). This is a free, three-day, virtual course scheduled from December 9-11, 2025, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. To be eligible for the instructor training course, you must hold a current Youth Mental Health First Aider Certification, which indicates completion of the eight-hour Youth MHFA course within the past three years. Participants must register by November 7, 2025, by emailing their name and email address to Laura Roberson, DBHDS Suicide Prevention Coordinator.

VDOE Careers

The Virginia Department of Education is hiring. Access the list of our current job openings to learn more and apply.

Stay Connected with the Virginia Department of Education

This service is provided to you at no charge by the Virginia Department of Education. Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit Subscriber Help.