The Virginia Works in partnership with Virginia Department of Education and multiple state agencies and workforce development organizations, announces the launch of Virginia’s Talent Solutions Guide, a comprehensive catalog of free programs and services designed to help employers across the Commonwealth plan, develop, hire, and retain skilled talent.  

Fully aligned with Virginia’s broader economic development and workforce strategies, the guide represents a collaborative effort across Virginia’s workforce ecosystem to provide businesses with access to the full spectrum of talent development resources available at no cost to support businesses at every stage of the talent lifecycle. For those pursuing work-based learning opportunities, this is a can’t miss resource.

The Virginia Department of Education has released a comprehensive index of required teacher training. Pursuant to Virginia Code § 22.1-298.8, the index includes information on the classification of teacher required to complete each training; the topic, length, and frequency of each training activity; and the total number of hours of training that each teacher is required to complete.  

The Department will review and update this index annually, when a training is added, or when an existing training on the index is changed in length or frequency to ensure that the information remains current and accurate. Questions about the index can be directed to Rob Gilstrap, Assistant Superintendent of Educator Preparation, at rob.gilstrap@doe.virginia.gov. 

 As holiday and semester breaks approach, keep Zearn implementation on track by celebrating progress and setting end-of-year goals: 

• Monitor and celebrate lesson completion from your Zearn account by clicking on the “Monitor Productivity” tile in your Admin Snapshot and scrolling to the tables below to see weekly trends for lesson completion. In the School Goals Report, look for classes with high percentages of students completing 3 or more grade-level Zearn digital lessons each week. 
• Share the Zearn Celebration Tags or Certificates to recognize students during classroom visits or at school-wide assemblies for total lessons completed the first few months of school. School leaders can access data on total lessons each student has completed by downloading "Student Pace: By student" from the Exports Center in their Zearn account. 

The Virginia Department of Education is proud to announce the launch of the Mary V. Bicouvaris 2027 Virginia Teacher of the Year Program, elevating educators who exemplify the highest standards of teaching across the Commonwealth and the nation. This prestigious program offers school divisions the opportunity to recognize outstanding teachers and shine a positive spotlight on the teaching profession. Each division superintendent is invited to nominate one exceptional teacher for consideration. 

The locally selected Teacher of the Year will complete a portfolio using the online platform SurveyMonkey Apply (SMApply). Teachers may collaborate with their superintendent or designee by sharing their electronic application. The portfolio will include school information, educational history and professional development activities, essays, letters of support, signatures (Superintendent, Principal, Teacher of the Year), and acknowledgements. Applications cannot be submitted until all required signatures and recommendations are received. 

 All applications must be submitted via SMApply by Monday, February 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. EST.  For eligibility criteria, a preview of the application, and access to the SMApply portal, visit the Virginia Teacher of the Year Application and Qualifications website. 

Contact TeacheroftheYear@doe.virginia.gov with any questions. Let’s celebrate the educators who inspire, lead, and elevate teaching and learning every day! 

Governor Youngkin presented his amended FY 2026 budget and his introduced 2026-2028 biennial budget on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, before a joint session of the Senate Finance and Appropriations, the House Appropriations, and the House Finance committees. The Governor’s budgets will be considered by the 2026 Session of the General Assembly, which is scheduled to convene on January 14, 2026.  The amended FY 2026 budget is comprised primarily of technical updates to Direct Aid Programs. Among the key recommendations in Governor Youngkin’s proposed 2026-2028 budget impacting public education funding include:  

• Recomputed Composite Indices for the 2026-2028 biennium; 
• Updating Sales Tax and Lottery revenue estimates dedicated to public education in fiscal years 2027 and 2028; 
• Revisions to the employer rates for fringe benefit contributions paid to the Virginia Retirement System; 
• State funding for a 2.0 percent compensation supplement effective July 1, 2026, and another 2.0 percent compensation supplement effective July 1, 2027; 
• Additional $299.0 million for the School Construction Assistance Program, and; 
• Additional $137.6 million general funds for the Child Care Subsidy Program. 

The Virginia Department of Education published calculations templates and budget information related to the Governor’s amended FY 2026 budget and introduced 2026-2028 biennial budget. Information can be found on the Virginia Department of Education website.

If you have any questions about the Governor’s amended FY 2026 budget or introduced 2026-2028 biennial budget, please contact the Budget Office at DOEBUDGETOFFICE@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-2025. 

A presentation was provided to the Board of Education on November 12, 2025, with additional details. This waiver request will be highlighted in the Superintendent's next call with regional superintendents.   

Public comment on this Ed-Flex application is open. Any individual or organization may submit written comments on the proposed waiver available on the Every Student Succeeds Act | Virginia Department of Education webpage. Written comments must be submitted to ESSA@doe.virginia.gov by tomorrow December 19, 2025.   

The Office of ESEA Programs is offering technical assistance to school divisions in preparation for federal program monitoring for the 2025-2026 academic year for the following programs: Title II, Part A, Preparing, Training & Recruiting High Quality Teachers & Principals and Title IV, Part A, Student Support and Academic Enrichments Grants.  

Program specific webinars will be held according to the schedule below. School division federal program coordinators are encouraged to participate in the program-specific webinars, as applicable. The specialists for Title II, Part A and Title IV, Part A, will contact the school divisions being monitored this year to set up individual conference calls. School division federal program coordinators will be provided access to the monitoring documents on the Federal Program Monitoring website before the scheduled webinar dates.   

The full five-year monitoring schedule is available on the Federal Program Monitoring webpage, please refer to Year Five (2025-2026).    

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 (ESEA). 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 2025-2026 Title I Comparability Report will be available beginning Friday, December 19, 2025. 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 6, 2026. The school division should maintain a copy of the entire verification report on file for audit purposes. 

A webinar will be hosted on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. to provide an overview of how to complete the report in SSWS for new Title I Coordinators. To register for the webinar, please click here.  

The revised FFY2024 Title I, Part A Allocations, Terms of the Grant Award, and Special Terms and Conditions are now available on the Title I, Part A webpage. These reallocated funds include unused funds from Bypass divisions providing equitable services to eligible private schools during the 2024 – 2025 school year. This reallocation is a revision of the allocations released in the #2024-42 Virginia Education Update Newsletter. The United States Department of Education provided specific directions for reallocating unused FFY2024 Bypass funding, specifying that a specific amount of funding must be used by each Bypass LEA to provide equitable services to participating private schools during the 2025-2026 school year.  

For questions about the revised Title I, Part A, allocations, please contact Tiffany Frierson, Title I Coordinator. 

The Virginia Department of Education recognizes that many school divisions across the Commonwealth have experienced closures in recent weeks due to severe weather events and other emergencies. These disruptions underscore the importance of clear guidance and flexible options to ensure that instructional time is maintained and student learning continues without interruption. 

Code of Virginia § 22.1-98 establishes the minimum instructional time requirements of 180 teaching days or 990 teaching hours per school year. It also outlines conditions under which divisions may avoid reductions in state aid when closures occur due to severe weather events or other emergencies, including the use of unscheduled remote learning days, make-up hours, or waivers granted by the Board of Education.   

The Department has guidance to assist school divisions in planning for unscheduled remote learning days. This guidance is designed to ensure instructional continuity during severe weather events or other emergencies while maintaining access for all students. This flexibility is intended to minimize disruptions to student learning while recognizing the realities of unexpected closures. The guidance emphasizes that unscheduled remote learning should be applied judiciously, with priority given to maintaining instructional quality.   

The Virginia Department of Education has begun the process of reviewing Standards of Learning in dance, music, theatre, and visual arts education. We are seeking input from institutions of higher education in Virginia. Your expertise is invaluable in understanding how well K-12 preparation aligns with the expectations of introductory and upper-level collegiate arts coursework. The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes, and all responses will remain confidential and be reported in aggregate. 

Complete the survey by January 16, 2026, 4 p.m. 

An online listening session will be held Monday, January 26, 2026, 10-11a.m. to gather ideas, experiences, and recommendations from professionals at institutions of higher education across the state. Registration is required to attend. 

We invite faculty, department chairs, deans, and arts education program leaders to complete the survey and attend the listening session to provide input regarding student readiness, skill gaps, emerging trends, and opportunities for improving alignment between K-12 and higher education. Your insights will help strengthen pathways that support students as they transition from high school to college-level arts study. 

The Virginia Department of Education  has begun a process of reviewing State Standards of Learning for Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts, and insight is needed from employers across all sectors. Your feedback will help ensure that arts education prepares students with creative, technical, and workplace skills needed in today’s job market. 

We invite employers from a wide range of fields to participate, including: 

• Arts and cultural organizations 
• Creative industries such as design, music industry, media arts, film, gaming, and advertising 
• Education and community arts partners 
• Workforce development and industry leaders 
• Employers outside the arts who value creativity, collaboration, and innovation 

Your responses will help identify workforce expectations, emerging skill needs, and opportunities to strengthen school-to-career pathways. This survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential and reported in aggregate. 

Share your insights by completing the survey here: Virginia Fine Arts Standards of Learning Survey for Employers 

Survey responses are due January 16, 2026, 4 p.m. 

In November 2025, the Virginia Board of Education approved the process and timeline for the review and revision of the 2020 Fine Arts Standards or Learning in Dance Arts, Music, Theatre Arts, and Visual Arts. In the coming weeks, the Department will host a series of preliminary public listening sessions online to gather ideas, experiences, ad recommendations from communities across the state. Whether you are an educator, student, parent, artist, community member, or arts organization representative, your voice matters in shaping expectations that guide arts learning in Virginia. 

Feedback will directly inform the work of the Fine Arts Standards Review Committees as they ensure that standards are current, rigorous, and aligned with 21st-century learning. 

Register by clicking on a link for a listening session: 

• January 22, 2026, 1p.m. 
• January 26, 2026, 4:30p.m. 

The 2026 Multidivision Online Provider application process and forms are now available on the Multidivision Online Provider (MOP) Approval, Renewal, & Course Submission Information | Virginia Department of Education website. Applications for the 2026-2027 school year may be submitted beginning January 1, 2026. Completed applications must be received by the Virginia Department of Education by 5 p.m. EST on January 30, 2026. In addition, previously approved providers may submit new or revised courses during this application cycle.

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 Multidivision Online Provider | Virginia Department of Education website.

The application and course submission cycle for the 2026-2027 school year is open from January 1-30, 2026. Courses submitted for approval must align with the newest revisions to the Standards of Learning (SOL). The entire cycle including submission, review, approval, denial, and appeal process will be within 90 days from the start of the cycle. Communications will be sent to collaborate with MOP during this process. 

The following webinars are designed to support school and division leaders in implementing the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework 2020 edition. The series begins with an introductory webinar February 11, 2026, where participants will learn about the Administrator Supplement: WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework Implementation Guide. The series will continue with a monthly collaborative conversation that explores modules from within guide and how leaders can use the information to develop a plan for ongoing sustainable implementation.  

• WIDA ELD Implementation Collaborative Conversations for School and Division Leaders – Registation Link  
• February 11, 2026, 10-11 a.m. 
• March 11, 2026, 10-11 a.m. 
• April 8, 2026, 10-11 a.m. 
• May 6, 2026, 10-11 a.m. 
• June 10, 2026, 10-11 a.m.  

Students who have a Student Reading Plan from Fall must continue to have the reading plan in place for the entire school year, independent of VALLSS: Grades K-3 Band of Risk. Students who scored in the Low- or Moderate-Risk group in Fall, and score at High Risk at Mid-Year, must now have a Student Reading Plan and EIRI Services for the remainder of the school year. Students who scored in the High-Risk group in Fall, and score at Moderate or Low Risk at Mid-Year, are no longer required to have EIRI services. Ideally, consideration for removal of EIRI services would be made on a case-by-case basis.    

Mid-Year materials orders for VALLSS (K-3, 4-8, and Español) were placed earlier this year. Materials were shipped to divisions in November. If the shipment was incorrect or materials are missing, please send an email to literacy@virginia.edu.  If additional materials are needed, all materials will be printable online: VALLSS Resources > VALLSS Assessments > Administration.    

Mid-Year office hours will begin on Friday, January 9, 2026 from 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. and will continue weekly through February 6, 2026.  

The Office of English is pleased to announce professional learning to support the implementation of the 2024 English Standards of Learning. This webinar series will focus on utilizing multiple strands of the 2024 English Standards of Learning to bolster reading comprehension for every grade level. Resources are comprehensive in nature and will support all schools. Those schools whose data from the School Performance and Support Framework indicate an identification of Needs Intensive Support, or are Off-Track, along with schools that have a federal designation for English, are strongly encouraged to attend.  

Supporting Literacy Comprehension Across Multiple Access Points Sessions: 

• January 6, 2026: 
  • Grade Three: 10:00 a.m.
  • Grade Eight: 2:00 p.m.  
• January 8, 2026:
  • Grade Seven: 10:00 a.m.
  • Grade Four: 2:00 p.m.
• January 13, 2026:
  • Grade Five: 10:00 a.m.
  • Grade Six: 2:00 p.m.
• January 15, 2026:
  • End of Course: 10:00 a.m.
  • K-2: 2:00 p.m. 

Registration information will be emailed directly to literacy leaders as identified in SSWS. Registration links should be shared with educators in each division. 

Providers submit information and instructional materials to indicate that each grade level of the instructional program is aligned with the eligibility criteria of the VLA, namely evidence-based literacy instruction grounded in science-based reading research. Providers will complete an initial worksheet aligned with the Phase I review rubric and submit supporting materials.   

Review teams composed of educators and experts in early literacy will review submissions. All programs that receive a rating of “Meets Expectations” will receive an invitation to proceed to Phase II. Programs that do not receive a rating of “Meets Expectations” will receive a Notice of Denial and Eligibility for Appeal.     

Please click here to submit Phase I Initial Review applications   

Submission of materials either in hard copy or via email will not be accepted.   

The final date for submission is Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST.    

Questions regarding the Virginia Literacy Partnership’s curriculum review and process may be emailed to VLP-VLA@virginia.edu.  

The Virginia Department of Education Office of Behavioral Health and Student Safety is facilitating the School-Based Mental Health (SBMH) Institute—a two-day, in-person professional learning opportunity that will be offered at two locations in February 2026. The SBMH Institute is intended for leaders in school-based mental health, including administrators, central office staff, school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and other staff supporting SBMH implementation efforts.  

The SBMH Institute will support participants by helping them to: 

• apply evidence-informed strategies to address the increasing mental health needs of PreK-12 students in Virginia; 
• explain and implement the core components of a Comprehensive SBMH Model, including resource mapping, needs assessment, data-informed decision making, effective SBMH teaming, Tier 1 prevention supports, and Tier 2/3 intervention practices; and 
• build connections and collaborate with colleagues across school divisions to strengthen SBMH systems and supports in alignment with departmental guidance and resources. 

Please complete the School-Based Mental Health Institute Registration Form by February 3, 2026, to sign up. There is no cost to attend. 

VQB5 classrooms must complete a local CLASS observation this fall coordinated by their Ready Region, with scores entered and verified in LinkB5 by December 22. Once scores are verified, site leaders can access their local CLASS scores via the LinkB5 Export Reports.   

• Using CLASS Scores to Guide Improvement    
• Additional resources to support CLASS observation completion are available on the VQB5 Measuring Quality Interactions webpage.