Good morning, 

It has been quite a week of wintery weather for Virginia, with the potential for even more snow in some parts of the Commonwealth before we begin to thaw out!  

Thank you to all our incredible school staff who helped navigate the challenges brought by the winter storm, and to those who are preparing for the possibility of another one. You have provided meals, prepared for and delivered asynchronous learning, cleared school grounds, and wrestled with difficult decisions about the best ways to keep students safe and engaged in their learning. We are deeply appreciative of all your efforts. 

We have shared resources to be helpful as you continue to navigate closures and unscheduled remote learning days, but please let us know if you have any questions or need anything else.  

I look forward to sunnier and warmer days ahead, 

Jenna Conway Superintendent of Public Instruction 

The Virginia Department of Education is proud to celebrate Mrs. Lisa Delp, School Nurse at Galax High School, who has been named one of four national finalists for the 2026 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award. Being selected as a national finalist places Mrs. Delp among the most outstanding school employees in the nation. 

Mrs. Delp was officially announced as a finalist on the national RISE Award website alongside the 2026 National RISE Award Honoree, Donella Wagner of Louisiana, and fellow finalists representing Georgia, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia. This prestigious recognition highlights Mrs. Delp’s exceptional dedication, compassion, and lasting impact on the students, staff, and families of Galax City Public Schools. Her service exemplifies the critical role school employees play in fostering safe, supportive, and thriving learning environments. 

The RISE Award, presented by the U.S. Department of Education, honors classified school employees who go above and beyond in service to their school communities and make a lasting difference in the lives of students. Each state may nominate two RISE honorees annually. Earlier this year, Virginia proudly recognized Mrs. Delp and Ms. Lorie Barbour of Bedford County Public Schools as the Commonwealth’s nominees for the 2026 RISE Award. 

In recognition of this national achievement, the Virginia Department of Education extends its sincere congratulations to Mrs. Delp and to all national finalists and honorees. The Commonwealth of Virginia proudly acknowledges this well-deserved recognition and the exceptional dedication of our classified school employees, whose service and commitment continue to positively impact students, schools, and communities across the state.  

If you would like to designate a division contact to receive further information on this grant, please update the Direct Student Services (DSS) contact information in SSWS. 

In partnership with WIDA, the Virginia Department of Education will offer the Engaging Secondary Newcomers in Content Area Literacy Workshop. This workshop is designed for secondary English language development teachers and content teachers. It will take place at the Community Empowerment Center in Roanoke from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 10, 2026.  

In this one-day workshop, educators will explore key factors that influence literacy development in content areas, focusing on how to engage students in content learning. Participants will learn strategies to analyze newcomers’ literacy strengths and identify areas for growth. Through practical application, educators will gain tools for scaffolding instruction to ensure secondary newcomers can engage with grade-level content in reading and writing, promoting their academic success. 

Participants will identify ways to create supportive and rigorous literacy learning environments for secondary newcomers in any program model, analyze secondary newcomers’ literacy strengths and areas of growth, and examine approaches to scaffolding secondary newcomers’ engagement in grade-level content area literacy learning. 

Interested educators must register in advance. Contact Jo-el Cox, Coordinator of Multilingual Learner Instruction, for details.  

George Washington Day, sometimes called Presidents’ Day, gives Americans the opportunity to honor George Washington and the fascinating history of the American presidency and the contributions of the leaders who have led the country in that role. Resources outlined below provide schools with an opportunity to explore and expand upon content in the History and Social Science Standards of Learning. This day is celebrated on the third Monday of February.    

• Presidents Day | USCIS   
• George Washington's Birthday or Presidents Day? | George Washington's Mount Vernon   
• Presidential Homes of Virginia: Montpelier, Monticello, and Mount Vernon - Montpelier   
• Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day) | National Archives   
• Presidential Libraries and Museums of the National Archives | National Archives

For instructional support and information, please contact the History and Social Science Program at vdoe.hss@doe.virginia.gov.   

Pursuant to § 22.1-253.13:1.D.e, the top 100 professions in the Commonwealth by median pay and the education, training, and skills required for each such profession, and the top 10 degree programs at institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth by median pay of program graduates have been updated:

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

The University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service in collaboration with the VDOE has researched and compiled this data for the 2025-2026 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.   

In January 2026, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030, representing a significant shift in federal nutrition policy. The guidelines move from “Make Every Bite Count” to “Eat Real Food,” emphasizing whole, nutrient-dense foods while reducing highly processed items. 

Divisions may wish to review nutrition-related curriculum materials, expand food label reading activities to include identifying processed foods and additives, and update dairy-related content. Health and physical education teachers, family and consumer science teachers, and health and medical sciences teachers may benefit from professional learning on the key shifts. School nutrition staff and wellness committees may also be helpful partners as schools navigate implementation. 

This Dietary Guidelines for Americans Key Changes and Considerations document provides detailed updates for health and physical education teachers, family and consumer science teachers, and health and medical sciences teachers to consider. 

For any questions, reach out to Jennifer Vedder, Coordinator, Health, Family Life, Physical, & Driver Education, jennifer.vedder@doe.virginia.gov. 

On January 14, 2026, President Donald J. Trump signed into law the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025. This law amends Section 9(a)(2)(A) of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 USC 1758(a)(2)(A)), revising requirements for milk offered through NSLP. USDA memo SP 01-2026 provides guidance on the implementation of the updated fluid milk requirements for school lunch as required by the new law.  

Changes to NSLP Fluid Milk Requirements 

Effective immediately, with the signing of the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025, schools may now: 

• Offer whole milk and reduced-fat (2%) milk during lunch 
• Offer lactose-free milk and other nondairy beverages that are nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk and meet the USDA nutritional standards for fluid milk substitutes during lunch to all students 
• If the school does not offer nondairy beverages to all students at lunch, then it must follow the process for requesting a fluid milk substitute for a non-disability reason and report to the State agency (7 CFR 210.10(d)(2)) 
• A parent or legal guardian may now provide and sign the written statement to request a fluid milk substitute for disability reasons at school lunch 
• Exclude the saturated fat from milk only when calculating the weekly average saturated fat requirement for lunch 

SFAs are encouraged to read SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2025-2026-24 for more information. 

The VDOE, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services, has developed three Medicaid and Schools Program Overview Modules designed for school division special education and student services administrators, school division Medicaid and schools coordinators, and school division mental health providers. These modules provide school leaders with the information and resources they need to support Medicaid implementation in their school division, ensuring compliance and maximizing reimbursement for schools.  

Additional information and resources related to the Medicaid school-based services program are available on the VDOE Medicaid and Schools web page. 

The United States Department of Education invites high school students to participate in the Presidential 1776 Award, a national civics competition to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. After two rounds of local and regional finals, the top four students from each region advance to the national final, held in Washington, D.C. in June 2026, where three winners will receive scholarships totaling $250,000. 

This nationwide scholarship competition challenges students to demonstrate their knowledge of the Constitution, the American founding, and the principles that define our nation. From February to June 2026, students will compete in three rounds of multiple-choice and short answer verbal examinations, independently developed by the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation. 

For more information, review the full press release, information guide, and competition rules.  

Students may register for the competition on February 1, 2026, on The Presidential 1776 website. The deadline to register is February 22, 2026.  

On February 5, the VDOE will host a webinar for site administrators who are participating in VQB5. During this webinar, we will provide a summary of fall VQB5 successes. Information and resources to support successful spring observations and improvement activities will also be shared. 

• Webinar: VQB5 Mid-Year Refresher for Program Leaders 
• Date: February 5 at 2:00 pm 
• Register