Your perspective matters. To improve experiences and outcomes for all learners, I am thrilled to announce the reestablishment of the Virginia Literacy Act Workgroup, and the continuation of the Innovative Assessment Workgroup and Mathematics Task Force. We are now seeking new members to lend their time and expertise to these important efforts.  

These three groups offer unique opportunities to help shape our work with students. In the words of one person in the Innovative Assessment Workgroup, being a member “isn’t just a role – it's an opportunity to shape how our students are seen, supported, and inspired across the Commonwealth.” 

For more details about how to apply, please see Instruction Implementation, Support & Evaluation below. We are committed to ensuring these groups reflect a broad range of voices and encourage all individuals who meet the criteria to apply. 

I’m grateful for the significant progress made so far by these groups and welcome all current members to continue. With a combination of current and new perspectives, I know great insights will come from these efforts as we move forward.    

School divisions are reminded to complete the process for ordering diploma seals for the 2026 graduating class. 

Eligibility 

In accordance with 8VAC20-132-50, students who meet requirements for graduation and demonstrate academic excellence and outstanding achievement may be eligible for one or more diploma seals. For a list of available diploma seals and criteria for awarding each, please see the Department’s Diploma Seals webpage. Graduation requirements are available on the Graduation Requirement Resources webpage.  

Action Required 

School divisions can submit diploma seal orders for this year’s graduating class through the 2026 Diploma Seal Order Form by March 27, 2026. Only one order per division will be accepted. 

In response to Executive Order 4, the Virginia Department of Education is opening up the legislatively-required Innovative Assessment Workgroup for additional members. This Workgroup serves as an advisory board to the Department and helps inform the development of a new, innovative statewide assessment system.  

The Department is appreciative of the 17 current members and is looking to expand membership.  

Workgroup participants should have expertise in one or more of the following areas: assessment design and administration, using assessment outcomes to improve instruction, implementation and change management, testing accommodations, teaching and assessing a variety of student groups (multilingual learners, students with disabilities, advanced learners, etc.), or supporting students to improve academic outcomes.  

The Innovative Assessment Workgroup will have monthly meetings beginning in March 2026. A full list of dates is shared in the application. All meetings will take place in Richmond or will be hosted virtually. 

Educators, administrators, advocates, professional associations, parents, and community members are invited to submit applications. Applicants who speak a language other than English are encouraged to apply.  

Applications may be submitted by completing this form.  

All applications must be received by March 2, 2026.

At its November 13, 2025, meeting, the Virginia Board of Education authorized the Virginia Department of Education to begin reviewing the Digital Learning Integration (DLI) Standards of Learning (SOL). The review is expected to be completed by Summer 2027. 

An important part of the review process is gathering public feedback. We invite classroom teachers, students, parents, administrators, curriculum supervisors, Instructional Technology Resource Teachers (ITRTs), librarians, and other stakeholders to share their input using the 2020 DLI SOL Public Comment form,  will remain open until March 30, 2026.  

The form also includes application questions for those interested in serving on the review committee. Selected steering committee members will be contacted in March and review committee members will be contacted in May. 

In addition, the previously published, Higher Education and Employer/Business Input surveys are still available and will also close March 30, 2026. 

Your feedback helps ensure we collect a comprehensive set of perspectives from all stakeholders. 

 The Office of Student Assessment is seeking nominations for the 2026 Standards of Learning (SOL) Item Review Committees. Approximately 10-15 members are needed for each of the committees, and school divisions may nominate one or more representatives for each committee. The Committees will be convened for mathematics, reading, science, and history & social science in July 2026 in Richmond, Virginia. For a full list of committees and specific dates, please refer to the 2026 SOL Item Review Committee Information for Applicants and the Assessment Committees web page. 

Committee members will be chosen based on grade-level experience and content area expertise; in-depth knowledge of the SOL; instructional/supervisory experience with students of varied learning styles, abilities, and aptitudes, including students with disabilities and English learners; and balanced regional representation.   

All educators who wish to serve on these committees, including those who have previously served, must apply online using the link found on the Assessment Committees web page. An application requires the completion of the three-step process identified on the 2026 SOL Item Review Committee Information for Applicants document by Friday, April 3, 2026, for consideration by the Virginia Department of Education.  

If you have questions or need technical assistance with the application process, please contact the assessment staff at (804) 225-2102 or Student_Assessment@doe.virginia.gov.

The history and social science program is excited to announce the updated History and Social Science Instructional Guides with embedded resources from external partners are now available online. These resources will be linked within the Additional Resources component of each Instructional Guide through the #GoOpenVA platform.

Professional learning in support of these new resources will be made available to educators and leaders throughout the year. The History and Social Science team will host virtual office hours to assist school divisions with history and social science instruction, resources, pedagogy, or other areas of note within history and social science education. 

Office hours will occur bi-monthly starting in February, then once a month starting May 2026. Please use this link to attend the sessions. Dates and times for the upcoming office hours are below.

Dates and Times for Office Hours:   

• Division History and Social Science Leaders and School Leaders:  
  • Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 11 a.m.-Noon 
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 11 a.m.-Noon 
  • Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 11 a.m.-Noon 
• Classroom Teachers:  
  • Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 3-4 p.m. 
  • Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 3-4 p.m. 
  • Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 3-4 p.m. 

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

The Virginia Department of Education, Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs review public school divisions, RCCIs, and private schools (SFAs) that operate school meal programs to ensure they limit their net cash resources in the nonprofit school food service account to no more than three months’ average expenditures (7 CFR 210.14(b)). 

SFAs with an Excess Balance 

The excess balance for SY 2024-2025 is calculated as of June 30, 2025, and SFAs that have an excess balance are listed in SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2025-2026-28, Attachment A. These SFAs must submit an excess balance corrective action (SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2025-2026-28, Attachment B) to SNPPolicy@doe.virginia.gov by March 27, 2026. 

The VDOE-SCNP determined it will modify the calculation method effective with the SY24-25 annual financial report. The new method reduces the number of months operating balance available, which benefits SFAs when determining excess balance. 

Financial Report Update and Excess Balance Webinar 

SFAs are encouraged to attend VDOE-SCNP's “SY2024-2025 Financial Report Update and Excess Balance” webinar on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 2 p.m. Attendees must register in advance of the webinar. The webinar will address: 

• regulations regarding the three-month operating balance, 
• the method for determining the number of months operating balance and excess balance including the supporting calculations, 
• requirements for excess balance plans,  
• the timelines for submission, and 
• best practices for excess balance corrective action plans. 

SFAs are encouraged to review SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2025-2026-28 for more information. 

The Virginia Department of Education, Office of Board Relations, conducts periodic reviews of the agency’s regulatory catalog, per the Code of Virginia 2.2-4017 and 2.2-4007.1 part E. Recently, VDOE conducted a periodic review of the Administrative Code 8VAC20-580, Regulations for the School Breakfast Program, that resulted in the regulatory action to repeal Chapter 580 and move its underlying regulatory requirements, which provide guidance to public schools to maintain compliance with state and federal regulations, to the new section 60 of Chapter 720. The guidance includes: 

• the procedures used to implement SBP in the "Agreement to Participate" and the "Policy Statement for Free and Reduced Price Meals," 
• a reporting system for the compilation and analysis of information concerning the number and socioeconomic characteristics of participating school-age children, 
• the investigation of complaints and an appeals process, 
• requirement that students must be provided a minimum of 10 minutes to eat breakfast after the meal is served, and 
• protected mealtime from 6 a.m. until after the close of the last breakfast service period. 

There are no new state regulations for SBP. These recent changes are part of a routine periodic review conducted to ensure that existing regulations remain current, accurate, and align with federal requirements. These updates refine existing language for clarity and accuracy. 

Public school divisions should ensure that state regulatory citations in division policies and procedures are updated. Please review SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2025-2026-27 for more information. 

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) is launching the SREB Crisis Recovery Network, a new initiative designed to strengthen school crisis recovery efforts following catastrophic events. This network aims to prepare 40 Virginia school counselors to provide effective crisis response and extended recovery support within their schools, districts, higher education institutions, and, when needed, across SREB states. All training and deployment costs are fully covered by SREB. 

An informational meeting will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, from 9-9:45 a.m. to share details about the network, counselors’ expectations, training requirements, and opportunities for participation. A recording of the webinar will be sent to all who register. To register for the webinar, please complete the SREB Crisis Recovery Network Informational Webinar for School Counselors Registration. For additional information, visit the SREB Crisis Recovery Network web page. 

February is recognized nationwide as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, a time to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs. This observance provides Virginia schools with an opportunity to showcase success stories and highlight the critical role CTE plays in preparing a highly skilled workforce for Virginia’s economy. 

We encourage all school divisions to use CTE Month to raise awareness of the quality programs offered across the Commonwealth. Consider hosting events and activities that allow CTE students to share their projects, portfolios, and skills with families, community members, and business and industry partners. These engagements help demonstrate the value of CTE and strengthen connections between education and the workforce. 

For more information on CTE Month, visit the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) website.