In April, the Virginia Public School Authority finalized the approval of $12 million to fund the 2027 School Security Equipment Grant (SEGM).  

This grant is awarded on a competitive basis, and school divisions are eligible to receive grant awards up to $250,000. SEGM grant information is located on the Security Equipment Grants webpage. Grant applications must be submitted to VDOE between July 1, 2026, and August 1, 2026, using the VDOE SSWS portal. All funded security equipment must be purchased and installed within six months of notification of the grant award or by March 1, 2027. 

To support the installation of school security equipment during the summer months, school divisions and regional programs may apply for grants reimbursements for school security equipment expenditures beginning on or after April 30, 2026. Such projects must otherwise meet all existing program guidelines and only approved projects will be reimbursed. 

Information about the local match and exemptions can be found on the Security Equipment Grants webpage.

Awarded grant funds will be maintained and disbursed from accounts administered by the State Non-Arbitrage Program (SNAP) under the Virginia Public School Authority. 

VDOE is seeking applications for the History and Social Science (HSS) and English Language Learners (ELL) Summer Resource Review Committees. Committee members will assist with curriculum development, training design, review processes, and train-the-trainer professional development. Educators with classroom experience and knowledge of the 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning, or educators with teaching experience and a strong working knowledge of ELL strategies and collaborative learning models are strongly encouraged to apply.   

• The English Language Learners Instructional Guide Enhancement Committee will work collaboratively to create short, flexible inquiry experiences that integrate ELL strategies with history and social science content and skill development. These tasks will help build students’ historical thinking skills, cooperative learning, and communication.

• The History and Social Science/English Language Learners Inquiry Committee will work collaboratively to create short, flexible inquiry experiences that incorporate ELL strategies along with history and social science content and skills. These tasks are designed to build students’ historical thinking, collaboration, and communication. This initiative integrates effective, research-based language acquisition strategies from the ELL Strategy Library to ensure that all students can fully engage in inquiry.

To apply for either one or both committee(s), submit an online application by June 26. Selected members will be notified by July 3.  

VDOE invites all newly hired local Directors of Special Education to the 2026-27 New Directors Academy. This yearlong professional development opportunity aims to support educators in their roles and responsibilities within their local school divisions and to enhance the outcomes of students with disabilities across the Commonwealth. 

A new Director of Special Education is defined as an individual who is new to the position, has not served as a special education director in another local school division, or became a director after last year’s Academy. If your school division has employed a new special education director, please complete the Registration for the 2026-2027 Academy for New Directors of Special Education by June 30, so that information about this academy may be provided. 

This yearlong academy will include seven in-person sessions. The schedule and details for all academy sessions will be disseminated via email to registered participants in July. Each new director will be assigned an experienced mentor to provide support in their new role. 

VDOE’s Fine Arts program invites school divisions to identify fine arts educators to participate in the 2026 Fine Arts Teacher Leadership Program. This new initiative aims to build leadership capacity among dance, music, theatre, and visual arts teachers and prepare them to support division-level professional learning and curriculum development. 

Divisions may nominate one educator per discipline. Selected teachers will engage in a series of five required virtual meetings. Participants must also attend one in-person session on either October 7 (Region 1), October 14 (Region 7), or October 21 (Region 5), from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.  

Division leaders should plan for selected educators to take on leadership responsibilities related to fine arts professional learning and curriculum work during summer 2027 and/or the 2027-2028 school year. Before submitting names, divisions should notify each educator of their nomination for the program and verify availability. 

Submission information (teacher and division contact details) must be provided on the 2026 VDOE Fine Arts Leadership Program Educator Identification Form by July 17. Each division should submit the form once all educators have been confirmed. 

The Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs is excited to host the 2026 Virginia Farm to School and Directors Conference at the Omni Hotel in Richmond, September 21-23! This year’s conference theme is Rooted in Partnerships.  

This dynamic educational event convenes Virginia school and community nutrition program operators, producers, distributors, nonprofit organizations, and other farm to school stakeholders for program capacity building and networking sessions. The Pre-Conference Site Visits on September 21 and the Virginia Farm to School Conference on September 22 are open to the public. The Directors Conference  on September 23 is open to child nutrition leadership only. 

The Virginia Farm to School and Directors’ Conference webpage is the one-stop location for all things conference-related, including information on call for proposals and site-visit proposals, community partners application, event registration, and other conference information. 

Review the conference webpage and SCNP Director’s Memo #2025-2026-50, for more information.