This year, as we celebrate the U.S.A.’s 250th birthday, we also mark Virginia's 250th anniversary through VA250. Milestones like these offer an opportunity to engage thoughtfully with our shared history, teach the next generation about our past, and reaffirm the responsibilities and values of citizenship, especially at a time when our nation can feel divided. As summer gets underway, I encourage families and students to explore the rich and complex history of our Commonwealth. I'm grateful to the educators and community leaders who help bring Virginia's story to life and inspire us to build a stronger future together. 

Happy Fourth of July, and happy 250th birthday, Virginia! Stay safe. 

As required by House Bill 1229 during the 2026 session of the Virginia General Assembly, VDOE is providing to each division a copy of the Board of Education’s Regulations Governing the Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia (8VAC20-750). VDOE encourages each local school board to fully comply with these regulations. VDOE will submit a report to the General Assembly that will include a detailed summary of our current processes and procedures for enforcing such regulations and include a compilation and analysis of data relating to how such regulations are currently being implemented and utilized by public schools in each school division. 

VDOE also provides additional resources and online training to support compliance with the regulations. For questions regarding restraint and seclusion in Virginia schools, contact VDOE’s Office of Dispute Resolution at ODRAS@doe.virginia.gov. 

An additional $110 million was appropriated for the SCAP FY26 program, and including previous unspent SCAP funds, the Board of Education will award $209,251,437 in the FY26 grant cycle. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to local school boards and regional Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs that demonstrate poor building conditions, commitment, and need to fund the construction, expansion, or modernization of public school buildings. 

School divisions or regional CTE programs requesting funding may apply for up to three school projects during the open application period. Individual capital projects of a minimum $500,000 cost are eligible for grant awards. Capital projects for similar work at more than one school are eligible for funding with the project cost minimum set at $1.0 million.  

School projects achieving the qualifying score of 65 points will be eligible for funding based on updated Amended Guidelines for Implementing the school Construction Assistance Program in the 2024-2026 Biennium.     

Application for funding must be submitted in the Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) portal no later than July 27. School divisions applying for a new school project in the planning or in the document preparation phase that have not yet obtained a VDOE school project number must complete a Planned School Form to be identified as an eligible school project in SSWS.    

VDOE will host a SCAP FY26 informational webinar on July 16 at 3-4 p.m. to review the program and answer questions.  

Section 22.1-94, Code of Virginia, requires local governing bodies to appropriate funds to school divisions that are sufficient to maintain an educational program that meets the Standards of Quality (SOQ). Section 22.1-97, Code of Virginia, sets forth the procedure that VDOE must follow if a county, city, or town fails to appropriate sufficient local funding to support the SOQ. The 2026-2028 biennial budget adopted by the 2026 Special Session I General Assembly (Chapter 1) directs VDOE to follow certain procedures for calculating required local effort as well as procedures to follow if a school division does not spend the required state and local shares for the SOQ. 

The FY 2027 Budgeted Required Local Effort and Required Local Match (RLERLM) data collection application and instructions are accessed through the Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) portal. Supporting documentation, including instructions to assist with completion of the data collection, are provided in SSWS. Most programs with a required local match have additional eligibility requirements to ensure that school divisions qualify for state funding. These additional eligibility requirements must be met prior to the release of state funds, and certifications indicating that the requirements will be met will continue to be collected as in previous years. Please note that each jointly-operated school division (Fairfax County and Fairfax City, Greensville County and Emporia City, and James City County and Williamsburg City) must submit separate certifications for each locality. 

The RLERLM collection window will open on July 3, 2026. The data submission and the electronic certification forms are due to VDOE no later than July 31, 2026. Please note that recurring FY 2027 state payments to school divisions for optional Incentive and Lottery programs cannot begin until all school divisions have certified the RLERLM data collection. Distributions of funds for Lottery programs will begin in January 2027. 

If you have questions about this data submission or the instructions in SSWS, contact the Budget Office at (804) 225-2025 or email at DOEBUDGETOFFICE@doe.virginia.gov. 

Section 22.1-93, Code of Virginia, requires VDOE within fifteen days following final adjournment of the General Assembly session to provide “...estimates to be used for budgetary purposes relative to the Basic School Aid Formula...” based upon the budget actions taken by the General Assembly with respect to public education. The calculation template referenced in this communication references amendments adopted by the 2026 Special Session I General Assembly to the 2026-2028 biennial budget.  

The 2026-2028 biennial budget adopted by the 2026 Special Session I General Assembly was signed by Governor Spanberger on June 29, 2026. The appropriation act was enacted as Chapter 1, 2026 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I. 

VDOE has published a calculation template related to the amended budget adopted by the 2026 Special Session I General Assembly. The downloadable calculation template allows users to enter local projections of enrollment and test the effect on projected state payments and estimated required local matching amounts. Please review the “Instructions” tab of the calculation template for details on how to use it and what information is provided. 

The VDOE website also includes narratives that provide detailed information of the funding changes adopted by the 2026 Special Session I General Assembly that impact the FY 2027 and FY 2028 Direct Aid to Public Education and VDOE Central Office budgets.   

As the 2025-26 school year (SY) wraps up, School Food Authorities (SFAs) should begin preparing required end-of-year submissions to ensure continued compliance with federal and state regulations governing School Nutrition Programs. Three major components require attention: 

1. food safety inspection reporting,  
2. monthly financial reporting, and  
3. completion of the USDA Non-Program Revenue Tool. 

SFAs must document all food safety inspections conducted during the school year and report them in SNPWeb by July 31, 2026.

Financial reporting is also due July 31, 2026. Monthly financial reports must accurately reflect all revenues and expenditures from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.  

Finally, to prepare for SY 2026-27, SFAs are required to complete and retain USDA’s Non-Program Revenue Tool, which verifies compliance with federal rules ensuring that revenue from nonprogram foods (items sold outside reimbursable meals) covers their share of food costs.  

Review SCNP Director’s Memo #2026-2027-01 for more information.