A new Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program (VKRP) brief highlights the lasting impact of kindergarten readiness. Children who enter kindergarten with strong literacy, math, self-regulation, and social skills are much more likely to be proficient in reading and math by third grade. 

The findings reinforce the importance of investing in children's learning and development before they start school. In Virginia, school readiness is the foundation of Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5), the state's early childhood quality measurement and improvement system. Across early care and education settings, educators and families work together to build the academic, social, and emotional skills children need for a successful start, guided by Virginia's Early Learning and Development Standards. 

The brief offers new evidence that early learning experiences matter—and that helping children start kindergarten ready to learn can support stronger outcomes well beyond the early grades. Thank you to the early childhood educators, site leaders, families, and community partners whose work every day helps Virginia's youngest learners build a strong foundation for success! 

Read the full brief on the VKRP Briefs and Reports webpage. 

he Teacher Leaders: Planning with the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework workshop is designed to support teacher leaders, coaches, and those that provide local professional development and support for using the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework to plan instruction at the unit level. Participants will integrate content and language learning by researching the architecture of a content unit, setting unit language goals through unit and text analysis, identifying how Language Functions and Language Features help students convey meaning more effectively in content learning. Participants will also prepare to support other educators in using the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework in their local contexts. 

There are two opportunities for participation. Space is limited to 35 in each location. No meals are provided; however, participants will have one hour for lunch on their own. Registration is free and attendance at both the webinar and in-person workshop is required. The deadline to register is September 1.

• Webinar: September 8, 4-5 p.m.
  • In-Person Workshop: September 22, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Fredericksburg, VA
• Webinar: September 10, 2026, 4-5 p.m.
  • In-Person Workshop: September 24, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m., Salem, VA 

Pursuant to Chapter 2, Item 124, Paragraph YY of the Appropriation Act for the 2026-2028 biennium, VDOE is offering grants to support the teaching of critical languages in public schools. Eligible school divisions can apply for funding to offer courses in one or more of the languages currently identified as critical by the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship program.  Priority will be given to proposals that involve collaboration between multiple divisions. 

School divisions may apply for new or continued funding through the online application portal beginning August 13, 2026. The deadline for divisions to submit completed applications is September 15, 2026. Funding decisions from the competitive grant application process will be announced by October 15, 2026.  Additional information, including a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section is available on the  VDOE World Language website. 

VDOE is seeking applications for the History and Social Science Resource Review Committee. This committee, led by agency staff, will evaluate resources submitted by external partners, including museums, public entities, businesses, and institutes of higher education, and organizations in support of the 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and Instructional Guides.  

The committee will consist of 25-40 stakeholders, including teachers, administrators, curriculum specialists, and supervisors with experience with history and social science experience. Members will be selected based on expertise, regional representation, and experience.   

Applicants should be educators with classroom teaching experience and knowledge of the 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning and supporting Instructional Guides. 

To apply, submit an online application by September 18. Selected members will be notified by September 25.  

More information about the requirements for members is in included in the form linked above.  

VDOE is pleased to announce the launch of the Virginia Outdoor Education Program. With $100,000 in appropriated funding for fiscal year 2027, this program will support schools in developing outdoor learning spaces that enrich students’ understanding of the environment.  

Eligible applicants include all Virginia public schools, full-time regional public schools, and programs governed by a local or regional school board. Awards of up to $10,000 will be distributed, with priority given to proposals that build on existing environmental education initiatives, partnerships with environmental education providers, and plans for long-term sustainability of the space.  

The application and supporting materials are available on the VDOE science website. Completed applications should be submitted to vdoe.science@doe.virginia.gov no later than September 25.  

VDOE is pleased to announce the 2026-27 Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant that will provide additional support and funding to ensure schools have expanded structures, tools, capacity, resources, and service providers through family engagement literacy resources for birth through Kindergarten entry and the Literacy Improvement Network. Beginning with the 2026-29 grant cycle, eligible school divisions will apply for a three-year grant award, rather than submitting a competitive application each year to support evidence-based literacy initiatives. This funding opportunity is contingent upon VDOE's annual receipt of a Grant Award Notification (GAN) and associated federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education. In the event of a disruption to this funding, VDOE will communicate to school divisions as quickly as possible.  

Please register for one of the Information Sessions to review the application requirements: 

• August 18, 9-10 am: Registration 
• August 18, Noon-1 p.m.: Registration 
• September 21, 9-10 a.m.: Registration 
• September 21, Noon-1 p.m.: Registration 

Applications are due by October 1, Noon. An Information Guide is available for details.  

Optional office hours will be held. Please register in advance. 

• September 28, 9-10 a.m.: Registration  
• September 28, Noon-1 p.m.: Registration  

VDOE will work through the division point(s) of contact for all matters related to the application, negotiations, and notifications. Applicants not awarded by the VDOE will be notified in writing.  

The VDOE Division of Special Education and Specialized Populations, Office of Behavioral Health and Student Safety, invites Virginia school divisions and Communities in Schools (CIS) affiliates to apply for the Virginia Community Schools Development and Implementation Planning Grant. The grant supports Community Schools initiatives that remove nonacademic barriers to learning and improve student outcomes. 

To access the application, applicants must register for the Virginia Community Schools Development and Implementation Planning Grant Application Webinar, scheduled on August 28 at 10:30 a.m. Attendance at the live webinar is not required. The webinar will be recorded, and both the recording and application will be emailed to all registrants. The application window will close on October 2.  

Virginia continues to expand its Community Schools initiative, with nearly 60 designated Community Schools and Community Hubs across thirteen school divisions recognized for implementing the Virginia Community School Model. Visit the Virginia Community Schools web page and the Virginia Community Schools Impact Report to learn more about this work. 

Looking to expand your skills or discover new classroom strategies? Virtual Virginia (VVA) offers free, fully online professional learning for all Virginia public school educators. Opportunities include webinars, courses, certifications, workshops, conferences, and the VVA Professional Learning Network. 

This fall, VVA invites K-12 educators, administrators, and central office staff to its 2026-27 Statewide Professional Learning Webinar Series, featuring sessions on AI implementation, VDOE content initiatives, Innovation Grant projects, and presentations from Skill Struck, The Prompt Teacher, The Commons, and more. 

The webinars will be hosted weekly on Tuesdays at 1:00 p.m. Register to participate in the Zoom Event Webinars. For more information, contact Reginald Fox, Educational Technology Specialist Office of Innovation, reginald.fox@doe.virginia.gov

Toolkit for 9/11 – Commemorating the 25th Anniversary: As the 25th anniversary of September 11 approaches, educators have an opportunity to reflect on our nation's core values while fostering understanding, respect, and service. The start of the school year provides a meaningful time to promote positive school communities and thoughtful discussions about resilience, remembrance, and civic responsibility. The Toolkit for 9/11: Commemorating the 25th Anniversary offers resources to support educational activities marking September 11. Schools are encouraged to select materials that best meet the needs of their students. 

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day – September 17: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, and celebrates the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Schools are encouraged to recognize the day through educational programming and classroom activities that explore the Constitution and its lasting impact. Resources are available in the  Constitution Day and Citizenship Day Toolkit on the history and social science webpage. 

Chapter 891 passed by the 2026 General Assembly directs the Department of Education to convene a stakeholder work group for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive review of and making recommendations on alternative pathways to licensure for public school teachers in the Commonwealth. The work group will meet quarterly and will solicit input from public school teachers, administrators, teacher candidates, and community members. The inaugural meeting of the work group is scheduled for September 17 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will be held virtually via Zoom. 

The Department is looking for qualified teachers or long-term substitutes who would be willing to serve on this workgroup. Interested individuals are invited to submit the VDOE’s Application for Alternative Route to Licensure Workgroup. Individuals may be required to submit a letter of support from their school division as part of the application process. Applications will be accepted through August 28.  

The General Assembly appropriated $5,227,500 in state funds to incentivize public-school staff members to pursue National Board Certification. In alignment with the Guidelines for Distributing National Board of Certification Incentive Awards approved by the Board of Education on February 27, 2025, the Virginia Department of Education is requesting school divisions submit data for all public-school staff members who meet the eligibility criteria for the National Board Certification Incentive Award as well as data related to classroom teachers in Title I and Community Eligibility Provision schools pursuing either initial certification or maintenance of certificate.  

The 2026 –27 data collection should be submitted by October 15, through the Single Sign-On for Web Services system. There are two separate SSWS Applications, National Board Certification Incentive Award (NBCIA) and National Board Certification Incentive Award – Prep (NBCIA-P). Please review the additional information related to the data collections including eligibility guidelines.  

Note that all school divisions need to submit a verification report for both applications to the VDOE even if they do not employ any individuals eligible to receive either incentive award. In this case, indicate on the verification report that “no eligible individuals are employed; therefore, none are reported for this collection cycle.”   

Registration for the 2026-27 Virginia Quality Birth to Five (VQB5) year opens next week on August 17 within LinkB5 via VAConnects. Site leaders are encouraged to review the resources below to prepare for the upcoming year and reach out to their Ready Region with any questions.  

• LinkB5 Resources Webpage 
• 2026-2027 VQB5 Participation Handbook for Program Leaders/Spanish  
• 2026-2027 VQB5 Participation Requirements Overview/Spanish  
• 2026-2027 VQB5 Participation FAQs/Spanish  

The VDOE Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs (SCNP) conducts procurement reviews on a three-year cycle to assess compliance with all procurement activities utilizing funds from the non-profit food service account, in accordance with federal regulations. For school year 2026-27, SFAs receiving reviews are scheduled in two groups and are listed in SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2026-2027-10, Attachment A. 

SFAs receiving a procurement review are encouraged to register for and attend their respective Procurement Review Orientation Webinar:  

• Group 1: September 3, 2-3 p.m. 
• Group 2: December 3, 2-3 p.m. 

The webinar will be recorded and available to all SFAs in Virtual Virginia. LEA staff involved in SNP procurement, including local government or school division procurement or finance staff, are encouraged to attend.   

The VDOE-SCNP encourages SFAs to review SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2026-2027-10 for information about the review schedule, review process, how to prepare for the review, and the initial documentation required to be submitted. 

The VDOE Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs (SCNP) is excited to announce the release of new online Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) courses and to share important information regarding the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-27 application renewal. 

Beginning in FY 26-27, VDOE-SCNP will transition from live annual CACFP programmatic and meal pattern training webinars to online, self-paced courses hosted in Virtual Virginia. Sponsors must complete these courses prior to approval of the FY 26-27 application renewal. Refer to SCNP Director’s Memo 2026-2027-09 for key information on the CACFP application renewal process. 

The 2026-27 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B Sections 611 and 619 Flow-Through federal allocations for school divisions and state operated programs (SOPs) that qualify based on submission of an approvable 2026-27 annual plan are now available. Supplemental subgrants for Sections 611 and 619 have also been awarded based on the same eligibility criteria.

The Section 611 subrecipient awards of $102,628,727.70 were made available on July 1, and $197,852,460.30 will be available for awards on October 1.

The full allocation for Section 619 Flow-Through funds was made available as of July 1, through the reimbursement process to school divisions and SOPs that have submitted an approvable annual plan. 

Supplemental allocation for Section 611 for $2,354,364 and Section 619 for $347,937 were also made available as of July 1.

The 2026-27 IDEA Part B Flow-Through Funding document includes comprehensive details about funding allocations, reimbursement procedures, and additional required special terms and conditions for grant awards or cooperative agreements. 

The 2026-2027 Title I, Part A, and Title I, Part D, federal allocations (XLSX) for each school division, the Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements (DOCX), Terms of Grant Award for Title I, Part A (DOCX), as well as the Terms of Grant Award for Title I, Part D, Subpart 2 (DOCX), are now available on the VDOE Title I, Part A, and Title I, Part D, websites.     

The final school division allocations are based on the Title I formulas applied by the U.S. Department of Education and reflect adjustments made by the Virginia Department of Education to account for state-level set-asides. As required in Section 1122(c) of ESEA, the variable hold-harmless provision was applied to the allocations.

The amount of the Title I, Part A, allocation available through the reimbursement process as of July 1, 2026, is 43.04 percent, and the remaining 56.96 percent is available as of October 1, 2026.  

The procedures and forms for submitting an application for Title I, Part A, and Title I, Part D, Subpart 2, were previously provided to school division program coordinators, and were due on July 1. 

The 2026-2027 Title I, Part C, federal allocations (XLSX) for each school division or regional program that qualifies based on their enrollment of migratory students are now available on the VDOE website. The total amount of the allocation is available to subgrantees through the reimbursement process as of July 1, 2026.  Also available on the Title I, Part C webpage are the Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements (DOCX) and the Terms of Grant Award for Title I, Part C (DOCX). 

The procedures and forms for submitting an application for Title I, Part C, were previously provided to school division program coordinators. Applications were due on July 1, 2026.  

The 2026-2027 Title II, Part A, federal allocations (XLSX) for each school division are now available on the VDOE website. Allocations are distributed by a formula that is weighted 20 percent based on overall U.S. Census counts for students ages 5-17 and 80 percent based on students ages 5-17 living in poverty, relative to all other school divisions in the state. The amount of the Title II, Part A, allocations available through the reimbursement process as of July 1, 2026, is 22.42 percent, and the remaining 77.58 percent is available as of October 1, 2026. 

The Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions (DOCX) for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements and Terms of the grant award (DOCX) can also be found on the VDOE website. The total amount of the allocation is available to school divisions through the reimbursement process, as of July 1, 2026.   

The procedures and forms for submitting an application for Title II, Part A, were previously provided to school division program coordinators. Applications were due on July 1, 2026. 

The 2026-2027 Title III, Part A, federal allocations for each school division receiving over $10,000 is now available on the VDOE Title III website. The 2026-2027 Title III Statewide Consortium federal allocations for school divisions who receive under $10,0000 is also available.   

The Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements and Terms of the grant award can also be found on the Title III VDOE website. The total amount of the allocation is available to school divisions through a reimbursement process, and who submitted a substantially approvable application that was due July 1, 2026.  The procedures and forms for applying for Title III, Part A, were previously provided to school division program coordinators.  

Additional information on EL and IY awards can be found on this supporting document.  

The 2026-2027 Title V, Part B, Subpart 2, federal allocations (XLSX) for each school division eligible for the federal Rural and Low-Income School Program grant and the Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards (DOCX) or Cooperative Agreements (DOCX) as well as Terms of the grant award (DOCX) are available on the VDOE Title V, Part B, webpage.  

The total amount of the allocation is available to school divisions through the reimbursement process, as of July 1, 2026. The procedures and forms for applying for Title V, Part B, were previously provided to school division program coordinators. Applications were due on July 1, 2026.