Earlier this month, the Central Virginia education community came together for the 9th Annual Ultimate Backpack Drive—and packed an incredible 35,744 backpacks with school essentials for students across 9 Virginia school divisions.   

The Secretary of Education, Dr. Jeffery Smith, and First Gentleman Adam Spanberger joined volunteers from across Central Virginia to lend a hand and help fill backpacks for students who need them most. 

It’s exciting to see back-to-school season in full swing, especially when it means coming together to support students. I can’t wait to hit the road for my own back-to-school tour in the coming weeks and see the energy and excitement firsthand. Cheers to a great school year! 

VDOE’s 2026-27 Students with Intensive Support Needs Application (SISNA) is now open. The program helps school divisions offset the costs of instructional and direct services for eligible students with low-incidence disabilities and intensive support needs. 

For 2026-27, eligibility has expanded to include Other Health Impairment, giving divisions greater flexibility to support students with significant behavioral needs and potentially avoid more restrictive placements. 

Approved applications allow divisions to request reimbursement for eligible student costs. Reimbursement is based on the State Share and the division’s Local Composite Index. 

Important: 

• SISNA applications are due by 5 p.m. September 30. 
• The application, guidance, training, and resources are available in the Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) under Special Education Students with Intensive Support Needs Application. 
• SSWS contacts should ensure appropriate staff have access. 
• Training and follow-up Zoom sessions are available through division special education directors. 

The required federal reporting collection window for school divisions to submit their Title IV, Part A objectives and outcomes for Fiscal Year 2024 will open on September 1, 2026, and close on October 23, 2026. 

All school divisions are required to report in the Title IV, Part A Submission application within the Single Sign-On Web Systems (SSWS), including those that transfer some or all Title IV, Part A funds to another federal program.  

The division superintendent or designee is responsible for electronically verifying the report to finalize submission. 

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

VDOE is looking for qualified teachers or long-term substitutes who are willing to serve in 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.  

Please note that VDOE was made aware of an issue with the link in last week’s newsletter. The webpage and this article have been updated with the correct link. 

Applications will be reviewed in the order received. If funding is limited, priority will go to new teams demonstrating clear financial need. 

Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly Special Session I approved funding to help school divisions attract and retain Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers in middle and high schools experiencing recruitment challenges. School divisions seeking these incentive funds must submit a STEM Teacher Recruitment and Retention Initiatives (STEM-TRRI) Application through the Single-Sign On for Web Services (SSWS) portal. Applications should identify the number of vacancies in Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Mathematics (including Algebra I and Middle Education 6-8), Science 6-8, Physics, Engineering, and Technology Education by eligible school occurring between May 1 and August 31, 2026, for the 2026-27 school year. New this year, school divisions will also be asked to submit a survey regarding what high-quality instructional materials are available within these subject areas if applicable.  

Additional information regarding eligibility and guidelines for submitting the application can be found in this resource document which is also available within the SSWS portal. School divisions must submit their application by September 25.  

The Office of English is pleased to offer a virtual session designed for leaders and educators supporting new teachers or individuals new to their roles. This session will provide essential information for a successful first year, whether participants are guiding new teachers or stepping into leadership positions themselves. The webinar will cover the requirements of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA), resources to support implementation, the 2024 English Standards of Learning, assessment blueprints, instructional resources, and available supports. Participants will receive a Quick‑Start Guide for the 2026-27 school year to share broadly as divisions welcome new hires and educators transitioning into new roles. 

For additional details and registration for September 2026 sessions, including the “VLA + ELA 101” webinars scheduled for September 2, please use the September 2026 Registration Form. 

VDOE will offer several asynchronous mathematics microcredential courses for educators through Virtual Virginia. These courses are designed to strengthen mathematical understanding and enhance classroom instruction in grades 4-8. Educators can click the links below to enroll in each course. 

Elevating the Mathematics Process Goals to Increase Student Outcomes in Grades 4-8  Examines instructional strategies, tasks, and questioning techniques that will deepen educators’ understanding of how to elevate the Mathematics Process Goals across strands in mathematics to increase student outcomes in grades 4-8. 

Number and Number Sense in Grades 4-8  Equips educators with mathematical insights and instructional strategies needed to foster students’ number sense and proportional reasoning.  The progression of ideas related to fractions, decimals, percents and ratios will be explored while analyzing grade level standards.  

Patterns, Functions, and Algebra in Grades 4-8  Equips educators with mathematical insights and instructional strategies to foster students’ algebraic reasoning. The progression of ideas related to patterns, functions, variables, algebraic expressions and equations will be explored while analyzing grade-level standards.  

Per Virginia Code §22.1-237.4, College and Career Ready Virginia (CCRV) requires that VDOE collect data from each school division on receipts and expenditures related to program implementation. This information will be shared with the General Assembly, therefore each division response is important. 

Finance directors should use the Qualtrics survey link to complete one submission per division by September 3. Division finance contacts should communicate with division and school leaders who are responsible for overseeing dual enrollment programming and expenditures. 

Per Virginia Code §22.1-18.1, local school divisions are required to submit an annual report of the programs offered to students who have been identified as gifted.  

The 2025-26 annual report, Programs for the Gifted, will be collected through the Gifted Education application in the Single Sign-On Web Systems (SSWS) portal. Access to the Gifted Education application in SSWS is required to complete this report and should be requested through the school division’s SSWS administrator by August 30. 

This application will collect administrator and program services data. The division's student membership and referral data will be drawn from the school division's end-of-year (EOY) student records collection (SRC). If the school division has not yet submitted the SRC-EOY, the application will display a message indicating that the user may not proceed until the school division's student records data are submitted.  

After entering the data, each division coordinator must submit the report through SSWS for the division superintendent's electronic signature by September 25.   

The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) is a national, nonpartisan initiative that helps high school students deepen their understanding of American government and explore careers in public service. VDOE will select two Virginia delegates for the 65th Annual USSYP, sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Each delegate will receive a $12,500 scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for Washington Week, March 6-13, 2027.  

Applicants must complete an application, submit three essays, and provide two recommendation letters. Building administrators will later certify applications. Finalists will interview with a VDOE-appointed panel and take the Hearst Foundation’s Public Affairs examination. Selection will be based on application materials, academic achievement, leadership, community service, and examination results. 

Detailed program information is available on the VDOE USSYP website and the USSYP website. 

Note that only juniors and seniors are eligible to participate. Applications open August 21 through the Online Student Application Portal and are due by 5 p.m. on September 25.  

Virginia Code § 22.1-206.01 requires VDOE, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, to make a fentanyl education and awareness informational one-pager available to each school board and post it on its website. The one-pager is designed to promote awareness of the dangers and prevalence of fentanyl and provide essential information on fentanyl overdose prevention and preparedness for high school-age students. The resource is also required to provide essential information on fentanyl overdose prevention and preparedness among high school-age students. Each public high school or secondary school that includes Grades 9-12 shall annually distribute such fentanyl education and awareness informational one-sheet to those students within the first two weeks of the school year. 

The Fentanyl Awareness Informational One-Pager is available to download and distribute.  

In accordance with HB 1301 (SB 122), VDOE and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) collaborated to develop Diabetes Information for Parents, an informational one-page resource for parents and guardians about Diabetes Mellitus Types I and II. This document outlines common signs and symptoms of diabetes and includes links to evidence-based resources to help families stay informed about this chronic condition.  

Families are strongly encouraged to maintain regular well-child checkups with their child’s health care provider and consult with them about any health concerns. School divisions are required to make this resource available to the parent of each student enrolled in the school division at the beginning of each school year. VDH has also posted the infographic on their Prediabetes and Diabetes web page.  

The Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award is intended to honor and elevate classified school employees who provide exemplary service to their school, students, and their community. School divisions are invited to nominate one classified candidate for the 2027 RISE Award.  A classified school employee is an employee of a state or any political subdivision of a state, or an employee of a nonprofit entity, who works in any grade from pre-kindergarten through high school in any of the following occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades.  

Submit your school division’s nominee using the Qualtrics online application found on the VDOE Educator Recognition website by 4 p.m. on October 8. Virginia will select and celebrate two RISE Award recipients announced in late 2026. These two candidates will then be considered at the national level for the U.S. Department of Education RISE Award. Please send questions to teacheroftheyear@doe.virginia.gov.