VDOE is pleased to announce the 2026-27 Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grant, which will provide additional funding and support to strengthen literacy instruction across Virginia. Grant funding will support the Literacy Improvement Network, as well as family engagement literacy resources for children from birth through kindergarten entry. Through these efforts, participating school divisions will have access to additional tools, resources, expertise, and service providers to support strong literacy outcomes. 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: 

• September 21, 9-10 a.m.: Registration 
• September 21, 12-1 p.m.: Registration 

Applications are due by 12 p.m. on October 1. 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, 12-1 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. 

State Lottery and general funds for five Career and Technical Education (CTE) state entitlements have been continued in this year’s budget. Each of the five state entitlement links below include a description on permitted uses of funding, school division and CTE regional center allocations, and reimbursement forms.   

• Career and Technical Education State Equipment  
• Additional State Funding to Update Career and Technical Education Equipment to Industry Standards   
• Career and Technical Education for Industry Certification Examinations, Licensure Tests, and Occupational Competency Assessments 
• State Funding to Support Industry Credentials for STEM-H Career and Technical Education Programs
• Career and Technical Education Workplace Readiness Skills for the Commonwealth and/or Other Industry Certification Assessments 

Reimbursement requests must be submitted to VDOE by April 30, 2027. Reimbursements forms submitted cannot be processed after this date. There will not be an option for a reallocation to school divisions and regional CTE centers that submit approved reimbursement requests that exceed their initial SY 2026-27 allocated amount.  

School division leaders are invited to join the Office of Educator Workforce and the National Center for Grow Your Own on September 23 at 9 a.m. for a “Registered Teacher Apprenticeship 101” informational webinar. This session will explore how apprenticeship models can enhance educator pipelines, strengthen recruitment and retention efforts, and support long-term talent development across divisions. Designed for decision-makers, the webinar will offer practical guidance, key implementation considerations, and real examples from the field. This event marks the first installment in a professional learning series focused on leveraging apprenticeship programs to meet workforce needs. 

Registration is encouraged. Webinar materials will be sent out after the session to all registered individuals.  

Virginia school counselors and access providers are invited to join the 2026-27 My Virginia Pathway Statewide Workgroup and help shape a new statewide postsecondary planning experience for Virginia students.  

Selected educators will participate in a virtual kickoff and tool demonstration, complete guided opportunities to use My Virginia Pathway with students, and join three virtual check-ins throughout the school year to provide feedback on usability, advising applications, Academic and Career Planning alignment, and supports needed for statewide implementation.  

Workgroup participation offers educators an opportunity to contribute to the development of a statewide resource, collaborate with colleagues, and gain state-level project experience that can be highlighted in a professional portfolio or résumé. Participating counselors will also receive a complimentary Virginia School Counselor Association (VSCA) conference benefit.  

My Virginia Pathway Statewide Workgroup interest forms are due September 25. 

VDOE, in collaboration with WIDA, is offering two professional learning opportunities to support educators and test administrators who work with English Learners. Both are virtually facilitated and provide participants with the opportunity to engage with experts from WIDA and colleagues from across the Commonwealth. 

Nurturing Speaking Growth, October 14 and 21, 4-5:30 p.m.: This virtual workshop series is designed to support all K-12 educators who would like to explore classroom practices that promote oral language development. Participants will engage in meaning-making activities that provide ways to nurture students’ speaking growth. Participants will be asked to speak and share ideas with colleagues during the webinars. Registration is limited to 60 participants, and the webinar will not be recorded. Register by October 1. 

Exploring WIDA ACCESS Online 1-12 for Test Administrators*, December 2, 10-11:30 a.m.: This workshop is designed for test administrators and coordinators who support multilingual learners who take WIDA ACCESS Online 1-12. This virtually facilitated offering provides a highlight of what’s new with WIDA ACCESS Online this year and will explore topics that educators identified as helpful to support the administration of the assessment. Registration is limited to 100 participants, and the webinar will not be recorded. Register by November 18. 

VDOE’s Office of Innovation invites you to share your insights as we continue strengthening the Profile of a Virginia Graduate initiative. Your experiences with implementation, instruction, and evaluation help us understand what’s working across the Commonwealth and where additional support is most needed. Thank you to the divisions that have already responded—your feedback has been invaluable. 

This statewide survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. By participating, you’ll help shape future resources, alignment efforts, and innovations that directly support divisions like yours. Your voice matters, and we encourage you to take a moment to complete the survey and contribute to this important work. One entry per division is encouraged.

If you have any questions or run into any technical issues while completing the survey, please reach out to Isaac Linde at isaac.linde@doe.virginia.gov. 

The updated Entrance and Procedures and Criteria for Identifying Potential English Learners describes Virginia’s entrance criteria and the screening identification and process of English Learners (ELs).  

The updated Exit Criteria for WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS provides information on the standardized exit criteria procedures for ELs and current exit criteria for Former EL identification.   

These documents were created following action by the Virginia Board of Education and the U.S. Department of Education’s approval, on August 25, 2026, of Amendment IX, which revised the Title III portion of Virginia’s Consolidated State Plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).  

These resources will also be available on the VDOE website.  

VDOE is pleased to announce the Early Childhood Provisionally Licensed Teacher Incentive Program. This program provides funding from the Virginia General Assembly of no more than $30,000 for each school division and up to $6,000 per educator to provide financial incentives to provisionally licensed teachers in preschool programs operated by the school division. 

Additional information and instructions on how to apply may be found in the Program Application and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). The grant application is due on October 16. Official Grant Award Notifications will be issued to school divisions no later than December 12. 

The annual Pupil Transportation Report used in calculating pupil transportation funding through Basic Aid will be open for data entry on September 30. The Pupil Transportation Report application is located in the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) portal. This data is required by the Board of Education’s Regulations Governing Pupil Transportation at 8VAC20-70-235. Funding for Pupil Transportation. 

Please note that your school division’s Annual School Report Financial Section (ASRFIN) data must be submitted to VDOE before the Pupil Transportation Report can be completed. Pupil Transportation Reports should be submitted to VDOE via the SSWS portal by October 31.

September is National Recovery Month, and September 21 is Opioid Awareness Day. These recognitions bring national attention to the importance of mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and highlight efforts to reduce stigma around recovery while promoting effective coping strategies, wellness, and academic success for students. The following resources are available to help schools raise awareness and provide education to support safe, responsive learning environments: 

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Recovery Month Toolkit: Posters, lesson plans, and community engagement ideas for schools.  
• VDOE Opioid Abatement Education Plan: Stipends available year-round for educators who complete Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) to deliver prevention modules for K-12.  
• VDOE Best Practices on Naloxone and Other Opioid Antagonists  
• VDOE Support for the Instruction of Opioid Awareness and Prevention Instructional Guide: K-12 instruction on drug awareness and opioid prevention. 
• Virginia Department of Health Project LEAD: Substance use prevention materials and local recovery support for schools.  
• Center for Disease Control Opioid Awareness: Resources and educator toolkits to support opioid misuse prevention and awareness efforts.  
• Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth Fentanyl Awareness Modules: Interactive, age-appropriate lessons and digital resources available in English and Spanish.  

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Schools play an important role in prevention by fostering belonging and connectedness, building students’ coping and problem-solving skills, identifying students who may need additional support, strengthening protective factors, and ensuring students and families know how to access help. While September provides an important opportunity to focus attention on suicide prevention, the work of creating safe, connected, and supportive school communities continues throughout the year. The VDOE Suicide Prevention web page offers resources, guidelines, and trainings that schools can use throughout the year. 

VDOE will host a Suicide Prevention Lunch-and-Learn webinar on September 25 at 12 p.m. To register, complete the Suicide Prevention Lunch-and-Learn Registration Form and join us to explore practical prevention strategies schools can implement beyond Suicide Prevention Month.