Section 1127 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended, allows school divisions to carry over up to 15 percent of their Title I, Part A, allocation for any fiscal year. School divisions must encumber 85 percent of each award year’s Title I, Part A, allocation by September 30 of the following year (within 15 months). 

Superintendents of divisions that potentially did not meet the requirement to obligate 85 percent of their FY2025 Title I, Part A, funds by September 30, 2026, based on information in the Online Management of Education Grant Awards (OMEGA) application available on the Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) portal on October 1, 2026, will receive an email from essa@doe.virginia.gov by October 16, 2026 outlining the process to either certify that their division did obligate 85 percent of their FY2025 Title I, Part A, funds by September 30, 2026, or to apply for a traditional waiver if they have not done so in the last three years or Ed Flex Waiver 2. Information about how to certify a division’s 85 percent obligation or how to apply for the waivers will be included in the email to superintendents.  The Certification of Obligation and Carryover Waiver Form must be signed by division superintendents and returned by November 4, 2026. 

VDOE will launch a new, opt-in statewide instructional improvement network pilot to support schools identified for Targeted Support and Improvement (TSI). 

TSI schools are identified when data show persistent achievement gaps for one or more student groups. The network pilot will support school and division leaders in better understanding the instructional conditions contributing to those outcomes and identifying opportunities for improvement. 

Participating schools will gain access to new sources of instructional data and monitoring tools designed to help leaders make informed decisions at both the school and system levels. The network pilot will emphasize understanding the quality and effectiveness of instruction for all students, including how well core instruction and additional tiers of support work together to meet students’ needs. 

The network pilot will also create opportunities for participating schools and divisions to learn alongside one another and VDOE as Virginia continues to strengthen its approach to instructional improvement. 

Additional information about the network, including how eligible schools and divisions can opt in to participate, will be available by the end of October. 

The series will conclude with "Supporting English Language Learners Comprehending Content-Specific Texts.” This webinar will focus on specific strategies that you can use to support English Language Learners build comprehension from content specific texts. Once all sessions are completed, VDOE will post resources on the 2024 SOL Instructional Resources website. 

For additional details and registration for the "Supporting English Language Learners Comprehending Content-Specific Texts” webinar scheduled for October 14, please use the October 2026 Registration Form. 

School divisions in Region II and Region IV East (modified) are required to submit their Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted by October 22.  Each division must also submit the names of two participants for the Technical Review process: the gifted education coordinator and one additional reviewer. The two participants will be assigned to an evaluation team responsible for reviewing another division’s plan. 

Participating divisions include: 

• Region II: Accomack, Chesapeake, Franklin City, Hampton, Isle of Wight, Newport News, Norfolk, Northampton, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Southampton, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg/James City County, and York. 
• Region IV East (modified): Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun, Manassas, Manassas Park, and Prince William. 

This submission is part of VDOE’s ongoing Technical Review cycle, in which each school division’s gifted plan is evaluated every five years, as required by the Regulations Governing Education Services for Gifted Students (8VAC20-40-60).

Submission: Email the completed Local Plan for the Education of the Gifted and the names of the two Technical Review participants to advancedlearning@doe.virginia.gov by October 22. 

In partnership with the Virginia Commission on Civic Education, VDOE is proud to announce the 2026 Annual Teacher Summit on Civic Education. The Summit will be held on November 10 at the John Marshall Center at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.   

The purpose of the Commission on Civic Education includes educating students on the importance of citizen involvement in a representative democracy, the promotion of the study of state and local government among the commonwealth's citizenry, and the enhancement of communication and collaboration among organizations in the commonwealth that conduct civics education programs.  

The deadline to register is October 30. Lunch will be provided, and parking is free. Interested educators teaching civics and government are encouraged to attend and can use this form to register for the event. Space is limited.   

Visit the History and Social Science | Virginia Department of Education webpage for helpful resources for civic and government instruction. All registered participants will receive a confirmation email the week of November 6.  

Registration is now open for TechKnowledgy Conference 2026: Assistive Technology in Action, sponsored by the VDOE’s Assistive Technology Network. The conference will be held November 16-18 at James Madison University in Harrisonburg and brings educators and families together with regional and nationally recognized practitioners in assistive and inclusive technology. 

Interactive sessions and workshops will focus on evidence-based assistive technology, high-leverage practices, and specially designed instruction for learners of all ages and abilities, from the classroom to the workplace and community. School divisions are encouraged to share this opportunity with educators, related service providers, assistive technology professionals, administrators, and other staff who support students with disabilities. 

 Register and find more details on the TechKnowledgy 2026 webpage. 

VDOE is pleased to announce that the 2027 Governor’s Summer Residential Program will include seven Summer Residential Governor’s Schools (SRGS) and five Governor’s World Language Academies (GWLA). The SRGS offer gifted and/or advanced high school students an opportunity for intensive study in academics, visual and performing arts, and mentorships. The GWLA offers full-immersion academies for French, German, and Spanish; a partial-immersion academy for Japanese; and a Latin Academy. Students do not need to be identified as gifted to be nominated for one of the GWLA. 

The SRGS and GWLA are available to students enrolled in public schools, accredited private schools, or being homeschooled. Final availability of these programs is contingent upon the provision of state funds by the 2027 General Assembly.  

Applications, information, and administrative handbooks for the 2027 SRGS and GWLA will be available digitally October 14 on the VDOE website, on the Summer Residential Governor's Schools webpage and Governor's World Language Academies webpage. Prior to the applications opening, divisions can visit these sites for more information. 

In accordance with the Code of Virginia, Chapter 1 of Title 22.1, effective July 1, 2027, each school board shall develop, implement, and post in a publicly accessible location on its website an access plan consisting of policies and procedures designed to ensure meaningful communication with and informational accessibility for limited English proficient (LEP) parents, in a language understandable to such LEP parents.   

Each school board shall provide language assistance services required in a manner consistent with the Standards of Quality but shall be afforded discretion in selecting cost-effective service delivery models that meet the specific needs of the LEP population in its school division. The plan design is a local school division decision and should fit the needs of LEP parents within the division. VDOE has created Division Language Access Plan Considerations for Local Education Agencies (LEAs) for divisions to use as language access plans are being developed in accordance with the legislation.  

Each year, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) requires that all State Education Agencies conduct the Annual Report of Children in Institutions for Neglected or Delinquent Children, Adult Correctional Institutions, and Community Day Programs for Neglected or Delinquent Children. This annual report provides USED with current information on the location and number of children who live in local institutions for neglected or delinquent children, or who are in local adult correctional facilities. The information will be used by USED to calculate the 2027-28 allocations for programs that serve neglected children through Title I, Part A, or delinquent children through Title I, Part D.

This year the Annual October Count will be reported using the Annual October Count of Neglected and Delinquent Students Application in the Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS). The Virginia Department of Education Instructions for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) using the Annual October Count of Neglected and Delinquent Children Application in SSWS and the Reporting Tip Sheet for Identifying Eligible Institutions and Counting Children are resources to help LEAs to complete the Count. Title I, Part D, coordinators from every school division should work with local SSWS administrators to gain access to the application. The window to enter data into SSWS will be open from October 12 through November 30.

Additional information and resources can be found on this 2026 Title I, Part D, Subpart 2, Count of Children who are Neglected or Delinquent (N or D) in School Divisions supporting document. 

The VDOE Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs encourages schools to promote and celebrate National School Lunch Week (NSLW) on October 12-16. Schools are invited to share their events and celebrations with their School Nutrition Programs regional specialist. President John F. Kennedy established NSLW in 1962 to highlight the vital role school lunches play in supporting student wellness and academic achievement and increasing student access and participation. 

To learn more about NSLW, visit the School Nutrition Association NSLW website and review the SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2026-2027-20. 

The VDOE Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs’ Buy American training is now available on the SCNP Procurement webpage. The training was conducted in a live webinar format on August 20. The training covers: 

• Regulatory requirements and exceptions 
• Strategies for documentation and tracking  
• Accommodation plan process 

Refer to VDOE-SCNP Director’s Memo 2026-2027-07 and the SCNP Procurement webpage for additional information on the Buy American requirements for Child Nutrition Programs.