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Superintendent's Message
Tuesday was Election Day in Virginia with important offices and constitutional measures on the ballot.
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, Election Day offers an especially meaningful reminder of the essential role educators play in preparing the next generation of civically engaged citizens. While many of our students are not yet of voting age, the knowledge, skills, and perspectives we help them develop today will shape how they participate in our democracy tomorrow.
Whether voting early or on Tuesday, I hope everyone took the time to cast their votes and will use the occasion to talk with the students about the importance of civic participation. My nine-year-old son joined me at the polls this year to observe democracy in action.
A special shoutout to our history and social studies educators, whose work is central to preparing the next generation of informed and engaged Virginians!
Visit the VDOE website to learn more about the civics resources the agency provides for educators.
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Highlights
News from Across the Commonwealth
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On October 22, State Superintendent Jenna Conway was the keynote speaker at the 13th Annual Executive Briefing on the Economics of Early Childhood, an event co-hosted by the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and the Virginia Chamber of Commerce.
During her presentation, Supt. Conway shared data about the impact of Virginians’ investment in early-childhood education. Today, more children are ready for kindergarten, more Virginia families have high-quality early learning and care options, and there is greater workforce participation and lower unemployment in the Virginia economy. |
Congratulations to Rachel Morrison, a history teacher in Goochland County Public Schools and a 2026 Virginia Regional Teacher of the Year (Region 1) for being named the National Civics Teacher of the Year for the 2026-2027 school year by the Bill of Rights Institute.
Rachel was selected after a nationwide search that invited fellow teachers, students, parents, and community members to nominate outstanding civics teachers. Nominees submitted essays and ten finalists participated in interviews about how they make civics meaningful for their students.
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Congratulations to Goochland County Public Schools for earning a silver 2025 Turnip the Beet Award! This national recognition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) honors summer meal program operators who go above and beyond to provide children with nutritious, appealing, high-quality meals.
Last summer, Goochland’s Sunshine Bus served over 5,500 SUN Meals To-Go, as well as three tons of local produce, to students and families. Thank you for nourishing the community!
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Instruction Implementation,
Support & Evaluation
VDOE Launches Elevate Learning Network for TSI Schools – Register by November 10
Article: 2026-43-485
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Counselors, CTE Directors, Fine Arts Coordinators
Contact: Dr. Michelle Wallace, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, michelle.wallace@doe.virginia.gov
VDOE is launching the Elevate Learning Network, a new professional learning opportunity designed to support schools identified for Targeted Support and Intervention (TSI) during the 2026-27 school year.
This pilot network will bring together division and school leadership teams to strengthen instructional practices and improve outcomes for all students, particularly students with disabilities and English learners. Participants will explore research on high-quality instructional materials (HQIM), effective grade-level instruction, and strategies for creating greater coherence across core instruction, interventions, and specially designed instruction.
The network will include virtual learning sessions beginning in late November, followed by three in-person convenings between February and July 2027. Teams will also engage in classroom walkthroughs, data analysis, and continuous improvement activities to translate learning into meaningful changes in schools.
Participation is free, although divisions are responsible for travel expenses. Space is limited, and VDOE will prioritize schools demonstrating the greatest need for additional support based on School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF) data.
Division leaders should submit one registration form on behalf of their participating school teams. Please refer to the email sent on October 30 for additional information, including team composition, session schedules, and participation expectations.
WIDA Implementation Guide Webinar and Canvas Course — December 2
Article: 2026-43-484
Audience: Teacher Leaders, Coaches, Specialists
Contact: Jo-el Cox, Coordinator of Multilingual Learner Instruction,
jo-el.cox@doe.virginia.gov
The following webinar and Canvas course is designed by VDOE to support educators and leaders in implementing the World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) English Language Development (ELD) Standards Framework 2020 edition. An introductory webinar will be held December 2 where participants will learn about the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework Implementation Guide and the self-paced Canvas course. The self-paced Canvas course guides participants through the resource and explores how the information can be used to develop language integrated content units that support the instruction of English Learners across content areas and the ongoing sustainable implementation of the WIDA English Language Development Standards. After the webinar, participants will receive a link to enroll in the Canvas course through Virtual Virginia.
Seeking Nominations of High School Seniors for the 2027 Presidential Scholars General, CTE, and Arts Programs — Due December 11
Article: 2026-43-482
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Counselors, CTE Directors, Fine Arts Coordinators
Contact: Amanda Nevetral, Director of Advanced Learning, Amanda.Nevetral@doe.virginia.gov
The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by Executive Order of the President, to recognize and honor some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 2026, 65 students across the nation earned one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.
Under the umbrella of this program, there are three separate programs: General, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and Arts. New for 2027, all applications, processes, and materials for the Virginia process will be outlined on the U.S. Presidential Scholars-Virginia website, hosted by VDOE.
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Students interested in applying for the General Program should send applications to their high school principals; after apply, they may participate in a division and/or regional selection, led by the Superintendent’s Regional Representative (as determined by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents). Each region typically nominates one male and one female student. Due to population density, Region 4 is allowed two male and two female nominees.
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Students interested in applying for the CTE and Arts program should apply through their school and school division. Each division can submit applications for these programs without limit. Applications are scored by a panel of experts. Five CTE nominees and five arts nominees will be chosen from the applicant pool.
Private and homeschool students should apply through their zoned high school.
Nominees and/or applications for all three programs must be received in Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) Dropbox (attn: Amanda Nevetral) by December 11.
Professional Learning Webinar Series for Science Teachers Beginning December 16
Article: 2026-43-481
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Laura Casdorph, Science Coordinator, laura.casdorph@doe.virginia.gov
VDOE’s Science Instruction Team will host a webinar series to support phenomenon-driven instruction using scientific and engineering practices (SEPs). In this five-part series, participants will explore a phenomenon as the anchor for learning how to engage students in the SEPs. Each session provides targeted resources and practical tools that teachers across all grade levels can adapt and apply in their classrooms. Because each session builds directly on the previous one, participants must commit to attending all five parts. Participants will leave with a clear framework for using phenomena to drive student inquiry, grade-adaptable tools and resources for integrating the SEPs, and practical strategies ready to implement in any science classroom. Registration is required in advance. The dates of the webinars are December 16, January 20, February 17, March 17, and April 20. All webinars will take place from 4-5 p.m.
New Instructional Technology Resource Teachers (ITRT) Toolbox for Administrators Canvas Course
Article: 2026-43-480
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, ITRT, Technology Directors
Contact: Morri Pace, Digital Learning Coordinator, morri.pace@doe.virginia.gov
Administrators are invited to engage in this learning opportunity, earn 10 hours of professional development credit, and build the leadership practices needed to foster strong, sustainable digital learning environments.
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School Nutrition
SY2026-2027 Food Service Management Company Contracts Webinar — December 8
Article: 2026-43-483
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Food Authorities, School District Finance and/or Procurement Staff
Contact: Rachel Inman, MS, RDN, VDOE-SCNP Procurement Analyst, Rachel.Inman@doe.virginia.gov
VDOE’s Division of School and Community Nutrition Programs (SCNP) provides technical assistance to local education agencies (LEAs) that contract with a private for-profit food service management company (FSMC) to ensure regulations and requirements are met. LEAs contracting with an FSMC must register for and attend the FSMC Contracts Webinar on December 8 at 2 p.m.
The VDOE-SCNP encourages LEAs and school food authorities (SFAs) to review SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2026-2027-24 for more information about the webinar, contracting with an FSMC, and the required VDOE-SCNP templates for FSMC contracts that LEAs/school food authorities must use, which are available on the VDOE-SCNP procurement webpage.
Statewide Community Eligibility Provision Study — What School Division Staff Can Expect
Article: 2026-43-479
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Child Care Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff, LEA School Nutrition Directors
Contact: Lynne Fellin, VDOE-SCNP Associate Director, Business Operations,Lynne.Fellin@doe.virginia.gov
The Virginia General Assembly, in the 2026 Appropriation Act, requires VDOE to review statewide participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and report its findings. The report is directed to identify CEP participation trends, including reasons for not participating, detail financial benefits, and provide recommendations to increase CEP participation (2026 Appropriation Act, Item 120 F. (Special Session I, 2026)). VDOE’s Division of School and Community Nutrition Programs (SCNP) has contracted with The Nourished Principles and its founder, Stephanie Hodges, MS, MPH, RDN, to conduct the review. The contractor will collaborate with VDOE to gather CEP information, including contacting a sample of school division partners and stakeholders, such as superintendents, school nutrition directors, school division finance staff, and school principals and teachers.
What to Expect
School divisions may be asked to participate in focus groups, complete surveys, or provide information using other data collection methods. The study findings will be available in a General Assembly report in spring 2027.
CEP is a non-pricing option in the USDA National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs that allows eligible schools and school divisions to provide meals at no cost to all students. More information about CEP is available in the VDOE-SCNP Community Eligibility Provision Toolkit. For questions about the CEP study, please email the VDOE-SCNP policy mailbox at SNPPolicy@doe.virginia.gov.
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Early Childhood
VQB5 2025-2026 Year in Review – Webinar Recording
Article: 2026-43-478
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Child Care Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff
Contact: Lucy Mitzner, Early Childhood Improvement Strategy Lead, Lucy.Mitzner@doe.virginia.gov
On October 20, VDOE hosted a webinar for the field to share the latest VQB5 state results and how they’ve evolved over time. This webinar highlighted key trends, celebrated progress, and explored areas for continued growth in early childhood quality.
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Title: VQB5 2025-2026 Year in Review
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Recording (~50 min)
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