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#2023-11

Update for September 14, 2023

In this edition

• Message from Dr. Coons
• Teaching & Learning
• School Performance & Support
• Early Childhood & Learning
• School Finance
• Careers at VDOE
• In Case You Missed It...

This week’s checklist

• Math webinar offered on September 21^st
• Master Schedule Collection closes November 17^th
• New Teacher Data Collection closes October 27^th
• Early Childhood Provisionally Licensed Teacher Incentive Program Grant applications due November 10^th
• VQB5 Registration Deadline is October 3^rd
• Expiring Federal Education Funds deadlines posted 
• ESSER II and III LEA Formula Funds deadline extended to October 6^th

Key Takeaways

• CTE Success Stars highlighted on VDOE Website
• Options available for transitioning to the newly adopted Mathematics standards
• Fall Master Schedule Collection window opens
• Early Childhood Provisionally Licensed Teacher Incentive Program  launches
• Reminders About Expiring Federal Education Funds
• 2023 Special Session I General Assembly Budget Amendments Detailed

News from Across the Commonwealth

Dr. Lisa Coons, Superintendent of Public Instruction

Good afternoon,

We have all had a very busy week since the statewide SOL scores and accreditation results were released at the Governor’s ALL In press conference last week.

Following that announcement, I have had the opportunity to speak with a variety of key stakeholders who will play a critical role in supporting the acceleration of learning for students across the Commonwealth, including superintendents in region one and two, central office instructional leaders in region one, VSBA executive leadership, Regional Teachers of the Year, parent representatives, the Principals Advisory Council, and deans of education. 

By the end of this month, I look forward to meeting with superintendents and instructional leaders from every region of the Commonwealth.

Our third through eighth grade reading and math results call for immediate support, and I am proud that the General Assembly and Governor are dedicating 418 million dollars to support learning loss recovery, literacy and a reduction of chronic absenteeism across the Commonwealth.

The Governor launched his ALL In VA initiative, at the press conference and called for:

• 70 percent of funds dedicated to high intensity tutoring,
• 20 percent of the funds focused on accelerating and expanding the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA),
• 10 percent to chronic absenteeism.

Please visit VDOE’s All In website to find all the resources including the All In High-Intensity Tutoring Playbook. This playbook helps support school divisions in implementing high-intensity tutoring into their existing structures and is designed to accelerate students’ learning to match and surpass their pre-pandemic peers. As schools and communities discuss the implementation of high-dosage tutoring, the VDOE is poised and ready to provide ongoing guidance, support, and technical assistance. 

In addition, the website will feature the 2022-23 press release and press conference, a suite of parent tools, and a tutoring volunteer locator launching Friday, September 15^th. The website will continue to add resources as we travel across Virginia and hear what would be most helpful to you.

We are ALL In to support your local efforts as needed.

In our ongoing efforts to #ElevateEducatorsVA, I wanted to take a moment to thank our educators across Virginia for your continued service to your students and families. We know that you have always been ALL In for your students, and we have enjoyed visiting classrooms and sharing your dedication and exceptional service during the month of August. Statewide attendance data from last year affirms the critical role our educators play in the lives of our students. Students who are in school with trained and dedicated professional educators are more successful than those students who are not in school. 

We appreciate you,

Lisa

News from our Content Specialists and Special Education

Announcing the 2023 Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Success Stars Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers, Non-Teaching Staff, Parents Contact: Karen M. Charney, Specialist, Marketing and Related Clusters, Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education VDOE is pleased to announce the 2023 CTE Career Success Stars. Former CTE students representing each of the 17 career clusters as well as a U.S. military branch, are being recognized as the Commonwealth’s brightest Career Success Stars. Their video profiles highlight how CTE programs provide academic and technical skills for high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand careers.

High School Voter Registration

Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Christonya Brown, History and Social Science Coordinator

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed legislation that requires all Virginia public high schools to provide to any enrolled student who is of voting age or otherwise eligible to register to vote access to Virginia voter registration information and applications, or access to the Virginia online voter registration system on a school-owned computing device, and the opportunity to complete such application during the normal course of the school day.  VDOE has an informational presentation to provide additional information for schools.  

Options for Transitioning to the 2023 Mathematics Standards of Learning ⚠️

Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Tina Mazzacane, K-12 Mathematics Coordinator

School Performance & Support

2023 Fall Master Schedule Collection ⚠️ Audience: Superintendents Contact: Dana Ratcliffe, Education Data Specialist The Fall Master Schedule Collection opens October 9, 2023. A successful submission is due no later than November 17, 2023.  Superintendents must electronically approve the verifications no later than December 22, 2023.  For complete details about this requirement, access our 2023 Fall Master Schedule Collection Guide.

New Teacher Data Collection ⚠️

Audience: Superintendents, Directors
Contact: Shawna LeBlond, Grants Manager

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on Student Identification Cards (Senate Bill 1044)

Audience: Superintendents, School Principals
Contact: Brittany Everett, Postsecondary Access and Success Specialist

Supporting Early Childhood Care & Education

Early Childhood Provisionally Licensed Teacher Incentive Program ⚠️ Audience: Superintendents, School Principals; VPI Coordinators, ECSE Coordinators Contact: Tiffanie Meehling, Associate Director of PreK Programs VDOE is pleased to announce the Early Childhood Provisionally Licensed Teacher Incentive Program. This program provides funding of no more than $30,000 each for school divisions, to provide financial incentives to provisionally licensed teachers in preschool programs operated by the school division. To qualify for the incentives, teachers must:   Teach in preschool programs operated by the school division, including:   Early Childhood Special Education Teachers   Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) Teachers   Head Start Teachers employed by the school division   Preschool Title I Teachers   Locally Funded Preschool Classroom Teachers   Hold an active, provisional Virginia teaching license; and   Be actively engaged in taking coursework to satisfy licensure requirements reflected in the Code of Virginia § 22.1-299. (The license that is being sought must be preK-3, preK-6, or Special Education Early Childhood.)   Additional information and how to apply may be found in the Program Application (PDF) and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF). A school division interested in applying must assign a primary contact and communicate directly with qualified teachers. The grant application is due on November 10, 2023.  Notification of award will be sent via email in December 2023. Official Grant Award Notifications will be sent to applicants no later than February 2, 2024.   If you need additional information or have questions, please contact Katherine Wolfert, PreK Program Analyst, by email at katherine.wolfert@doe.virginia.gov.

VQB5 Registration Deadline – 2 weeks remaining! ⚠️

Audience: All
Contact: Lucy Mitzner, Quality Improvement Specialist

Innovative Investments: The Success of Child Care Teacher Incentives in Virginia 

Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Child Care Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff
Contact: Ayasha Sledge, Strategic Communications Specialist 

Deputy Superintendent Jenna Conway was recently asked to share with a national audience how Virginia is addressing teacher turnover and shortages in early childhood. By investing in innovative compensation approaches, Virginia is ensuring that more children enter school ready. "If we want more children to benefit from high quality early care and education," as Deputy Superintendent Jenna Conway emphasizes, "we have to address compensation."

In this video, she highlights the success of Virginia's direct-to-teacher incentive program for child care, as a model for attracting and retaining top talent in early childhood.  

Division Finance and Budgeting

Reminders About Expiring Federal Education Funds ⚠️

Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Federal Programs Coordinators
Contact: Geraldine Hayes, Director of Finance

Career Opportunities at VDOE

Check out our open positions at VDOE.

We currently have openings in Fairfax County, City of Richmond, Arlington, Roanoke, and Norfolk.

Edition #2023-10 had these updates:

• December 1 Child Count
• New Guidance for MOU Development for Behavioral Health Services in Schools
• Civics Education Week
• VLDS Research Forum
• Quality for All Conferences for School-based Preschool Programs
• ESSER II and III LEA Formula Funds State Data Collection (the deadline has been extended, as detailed in this edition)