#2024-33 Virginia Education Update August 22, 202

As a member of the WIDA Consortium, Virginia educators have access to free professional learning opportunities that support the instruction of Multilingual Learners (MLs), including English Learners (ELs). This year there are in-person and self-paced opportunities for classroom teachers who work with MLs, EL teachers, and instructional coaches. Division leaders and building administrators, please share these opportunities to support the learning of both experienced and new instructional staff as they support multilingual students in Virginia.

Writing with Multilingual Learners

These FREE, two day, in-person workshops designed for Virginia grade level teachers, English Language Development/Language Instruction Educational Program teachers, and instructional coaches will take place in Charlottesville, VA.

Participants will use the Teaching and Learning Cycle to design writing experiences that empower multilingual writers to produce successful academic writing and to communicate effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences.

OR

Registration Link

WIDA Self-Paced Workshops

These interactive and engaging self-paced workshops offer Virginia K-12 educators the opportunity to work individually or with a professional learning community. Workshops are 1-4 hours beginning September 1, 2024, through August 31, 2025, with a variety of topics. Please share the WIDA Self-Paced Workshops flyerwith all Pre-K-12 teachers and English Language Learning support personnel.

Log in to the WIDA Secure Portalto access the workshops. 

The Environmental Literacy Indicator Tool (ELIT) is a federally directed effort to collect information from all public school divisions in the Mid-Atlantic region every two years to monitor the status of environmental literacy efforts at a division level. The results from the survey help the Chesapeake Bay Program Education Workgroup most effectively support local efforts to implement strategies that support students' environmental literacy. This tool, the data collected, and related efforts supporting environmental education in the region are in direct support of the Environmental Literacy Goal and Outcomes of the new Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement (signed 6/19/2014). 

We request that the appropriate division leader complete the ELIT by November 30, 2024. This will provide critical information about division-wide environmental literacy curriculum and planning activities in Virginia. Only one person per division should complete the ELIT. The best respondent is someone who works at the division-level and is most familiar with environmental education activities across the division. This could be a science curriculum coordinator, an environmental education coordinator, director of instruction, or similar positions. Teachers, principals, or staff from just one school or grade-range would have difficulty completing these questions.

Visit ELIT 2024to access the ELIT questionnaire.

The ELIT takes an average of 60 minutes to complete, which includes the time to obtain needed information about division-wide activities. To provide accurate information or to identify the right staff person to complete the survey, please preview the survey on the PDF of ELIT Questionsresource or Workbook of ELIT Questions (Word format) resource. 

If your division has previously completed the ELIT, you can review past answers on the VA: 2022 ELIT Response Summaries from Each Responding LEA website.

Viewing past responses will allow the completer to simply update any information changes since past ELIT surveys (2022, 2019, or 2017).

The Virginia Board of Education adopted the 2024English Standards of Learningin March 2024, and indicated that full implementation of the 2024 English Standards of Learningwill occur in the 2024-2025 school year.

The reading assessments measuring an overlap across the 2024 English Standards of Learningand the 2017 English Standards of Learningwill be administered for the first time in the spring 2025 test administration in grades 3-8 and end-of-course (EOC). To support preparation for implementation of the 2024 English Standards of Learning, the new reading test blueprints are available online.

Practice Opportunities for Students

Practice test questions, called Practice Items, will be available in fall 2024 for each reading test (grades 3-8 and EOC). These items will providestudents an opportunity to become familiar with the types of test questions that will be administered as part of the new reading tests.

Practice items may be accessed online via the SOL Practice Items (All Subjects) webpageor the installable TestNav 8application. See the TestNav 8 Technical Assistancedocument forinformation on system requirements and instructions for downloading theapplication.Guided Practice Suggestions will accompanythe practice test questions to providespecific guidance for teachers or other adults to lead students through these items. School divisions will be notified when these practice items become available in fall 2024.

If you have any questions, please contact the student assessment staff by email at [email protected]or by phone at (804) 225-2102.

The SY2024-2025 Individual Student Alternative Education Plan (ISAEP) state grant funds have been approved. The Supporting Document A, Allocation Chart,contains the final award amounts to school divisions. ISAEP grant funding is provided through Virginia Lottery proceeds which are available in January of each year. In order to receive the funds, school divisions must submit a grant application annually. Final allocations are determined based on the number of school divisions that apply for the funds.

For SY2024-2025, it is anticipated that the first ISAEP grant payments will be processed and delivered by January 31, 2025. Funds will be disbursed in automatic equal payments bimonthly through the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) payment process. Requests for reimbursement are not required for this grant.

School divisions must maintain all financial support documentation and a record of all equipment purchased with ISAEP grant funds in accordance with the Library of Virginia Records Retention and Disposition Policies. Funds are to be used to augment the ISAEP program's resources.

Questions may be directed to the Office of Adult Education at [email protected].

The collection window for divisions to report on their Title IV, Part A federal objectives and outcomesfor the FY 2022 Title IV, Part A Submission application will begin on Monday, September 3, 2024, and close on Friday, October 25, 2024.

All school divisions, including those that transfer 100% of Title IV, Part A funds to another federal program, must report in the Title IV, Part A Submission application in Single Sign-On Web Systems (SSWS). The division superintendent or designee must electronically verify the report for final submission.

The Active Learning Grant provides funding to school divisions to encourage and implement active learning for pre-kindergarten through Grade 2 students in various settings. The funds may be used to support the development and use of high-quality resources and professional development and to purchase of educational platforms integrating 2023 Mathematics and 2024 English Standards of Learning into movement-rich activities. The grant aims to enhance engagement and effectiveness in mathematics and literacy instruction while promoting physical and mental health alongside academic achievement. The application and additional information can be found at VDOE Physical Education. Proposals are due by September 30, 2024, at 4:00 p.m.

Questions about the Active Learning Grant request for proposals should be directed to Jennifer Vedder at: [email protected].

All publicly-fundedearly childhood programs programsthat serve children ages birthto five, including public school VPI, Early Childhood Special Education, Head Start, and Title 1 programs, are required by state law to participatein VQB5 and must complete registrationin the LinkB5 data portalbetween August 15 - October 1.  

• View: VQB5 Participation Requirement Resources

• Contact your Ready Regionfor VQB5 registration support and CLASS training.

• Questions? Email [email protected]

September 11, 2024, marks the 23rd anniversary of the most significant terrorist attack ever to occur on American soil. We recognize this date every year as Patriot Dayto remember the lives lost at the World Trade Center, on Flight 93, and at the Pentagon (located in Arlington County, Virginia, making 9/11 a direct part of Virginia history). Patriot Day also honors the first responders, service members, and civil servants who were integral in rescue and recovery efforts - many of whom made the supreme sacrifice as a result.

Schools are encouraged to designate time during the week of September 11 for reflection and remembrance. Many Virginia schools commemorate Patriot Day by flying the Freedom Flag, which is recognized as the Commonwealth's official 9/11 flag of remembrance. Governor Glenn Youngkin will be displaying the Freedom Flag for the 7th consecutive year at the Executive Mansion, and major state institutions such as the Virginia War Memorial, Virginia Museum of History & Culture, and the Virginia State Police are anticipated to display the Freedom Flag in commemorative events on 9/11. The Freedom Flag Foundationencourages schools to conduct flag raising ceremonies that include the recitation of the 10 symbolic elements of the Freedom Flag. There are also 9/11 teaching resources available from the United States Department of Educationand the Library of Congress.

If you'd like to share a photo of your school flying its Freedom Flag, please send an email to [email protected].

For additional information about the Freedom Flag, please contact the Freedom Flag Foundation at [email protected].

The VDOE will select two student delegates to represent Virginia in the 63rd Annual United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. Each delegate will receive a $10,000 scholarship and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C., for the week of March 1-8, 2025, for Washington Week.   

Students interested in applying will complete an application and submit two essay responses. Building administrators will be asked at a later time to certify the student's application. The top candidates will be invited to interview with a panel of judges appointed by the VDOE and also take the Public Affairs examination prepared by the Hearst Foundation. Final selection will be based upon the student application, essay responses, examination results, outstanding academic performance, and demonstrated qualities of leadership and community service.   

Detailed information about the program may be found on the VDOE USSYP website. There are very specific qualifications and expectations for candidates selected as delegates. VDOE strictly adheres to the USSYP program qualifications and expectations outlined by the Hearst Foundation.  

 Applications may be accessed and submitted online via the Online Student Application Portal. Applications and essays are due by 5 p.m. EST on Monday, September 30, 2024, through the application portal.