#2025-32 Virginia Education Special Update September 15, 2025

Last week marked the 24th anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks on American soil. Each year, we observe Patriot Day to honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia (located in Arlington County, Virginia (making 9/11 a direct part of Virginia history), and aboard Flight 93. This day also stands as a solemn tribute to the first responders, service members, and civil servants whose courage and sacrifice remain an enduring part of our nation's history.

Across the Commonwealth, many schools once again honored Patriot Day by displaying the Freedom Flag-the official 9/11 flag of remembrance in Virginia. This year marked the 8th consecutive year Governor Glenn Youngkin displayed the Freedom Flag at the Executive Mansion, alongside other major state institutions such as the Virginia War Memorial, Virginia Museum of History & Culture, and the Virginia State Police who held commemorative events.

The Freedom Flag Foundationinvited schools to conduct flag-raising ceremonies that include the reading of the flag's 10 symbolic elements, keeping alive the memory and meaning of September 11 for new generations. The United States Department of Educationand the Library of Congress have resources to support age-appropriate classroom conversations and activities.

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]. 

In partnership with the VA250 Commission,the Virginia Department of Education is proud to announce the Second Annual Reading Revolution. The Reading Revolution encourages reading and also seeks to connect museums, public libraries, and communities to our elementary students through history content.

As we continue to commemorate the 250thAnniversary of the American Revolution, we invite and encourage parents, community members, museum educators, reenactors, students and staff of high schools, and higher education to take part in the Reading Revolution.

Reading Revolution Week in Virginia, October 13-17, 2025, leads up to Yorktown Victory Day for communities to come together in support of learning more about our state and country. This week will be designated for the Reading Revolution to encourage volunteers to read to students about the people, places, and events of the Revolutionary era, freedom and democracy, the Constitution, or civic principles that founded this great nation.

Please use this formto declare your participation. Visit the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission | Virginia Department of Educationwebpage for helpful tips to get your Reading Revolution started.

In collaboration with the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Colonial Williamsburg, and VA250 Educational programming, Virginia will participate in the 2026 National Civics Bee®. The National Civics Bee® is an annual competition that inspires young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. This nonpartisan initiative of The Civic Trust®of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundationenhances civic literacy, skills, and participation among students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades in participating states across the country.  

To compete in the National Civics Bee®, middle school students submit an essay identifying issues within their community and solutions on how to solve them based on civic principles. 

We are looking forward to Virginia leading the way. School divisions are encouraged to reach out to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to apply for this outstanding opportunity. Students will need to complete and submit an essay using the online application portal. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

Visit The National Civics Bee®for the Educator Toolkit,latest news on the application portal, entry deadlines, and resources. The National Civics Bee® is free and open to public division, public charter, private school students, and homeschool students alike. 

The Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Awardis intended to honor and elevate classified school employees who provide exemplary service to their school, students, and their community. School divisions are invited to nominate one classified candidate for the 2026 RISE Award.

A classified school employeeis an individual employed by a state, a political subdivision of a state, or a nonprofit organization who works in any grade from pre-kindergarten through high school in any of the following occupational specialties: paraprofessional, clerical and administrative services, transportation services, food and nutrition services, custodial and maintenance services, security services, health and student services, technical services, and skilled trades.

Submit your school division's nominee using the SMApply online application found on the VDOE Educator Recognition websiteby October 13, 2025, by 4 p.m. EST. Virginia will select and celebrate two RISE Award recipients announced in late 2025. These two candidates will then be considered at the national level for the U.S. Department of Education RISE Award. Please send questions to [email protected].

School divisions wishing to nominate an eligible school must complete the 2025-2026 National Distinguished Schools Participation Form and Application. All information will be submitted via the attached form. The application deadline is the close of business on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline. Additional information regarding the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Recognition Program can be found on the ESSA website.

Join the Virginia Department of Education for ongoing professional learning and support for the implementation of the 2024 English Standards of Learning on September 24, 2025, with "Text Dependent Questions." Registration is required in advance for all sessions. Additional professional learning topics and session dates are provided in the registration form.

These virtual sessions will provide guidance and supports for developing text-dependent questions aligned with the 2024 English Standards of Learning. This session will focus on integrating the communication and other strands to ensure deep student engagement with the text and make student learning visible in the classroom.

Join us by completing this registration form.

The Virginia Department of Education will host a webinar on the newly developed Computer Science Instructional Guides on Tuesday, September 30 from 10 to 11 a.m.These guides were developed to assist school divisions with the implementation of the 2024 Computer Science Standards of Learningand provide comprehensive explanations of each standard, identify core knowledge and skills, and outline instructional strategies to support effective classroom practice.

The session will provide an overview of the instructional guides, highlight opportunities for interdisciplinary integration, and present model examples that illustrate authentic applications of computer science in teaching and learning. Participants will gain practical insight into how the guides can inform instructional planning and strengthen implementation at both the classroom and division level.

Division leaders, administrators, and educators are encouraged to attend this webinar to expand their understanding of these resources and their role in advancing high-quality computer science instruction across the Commonwealth. Registration is required.

For additional information, please contact [email protected], Computer Science Coordinator.

The Office of Assessment is seeking applications for the 2025 Virginia Alternate Assessment Program Item Review Committees. Committees will be organized by elementary and secondary levels. The committee meetings will convene at the Virginia Crossings Hotel & Conference Center in Glen Allen, Virginia from November 17-21, 2025.

The 2025 Virginia Alternate Assessment Program Item Review Committees will be responsible for reviewing field test items in Mathematics, Reading, and Science for elementary and secondary VAAP test forms for the 2025-2026 test administration. For a list of committees and specific dates, please refer to the 2025Virginia Alternate Assessment Program Item Review Committee Information for Applicantsdocument available through the Assessment Committees web page.

Committee members will be chosen based on grade-level experience and content area expertise; in-depth knowledge of the Virginia Essentialized Standards of Learning (VESOL); instructional/supervisory experience for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities; and balanced regional representation.

Individuals wishing to serve on this committee, including those who have previously served on other VDOE committees, must submit an online application and expert task found in the Assessment Committee Application Processing System (ACAPS). The expert task is accessed using a link within ACAPS, on the right side of the application under Resources. The link is titled, VAAP Committee Application Expert Task. The application will require a professional reference and school division approval. Applications, including the expert task, are due by Thursday, October 2, 2025. Applicants are responsible for ensuring all required parts of the application are complete by this date.

In partnership with the Virginia Commission on Civic Education,the Virginia Department of Education is proud to announce the annual Civic Summit. 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.

Save the date for the Civic Summit on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the John Marshall Center at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture in Richmond, Virginia, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided, and parking is free. Interested educators teaching civics and government are encouraged to use this formto register for the event. Space is limited. The deadline to register is Friday, November 7, 2025.

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 10, 2025.

On August 28, 2025, the Board of Education reviewed and adopted updates to the Board of Education Approved Courses to Satisfy Graduation Requirements for the Standard and Advanced Studies Diplomas in Virginia Public Schools. Approved courses offer students flexibility in meeting the Standard and Advanced Studies Diploma requirements for graduation. Courses from this list must be selected to satisfy the content level requirements defined in Virginia Administrative Codes, 8VAC 20-132-50and 8VAC 20-132-51. The following updates were made:

• Added a recommendation that students seeking an Advanced Diploma complete Algebra II before taking Data Science;
• Included a SCED code for Health and Physical Education-Grade 9 (not Driver Education) that was missing;
• Added the Code of Virginia citation for the graduation requirement of Economics and Personal Finance (EPF); and
• Updated language to explicitly include International Baccalaureate (IB) Economics and International Baccalaureate (IB) Business Management as courses that can count for the graduation requirement of Economics and Personal Finance provided the Standards are incorporated into the IB course curriculum.

A disclaimer on Seat Time Flexibility alignment was also incorporated. Division leaders are encouraged to review the updated document and collaborate with principals, school counselors, and student information system staff to update SCED codes for courses and plan for any necessary adjustments to the division's program of studies resulting from these updates.

The Office of Advanced Learning will host monthly office hours to provide timely support to school division leaders in topics related to gifted education, Academic Year Governor's Schools, Summer Residential Governor's Schools, Summer Regional Governor's Schools, Advanced Placement (AP) programs, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs, Cambridge, and Dual Enrollment. Registration is required. Each meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and last for 45 minutes.

After a brief sharing of relevant updates, ideas, newly released resources, and/or presentations aiming to assist divisions in using data to support advanced learning, the meetings will address questions from the field. During registration, all participants can access a form to submit questions so that divisions can receive timely support for advanced learning programs. Please select the date below to register for each meeting.

• September 23, 2025
• October 21, 2025
• December 16, 2025
• January 20, 2026
• February 24, 2026
• March 24, 2026
• April 28, 2026

The Commonwealth Learning Partnership, in partnership with Getting Smart (led by Tom Vander Ark), is reopening registration for VaLIN Cohort 6.0 - High School Redesign. VaLIN is a statewide initiative that builds a peer-to-peer network where divisions learn with and from one another, with the goal of driving practical, scalable innovations that boost student engagement, strengthen durable skills, and improve postsecondary readiness. Cohort 6.0 will support school divisions in designing flexible learning pathways to college, career training, and the military, integrating career and technical education (CTE), and advancing competency-based learning (CBL) through redesign of curriculum, instruction, and assessment.

Participating divisions will receive:

• Expert facilitation, coaching, and communities of practice from Getting Smart
• Support to conduct improvement cycles and program evaluation
• Personalized professional learning, design thinking, and peer-to-peer collaboration opportunities
• Alignment with statewide priorities including HB1477 on seat-time flexibility, competency-based education, and Virginia's 3E Framework (Enrollment, Enlistment, Employment)

This effort is conducted in collaboration with VDOE to ensure full alignment with Virginia's education priorities.

Only a few slots remain for Cohort 6.0. To register or learn more, please review the attached VaLIN High School Redesign one-pagerand contact Dr. Tina Manglicmot at [email protected].

The Virginia Department of Education is offering a continued grant opportunity to support statewide training and assistance for school divisions' implementation of the Regulations Governing the Use of Seclusion and Restraint in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia. Funding allocations of $592,755 for the second year from the general funds have been made available.

School divisions are required to ensure that all school personnel receive initial training regarding the regulations, policies, and procedures governing the use of physical restraint and seclusion per their division policy. Per the Regulations, two levels of training are required. To fulfill the first-level training, the VDOE, in partnership with the Center for Implementation and Evaluation of Education Systems (CIEES) at Old Dominion University (ODU), developed a series of free, on-demand professional development modules for school personnel, Understanding the Regulations Governing the Use of Restraint and Seclusion in Elementary and Secondary Schools in Virginia.

Appropriated funds for Fiscal Year 2026 will be allocated to Regional Fiscal Agents in support of second-level training for local school divisions through submission of the Request for Funding Application by October 1, 2025. School divisions that received funding in Fiscal Year 2025 for second-level training must complete the Certification Submissionfor their Regional Fiscal Agent to submit by October 30, 2025.

Section 8524 of ESSA requires that each school division that receives federal ESSA funds certify in writing that it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools. Certification must be received by October 1, 2025.

Section 8524 compliance is included in the general assurances for the ESEA program applications.

This is a reminder that a PDF of the signed cover page of the Title I, Part A, application (individual or consolidated) should be emailed when the program application is submitted and no later than October 1, 2025. The names of divisions that do not submit the signed cover page must be included in the certification report submitted to the U.S. Department of Education by November 1, 2025.

Please email the signed cover page of the 2025 Title I, Part A, application to [email protected]before Wednesday, October 1, 2025.

The 2025 Request for Application (RFA) process is open for vendors of high school equivalency (HSE) examinations to apply to become an approved HSE examination provider in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The submission deadline for the current application cycle is October 16, 2025, 2:00 p.m. ET. Application materials and the High School Equivalency Examination Guidelines for Virginiaare posted on the High School Equivalency Credential webpage.

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

The SY2025-2026 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 SY2025-2026, it is anticipated that the first ISAEP grant payments will be processed and delivered by January 31, 2026. 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 2025-2026 Title IV, Part A, federal allocationsfor each school division are now available on the VDOE website. Allocations are based on the Title I formulas applied by the U.S. Department of Education, and reflect adjustments made by the Virginia Department of Education to account for state-level set-asides. Under section 4105(a) of the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015, no school division may receive an allocation that is less than $10,000, and a ratable reduction process must be applied to ensure that the minimum award is at least $10,000. The Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreementsand Terms of the grant awardof the grant award can also be found on the VDOE website.

If a school division submits a substantially approvable application by July 1, 2025, the full allocation amount will be available for reimbursement. For applications submitted after that date, the full allocation will be accessible beginning from the date of submission.

The procedures and forms for submitting an application for Title IV, Part A, were previously provided to school division program coordinators. Applications were due on July 1, 2025.

The 2025-2026Title II, Part A, federal allocations(XLSX) for each school division are now available on the VDOE website. Allocations are distributed by a formula that is weighted 20 percent based on overall U.S. Census counts for students ages 5-17 and 80 percent based on students ages 5-17 living in poverty, relative to all other school divisions in the state. The amount of the Title II, Part A, allocations available through the reimbursement process as of July 1, 2025, is 22.42 percent, and the remaining 77.58 percent is available as of October 1, 2025.

The Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions(DOCX) for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements and Terms of the grant award(DOCX) can also be found on the VDOE website. The total amount of the allocation is available to school divisions as of July 1, 2025, through the reimbursement process.

The 2025-2026 Title V, Part B, Subpart 2, Federal Allocations(XLSX) for each school division eligible for the federal Rural and Low-Income School Program grant and the Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements(DOCX) as well as Terms of the Grant Award(DOCX) are available on the VDOE ESEA Programs website.

The total amount of the allocation is available to school divisions as of July 1, 2025, through the reimbursement process. The procedures and forms for applying for Title V, Part B, were previously provided to school division program coordinators. Applications were due on July 1, 2025. 

Additional information on Title V, Part B, Subpart 2, can be found on this supporting document.

The 2025-2026 Title I, Part C, federal allocations(XLSX) for each school division or regional program that qualifies based on their enrollment of migratory students are now available on the VDOE website. The total amount of the allocation is available to subgrantees as of July 1, 2025, through the reimbursement process. Also available on the Title I, Part C webpage are the Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements(DOCX) and the Terms of Grant Award for Title I, Part C(DOCX).

The 2025-2026 Consortium Incentive Grant (CIG) allocations(XLSX) are being awarded concurrently. These funds are awarded separately from the Title I, Part C, Education of Migratory Children allocations. CIG funds support two consortiums of which Virginia is a member: the Migrant Parent Empowerment Consortium Plus (MPEC+) and the Identification and Recruitment Consortium (IDRC). Also available on the Title I, Part C website are the Additional Required Special Terms and Conditions for Grant Awards or Cooperative Agreements(DOCX) and the Terms of Grant Award for Title I, Part Cfor CIG allocations(DOCX).

The procedures and forms for submitting an application for Title I, Part C, were previously provided to school division program coordinators. Applications were due on July 1, 2025. 

The Virginia Board of Education is seeking nominees for a vacancy on the Virginia Advisory Committee for Advanced Learning. A full list of open seats is available on the VDOE website.   

Please note that, by state or federal law or regulation, some of the vacancies on advisory committees require specific categories of expertise, qualifications, or geographic representation (map of the VDOE Superintendent's Regions). 

Members of advisory committees do not receive compensation for their service but may be reimbursed for travel expenses in accordance with state travel guidelines set forth by the Department of Accounts.   

Educators, parents, administrators, and other individuals are invited to apply by completing this nomination formby 5 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025.   

The Virginia Council of Administrators of Special Education in collaboration with VDOE, its state-funded partners, and James Madison University, will host a three-day conference for the Commonwealth's public school principals, assistant principals, directors of special education, and other school-based or central administration leaders responsible for continuous improvement needs in special education. It will be held on October 21-23, 2025, in Williamsburg, Virginia.

The VDOE will roll out tiered supports for local school divisions to assist in the implementation of high-quality instruction for students with disabilities. These supports will align with the School Performance and Support Framework and focus on instructional practices to support specially designed instruction in inclusive settings. Educational leaders have critical roles in developing and supporting inclusive schools to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. Instructional leadership and administration are at the helm of importance in developing effectiveness for optimal teaching and learning provided by general and special education teachers who understand and implement evidence-based practices to increase student achievement. Students with disabilities require specially designed instruction in their least restrictive environment to access the general curriculum and prepare for successful coursework, graduation, and meaningful postsecondary outcomes.

School principals and assistant principals, in partnership with their directors of special education, are highly encouraged to attend to maximize their leadership roles as the drivers of inclusive and high-achieving schools. The Educational Leadership and Administration in Special Education Conference registrationcloses on October 20, 2025, at 4 p.m. Use invitation code rnm9tencul.

In compliancewith the information and reporting requirements of Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(IDEA 2004), divisions are required to make an unduplicated count of students with disabilities receiving special education services on December 1 of each year. A properly developed Individualized Education Program (IEP) or an Individual Services Plan (ISP) must be implemented for each student with a disability reported to the VDOE. This data should reflect student records as of December 1, 2025.

The December 1 Child Count window will be accessible through the Single Sign-on for Web Systems(SSWS) portal Monday, December 1, 2025-Friday, December 12, 2025, for data submissions and the superintendent's approval/verification. Divisions are responsible for completing the Parentally Placed Private School & Homeschooled Survey within the December 1 Child Count application. The survey must be completed prior to beginning the Child Count approval process. Submissions made after the child count window closes may impact the division's local determination rubric for accurate and timely data submission.

The December 1 Child Count forms the basis for state funding and federal reporting. The information submitted is subject to audit by the United States Department of Education, VDOE, and the Auditor of Public Accounts. The divisions are responsible for maintaining student records and conducting extensive verification and validation checks, ensuring that data reported to VDOE are accurate.

As required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act(IDEA) identified local school divisions will receive formal notification from the VDOE Department of Special Education and Specialized Populations if it will be required to set-aside IDEA Part B funds for Comprehensive Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CCEIS) for the 2026-2027 school year. The determination is based on the school division's data submitted in the IDEA Part B Annual Performance Report for the last three years.

Local educational agencies are encouraged to conduct ongoing internal data validation checks to assess areas of possible significant disproportionality in the school division.

In accordance with the Code of Virginia § 22.1-270, all students entering kindergarten in public schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia must have a physical examination conducted within twelve months prior to the start of school. This requirement applies to students who have previously attended a preschool program within a public school, such as Head Start or the Virginia Preschool Initiative. If a student is enrolled in kindergarten without documentation of a comprehensive physical exam, school divisions are encouraged to collaborate with families to obtain the required documentation.

The Codedoes not extend a grace period for complying with this requirement. However, several exceptions exist. For more information about exceptions, visit the VDOE Enrollment in Public Schoolsweb page. Additional resources include:

• Comprehensive Pre-school Physical Examination- The VDOE's comprehensive guidance on enrollment in Virginia public schools.
• Enrollment Forms and Action Plans - School-Age Health and Forms- The Virginia Department of Health's resources and access to the School Entrance Health Form, which is fillable and available in multiple languages.
• Back To School- The Virginia Department of Health's resources for access to health care for children.

The Virginia Department of Education, Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs encourages SFAs and community sponsors to attend the webinar, Unanticipated Closures for School and Community Nutrition Programs in School Year 2025-2026, on September 18, 2025, from 1-2 p.m. The webinar will review:

• The waivers available to SFAs and community sponsors(Attachment A)
• Guidance for adult meal pricing for meals served to adults during unanticipated closures(Attachment B)
• Guidance for lost food inventory due to a disaster(Attachment C)

Attendees must register in advanceto receive information on joining the webinar.

Referto SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2025-2026-15and corresponding attachments A, B, and C, for additional information on information on unanticipated closures waivers available this school year.

The Virginia Department of Education uses the Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) portal that allows users to access multiple web applications by using one set of login credentials. One of the web applications is SNPWeb, that provides school nutrition directors, community sponsors, and the Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs access to applications, claims, and related Child Nutrition Program functions.

Access to SNPWeb is granted by the local ERA Administrator/SSWS Champion at the local education authority level for public schools and by the VDOE-SCNP Systems Analyst for private schools and community sponsors. SNPWeb access must only be granted to individuals who have specific job functions related to Child Nutrition Programs. Access is based on role-based permissions and is limited to a maximum of six users per school division or community organization. Individuals with SNPWeb access are not allowed to share logins and passwords.

To ensure integrity and to protect the sensitive nature of SNPWeb access, VODE-SCNP is requesting Local ERA Administrators/SSWS Champions to complete the action items described in SCNP (Dir.)Memo #2025-2026-14by September 26, 2025. The VDOE-SCNP Systems Analyst will periodically review each LEA's user access to ensure that permissions follow the criteria listed in SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2025-2026-14.

Federal regulations require Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) sponsoring organizations to attend annual state agency training. This requirement was outlined in the Virginia Department of Education, Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs Director's Memo #2025-2026-03, distributed on August 7, 2025.

The VDOE-SCNP is hosting a make-up training for any sponsoring organization that did not attend one of the two previously offered training sessions on October 9, 2025, from 1-3 p.m.

The school nutrition program director must attend for SFAs and the executive director or program contact must attend for community organizations.

The make-up training is also open to any CACFP sponsoring organization wanting additional training.

Attendees must register in advanceto receive information on joining the webinar. 

This information is also available in VDOE-SCNP (Dir.)Memo 2025-2026-16.