State Articles of Interest
Virginia ACLU sues Department of Education over trans model policies
Roanoke schools joining lawsuit against social media
State Education Department approves first-of-its-kind Roanoke school
Madison: ‘Growing Our Own’ through Teachers of Tomorrow
National Articles of Interest
Half of states now restrict trans student athletes | K-12 Dive
Nearly two-thirds of teachers steer clear of charged topics
How HBCUs are building a stronger Black teacher pipeline | K-12 Dive
More Teens Seek Counseling but Parents are Unsure
4 strategies to spark engagement in summer programs | K-12 Dive
CDC considers end to COVID 5-day isolation | K-12 Dive
DOE Updates
VDOE Literacy Network Implementation Series Underway
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals
Contact: Jill Nogueras, English Coordinator, jill.nogueras@doe.virginia.gov
VDOE’s Literacy Network Implementation Series is designed to support Division leaders in developing and implementing effective strategies to achieve the goals of the Virginia Literacy Act and increase literacy outcomes for students across Virginia.
Session #1 will review the process for leading impactful systems-level change to improve literacy outcomes for all of Virginia’s students. Participants will explore the Division Literacy Plan, deepen their understanding of the components of a coherent literacy strategy, and can develop and/or refine their school division literacy vision while planning to share and invest all stakeholders in this vision.
Division Teams of up to seven people should be formed and should include the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction or CAO/Director of Instruction, Division Level Literacy Lead (supervisor/coordinator/director), and Principal(s) who can help carry the message back to the Division. Teams should also invite a Director of Special Education, Director of Multilingual Learning/ESL or special populations, or Reading Specialist(s). Participants will receive professional development points for attending the three-hour long sessions.
Superintendents or designee may register their team using the regional links HERE.
Regional sessions will be held:
Region 2: February 29 at 12:30 p.m. held at Mariners Museum, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News.
Region 3: February 29 at 9 a.m. held at Spotsylvania Boardroom Administrative Services, 8020 River Stone Drive, Fredericksburg.
Region 4: February 23 at 1 p.m. held at 121 Mustang Alley, Falls Church.
Region 5: February 20 at 9:30 a.m. held at Center 1. 1180 Seminole Trl. Charlottesville, VA.
Region 6: February 21 at 9 a.m. held at Salem High School, 400 Spartan Drive, Salem, VA.
Region 7: March 7 at 9:30 a.m. held at Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Grand Hall 1 Partnership Cir, Abingdon.
National Security Language Initiative – Critical Languages Grant
The application period is now open for the VDOE National Security Language Initiative competitive grants. VDOE will award these grants to public school divisions to add or expand offerings in one or more world language courses currently identified as critical by the NSLI for Youth Scholarship Program.? School divisions may apply for this competitive grant program using the NSLI2024 online application. The deadline for divisions to submit completed applications is February 29. More information about the grant is available on the VDOE NSLI Grant website.
Activated Learning
Ms. Emily Burrell has been a math teacher for over two decades and currently teaches at South Lakes High School in Fairfax. On February 14, Ms. Burrell will be featured on VDOE podcast ActiVAtED Learning. In addition to teaching advanced mathematics, she enjoys working with students in her Algebra Functions and Data Analysis courses, where her practical approach helps students see the connections between what students learn in class and their everyday lives. Tune in to Activated Learning!
