State Articles of Interest
Fairfax County teachers voice frustration over reduced pay raises in new budget | FFXnow
Parents, activists question need for SROs in elementary schools | 1local | loudountimes.com
Virginia students still segregated by race, economic class 70 years after landmark ruling
National Articles of Interest
California district pays $360K settlement to teacher fired over LGBTQ+ policies | K-12 Dive
Iowa law requires personalized teaching plans to boost K-6 literacy | K-12 Dive
‘It’s cool to be in school’: Educators stress the importance of attendance | K-12 Dive
4th Circuit denies Maryland parents suing over LGBTQ+ curriculum opt-outs | K-12 Dive
Cardona: ‘Low expectations’ for Black students continue today | K-12 Dive
Schools, police tell students to cease ‘senior assassins’ game | K-12 Dive
DOE Updates
Public Hearing on Revisions to the Standards of Accreditation
The Virginia Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the proposed revisions to the Standards of Accreditation on June 4 at 4 p.m. This revision to the Standards of Accreditation focuses on changes to the accreditation process and the development of a school performance and support framework. Parents, educators, and interested citizens are invited to attend the session and comment. Interested individuals can register to attend and/or speak in the public hearing. Information on the revisions to the Standards of Accreditation can be found here.
Ed. Department Updates
ED ANNOUNCES INCREASED FUNDING FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN SCHOOL
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and on Thursday, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new actions to increase access to school-based mental health services, including: (1) increased investments in the Department of Education’s (ED) School-Based Mental Health Services (SBMH) and Mental Health Service Professionals (MHSP) grant programs in the current Fiscal Year; (2) making additional investments through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA); and (3) offering new mental health and wellbeing trainings and resources for schools and educators. In addition to increasing available funding, ED extended the application windows for both grant programs until May 31, 2024, now remaining open through the entirety of Mental Health Awareness Month. “Today’s announcements affirm the BidenHarris Administration’s continued commitment to tackling our youth mental health crisis,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “We know students are more likely to access mental health support if it’s offered in schools. By nearly doubling funds this year for school-based mental health professionals, releasing additional funds to help advance a variety of mental health strategies, and providing additional training and resources, we are raising the bar for student wellbeing across the country.”
?More information about upcoming events on mental health can be found on ED’s Best Practices Clearinghouse calendar; and additional resources, including toolkits and reports from ED’s technical assistance centers, can be found in the resource library.
