National Articles of Interest
11th Circuit deals another blow to Education Department’s Title IX rule | K-12 Dive
Bills allowing chaplains in public schools gain steam | K-12 Dive
Common App data shows substantial rise in minority student college applications | K-12 Dive
Education Department approves all requests to extend ESSER spending deadlines | K-12 Dive
DOE Updates
VDOE Issues Draft Guidance for Cell Phone-Free Education
On July 9, Governor Glenn Youngkin issued Executive Order 33 to help bring cell phone-free education to Virginia schools. After listening to and reviewing the thousands of comments and suggestions from Virginians, VDOE has developed draft guidance for school divisions on policies and procedures to establish cell phone-free education and remove cell phones and personal electronic communication devices from Virginia’s public school classrooms. That draft guidance developed has been published on VDOE’s website and is available for review and comment through September 15, 2024. The draft guidance defines cell phone-free education in Virginia’s schools as “bell-to-bell”, meaning phones should be turned off and stored away from the first bell at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the academic school day. “Bell-to-bell” includes lunch and time in between class periods. To learn more about the draft guidance and provide feedback, visit the Cell Phone-Free Education in Virginia K-12 Public Schools webpage.
Year-long PD Opportunity for Language Teachers
The Center for Applied Second Language Studies (CASLS) is offering a free year-long professional development community focused on Intercultural Communication in K-16 language classrooms. Meetings will take place last Monday of every month, September-April (excluding December). Outcomes include the creation of materials for collaboration with your local professional team and/or learners. Sign up by September 7 and request specific topics of interest.
History and Social Science Standards of Learning
The full implementation of the 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning will be the 2025 -2026 school year. The 2024 – 2025 school year will be the crosswalk year for the History and Social Science Standards. Contact the history and social science program if you have any additional questions.
