State Articles of Interest
Salem to implement AI weapons detection system at high school
ACPS sees big hike in employee health care costs | News | cbs19news.com
Waynesboro Schools makes volunteer application process digital, more efficient
New outdoor space works to connect students with nature
$250 fines begin for passing stopped school buses in Fairfax County
Virginia overhauls SOL testing to boost student achievement
Henrico teachers now will be paid for certain extracurricular work, lost planning time
Fairfax Co. school leaders adopt a compromise on student cellphone use – WTOP News
National Articles of Interest
How much does chronic absenteeism cost communities? | K-12 Dive
3 takeaways from House debate on charter schools | K-12 Dive
Federal private school choice program advanced by House committee | K-12 Dive
States lead the charge in expanding private school voucher programs | K-12 Dive
No quick fix: How can schools make real change to overcome student underachievement?
DOE Updates
History and Social Science Professional Learning Webinars for Division Leaders and Teachers
Article: 2025-19-252
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Christonya Brown, History and Social Science Coordinator, vdoe.hss@doe.virginia.gov
The History and Social Science department at VDOE is pleased to announce professional learning to support the implementation of the instructional guides. Interested Candidates must register in advance for the sessions specific to either division leaders or teachers.
Sessions for Division Leaders: The focus of these sessions will be on inquiry-based learning practices and concepts such as active learning, scaffolding, questioning, reading for investigation and research, predictions, information source analysis, writing for discussion and communication, and checking for understanding.
Registration link – 2023 History and Social Science Standards of LearningInstructional Guides Overview for History and Social Science Leaders
- Option 1: Tuesday, May 20, 2025 (10-11 a.m.)
- Option 2: Thursday, May 22, 2025 (1-2 p.m.)
Registration link – Inquiry-based Learning
- Sessions will be held the second Tuesday of each month beginning June 10, 2025, through December 9, 2025, 10-11 a.m.
Sessions for Teachers: The VDOE will work with educators by course to teach, discuss, and learn about the instructional implications of the 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning. These meetings are meant to provide a forum for collaboration and will provide a scaffolded approach in various stages of inquiry-based learning. Educators will have two opportunities to attend sessions of their choice to accommodate their division and personal schedules. The topics for each week/day will be as follows:
- Option 1: Week of June 23, 2025
- Option 2: Week of August 18, 2025
Further announcements of professional learning offerings will be provided in upcoming Virginia Education Update newsletters.
Section 504 Best Practices Webinar
Article: 2025-19-251
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Non-teaching staff, School-based mental health professionals
Contact: Alexandra Javna, School Social Work Specialist,Alexandra.Javna@doe.virginia.gov
The Office of Behavioral Health and Student Safety is hosting the Section 504 Best Practices webinar Tuesday, May 27, 2025, 9 to 10 a.m. The presentation will provide information on the legal requirements for Section 504, how to utilize data to make productive decisions related to common Section 504 practices, how to write appropriate and data driven accommodations, and how to facilitate a good meeting.
Those interested in attending can register via the Section 504 Best Practices registration form. A recording will be made available to all registrants.
Release of History and Social Science Instructional Guides Status Update – Grade 4 and Virginia Studies and United States History!
Article: 2025-19-248
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Christonya Brown, History and Social Science Coordinator, vdoe.hss@doe.virginia.gov
The History and Social Science department at VDOE is pleased to announce the release of the history and social science instructional guides. Instructional guides are companion documents to the 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning – amplifying each standard by defining the core knowledge and skills in practice, supporting teachers and their instruction, and serving to transition classroom instruction from the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning to the newly adopted standards. The local History and Social Science curriculum should include a variety of information sources, readings, learning experiences, and forms of assessment selected to create a rigorous instructional program.
Instructional guides include five distinct sections, now inclusive of dynamic and interactive components: Changes and Revisions, Understanding the Standard, Supporting Questions, Skills in Practice, and Concepts and Connections aligned to each standard.
Grade 4 and World History and Virginia Studies and United States History will be released this week with the dynamic and interactive components. At the conclusion of this week, all History and Social Science Instructional Guides will have been released to the field.
Educators should continue to monitor the History and Social Science webpage for additional information. Department staff will provide regional professional learning sessions through multiple means to ensure that teachers and those that support them (e.g., principals, central office personnel, directors) will learn about the purpose, intention, structure, content, and context for implementation. Further announcements of such training will be provided in upcoming Virginia Education Update newsletters
Advanced Placement Participant GrantsThese grants are available to AP teachers who are teaching one of the following courses in the 2025-2026 school year: AP African American Studies, AP Precalculus, AP Computer Science Principles, and AP Seminar. Participant grants support the tuition cost of an in-person or virtual Advanced Placement Summer Institute in June, July, or August. Additional information on how to apply is available in this flyer.
