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Over the past few weeks, there have been important decisions and information provided from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Governor Youngkin, and the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC).

VDOE

On July 18, the agency released model policies on Ensuring Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools. Access the document HERE.

The agency also halted teacher diversity grants. On July 18, the Richmond-Times Dispatch published THIS ARTICLE.

Appointments

On July 14, Governor Youngkin appointed Justine Taylor-Raymond as the Assistant Secretary of Education, replacing Deputy Secretary McKenzie Snow.

On July 7, Governor Youngkin appointed THREE NEW BOARD MEMBERS to VBOE.

JLARC

On July 10, JLARC released the findings and recommendations from its K-12 Funding study. Access the document HERE.

Budget

The finance committee chairs from both chambers have yet to reach an agreement. The most recent report can be found HERE. As a reminder, without an agreed upon amendment, Virginia is still operating under the biennium budget approved last year.

On July 25, VBOE met for annual retreat, on July 26 for their work session, and on July 27 for their business meeting. The retreat was not streamed live, and we were unable to send representation in-person to observe the meeting. Below are relevant links, highlights from both meetings, and relevant time stamps for video playback. As a pro tip, we recommend changing the playback speed to 1.5x or 1.75x.

Click HERE for the Agenda Page.

Retreat

There were three important items covered during the board's retreat. Additionally, the three new board appointees began their service.

• Election of VBOE leaders: Grace Creasey (President) and Bill Hansen (Vice President)
• Overview and History of the Standards of Quality (PRESENTATION)
• Presentation and Conversation on Accountability and Accreditation; no materials were available

Work Session

• Link to Full Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JK-dB26WIc. The work session does not begin until 7:27.56.
• The agenda was modified to only include Item D: Special Education Workshop (PRESENTATION); We recommend watching this portion of the meeting [7:41.24-8:04.25]

Business Meeting

• Link to Full Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQCB9ZRLjbE.
• Superintendent Coons introduced new board and staff members [17:02-19:30 in the video]
• First and Final Review for the iteach Alternative Route to Licensure (ATTACHMENT); We recommend that school and division leaders either utilizing or considering iteach watch this portion of the meeting [2:23.05 - 2:44.41 in the video]
• Final Review of of Proposed Changes to Certain Testing Requirements for Writing (ATTACHMENT); This will be a change in how the reading and writing SOL tests will be combined; additionally, the 8th grade writing test as currently constructed will be removed. We recommend watching this portion of the meeting [4:32.07 - 4:46.12 in the video]
• Discussion of current issues portion of the meeting; Dr. Seibert opened a discussion on the assessment and accountability portion of the retreat with particular attention to growth assessments; We recommend watching this portion of the meeting [6:08.37 - 6:15.50 in the video]