The Policy Team of VASCD is committed to elevating teaching and deepening learning through advocacy work as well as strong relationships with legislators and policymakers. VASCD consistently advances a policy agenda that elevates the education profession and prioritizes the well-being and success of students. Within this broader context, VASCD identifies focus areas that represent specific concerns within our areas of expertise. This year we have six priorities.

Our six policy priorities are:

• Unified Purpose and Clear Standards: Virginia's law and policy makers must clearly define the purpose of education to guide important decisions.
• Aligned System of Accountability: The system to which schools are held accountability must have coherence and alignment between the purpose, the standards, and the assessments.
• Modernizing Virginia's Assessment System: Virginia's student assessment system must support and align with today's student learning goals.
• Outstanding Educators for Virginia's Students: We must elevate the profession and champion autonomy with integrity from policy to the practitioner.
• Personalized Learning Opportunities for Educators: Educators must have relevant, competency-based professional learning opportunities.
• Guidance for Use of AI in Education: All of Virginia's stakeholders must have recommendations for implementation and appropriate guardrails for use of AI in classrooms.

The budget committee leaders from both chambers of Virginia's General Assembly reached an agreement last week, and the General Assembly is called in for a special session next week (September 6).

Here are reports for your reference:

• August 26 Breaking News (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• August 29 (The Washington Post)
• August 29 (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
• August 29 (Associated Press)

The timeline to publicly release SOL test data from the spring has been delayed (originally set for August 17). Read the Richmond Times-Dispatch article HERE.

This week, VASCD released two statements in reference to the Math Standards (to VBOE) and Through-Year Growth Assessments (Immediate Release). Please take time to review our position and recommendations on these two important action items at the state level.

On August 31, the Virginia Board of Education met for a special session. 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. Link to the Full Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBYkLtGxd34

The two main items on the agenda were the math standards and accountability.

Math Standards

Access the standards document HERE. Unanimous vote to accept. [Video timing 13:09-1:16.15]

Accountability

• Overview. Video timing - 1:28.30-2:49.20
• Growth, Achievement, Non-Academic Measure [Video timing - 3:42.12- 7:29.14]. Although lengthy, we recommend carving out some time to view as much as possible, particularly during the discussion portions (playback speed of 2x might be better here).