VASCD Policy Update: VASCD Advocacy Work and BOE Info

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Our goal is to keep you informed about issues and actions in state

and federal education policy that relate to VASCD's mission.

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Policy Priorities

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.

Our three policy priorities are:

Outstanding Teachers for Virginia's Students: We must elevate the profession and professionals through "autonomy with integrity"
Modernizing Virginia's Assessment System: Virginia's student assessment system should support and align with today's student learning goals.
Personalized Learning Opportunities for Educators: Educators need relevant, competency-based professional learning opportunities

For an electronic copy of our brochure, click HERE.

VASCD Assessment Summit

On July 19, 2022, VASCD convened an Assessment Summit and engaged stakeholders from several different roles throughout Virginia for a half-day workshop in Williamsburg. The purpose of the summit was to develop the individual and collective capacity of the participants and to generate a set of recommendations for distribution to decision-makers and leaders throughout Virginia to inform next steps and serve as a foundation for the workgroup identified in HB 585.

Review the Executive Summary HERE.

Advocacy Work

Letter to VBOE: History and Social Science Standards of Learning

In advance of the August 17 Virginia Board of Education meeting, VASCD submitted THIS LETTER in support of the revised standards.

Media Release: Teacher Shortage

In collaboration with VPEC, and the chair representative of the coalition, VASCD released THIS INFORMATION AND LINK outlining strategies to address Virginia's teacher shortage.

Additionally, Chris participated with Krista Barton-Arnold, Executive Director of VAESP, in a radio interview with Michael Pope from Virginia Public Radio (not yet released).

Virginia Board of Education Update

The Virginia Board of Education met on August 17 after cancelling its July meeting. The newly-formed board met for the first time and covered a LOT of ground. They convened for a Work Session, Business Meeting, and Executive Session at 9am and did not finish until after 6pm. Below are the agenda items covered along with three key highlights.

Work Session

Business Meeting

Agenda

Three Key Highlights

Item G: First Review of the Proposed Revised 2022 History and Social Science Standards of Learning was 'paused' until the September meeting. Public comment will be set to begin following that September VBOE meeting. To review the presentation slides click HERE.

Item H: First Review of Guidelines and Criteria for the Award and Distribution of Planning Grant Funds from the College Partnership Laboratory Fund was accepted by the board. During the presentation, a timeline for grant applications, review, awards, and implementation was provided (screen shot from the live stream included below). The first lab schools could open as early as Fall 2023. Language from the bill was clarified that private universities and community colleges are acceptable entities in addition to public universities.

Richmond Times-Dispatch Article

Item J: First Review of Proposed Amendment 5 to Virginia's Consolidated State Plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ASSA) was accepted by the board. During the presentation, there were proposed measures of interim progress and long term goals for reading and math. These are on slides 7, 8, 9, and 10 of THE PRESENTATION SLIDES.

Baseline measures of interim progress are set at the pass rate of the school at the 50th percentile of enrollment instead of the 20th
Increases in long-term goals for reading: from 75% to 88%, by the 2027-2028 SY
Increases in long-term goals for math: from 70% to 85%, by the 2027-2028 SY
Rates must meet or exceed the previous year rate regardless of whether or not students met the long-term goals (88% for reading and 85% for math)

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Virginia ASCD is a non-partisan, non-political organization.

Like you, we are interested in policy decisions that affect teaching and learning in Virginia.