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.

Thank you to our Partners:

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 Educators for Virginia's Students: We must elevate the profession and and champion "autonomy with integrity" from policy to the practitioner.
Modernizing Virginia's Assessment System: Virginia's student assessment system must support and align with today's student learning goals.
Personalized Learning Opportunities for Educators: Educators must have relevant, competency-based professional learning opportunities.

Please access our Policy Priorities Brochure.

VASCD's Advocacy Work

General Assembly Priorities

The VASCD Policy Team is hard at work to develop a document that will be shared with legislators in Virginia in advance of the 2023 General Assembly. We currently have 7 recommendations that support our priorities listed above.

Developing the Capacity of Virginia's Educators to Advocate

The Branding and Marketing Subcommittee is working to develop and finalize an Advocate's Guide to help educators become advocates that support their values. Many times, educational policy is pushed into our schools and classrooms without teacher voice, and we aim to elevate the profession by elevating the educator's perspective.

Virginia Board of Education Update

The Virginia Board of Education met on October 19 and 20. The work session on October 19 placed a large emphasis on NAEP, accountability, and school quality support. If you have the time to do so, we recommend you spend time viewing some of the posted video of the WORK SESSION. If you are unable to do so, the PPTs linked below for NAEP 101 and Inspiring Action in Virginia to Improve Student Outcomes: A National Perspective are well worth your time to review.

Work Session

Agenda (Word)
NAEP 101 (PPT)
Inspiring Action in Virginia to Improve Student Outcomes: A National Perspective (PPT)
Overview of Supports from the Office of School Quality (PPT)
Update on the HB938 Workgroup (PPT)

Business Meeting

Agenda

Highlights

During the public comment period of the Business Meeting, there was an overwhelming number of speakers rejecting the updated model policies regarding the treatment of transgender students. THIS ARTICLE from Richmond Times-Dispatch covered the public comment session. As a note, the model policies are the responsibility of VDOE, not the board.

First Draft and Review of the 2022 Annual Report on the Condition and Needs of Public Schools in Virginia.

The SUPERINTENDENT'S UPDATE (PDF) contained a recommendation from Superintendent Balow to further delay the approval of the updated History standards along with a revised the timeline.

October-November 2022