Latest news with #VDOE
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Facing special ed teacher shortage, Va. education board votes to expand educator pipeline
(Photo by Getty Images) The number of Virginia preschoolers with disabilities has increased by 24% over the past two years, prompting the Virginia Board of Education's decision Thursday to have the state find new ways to get more special education teachers into classrooms. The board's unanimous 7-0 vote directs the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to open the state's compliance pathways in its state administrative code governing special education by removing the requirement for graduate-level coursework earned towards an Early Childhood Special Education (ECSPED) endorsement. VDOE staff said the need for additional teachers with ECSPED endorsement has been 'longstanding,' noting that 7% to 9% of educators have taught outside their endorsed area over the past six years. Elementary education Pre-K-6 and special education PreK-12 were the top two critical shortage areas staff identified, which they said showed the necessity of updating compliance standards to make hiring special education teachers easier. 'All we're asking is to remove the word 'graduate' and align it with all of the rest of the special education endorsements and make a pathway that is easier to fill for early childhood education,' said Rob Gilstrap, VDOE assistant superintendent for human capital, at Thursday's board meeting. The ECSPED endorsement requires special education teachers to have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. Teachers must have also graduated from an approved teacher preparation program in early childhood special education, completed a college major in early childhood special education or 27 semester graduate hours in early childhood special education. Virginia schools still struggling to fill critical teaching positions, new report finds The board was provided two solutions to facilitate the compliance change. One will create an ECSPED add-on endorsement, which will be developed by the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure in September. The Board of Education will vote on the final details, and the process could take an extended period to complete. The second solution is to make a minor revision to the state's administrative code, which the board said would align licensure regulations for ECSPED endorsement and increase flexibility by removing an arbitrary graduate-level course requirement. This will also allow teachers without a graduate degree to add the endorsement outside of an approved program pathway. Since the second solution would likely not spark public disagreement, the regulatory changes could be fast tracked and completed after 90 days. VDOE said the changes could fill at least 70 positions in the future and would put the commonwealth in alignment with all other state special education endorsement requirements. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Youngkin signs executive order to combat antisemitism in Va. schools
Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks with members of the media in Virginia's Capitol on Jan. 13, 2025. (Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods /Virginia Mercury) Gov. Glenn Youngkin directed state leaders to develop resources to track incidents of antisemitism and anti-religious bigotry at Virginia's schools through an executive order announced Monday evening. Executive Order 48 expands on his administration's efforts and work by the legislature to combat prejudice against Jewish students at all levels of Virginia's education system. According to the executive order, surveys conducted by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), a commission established by the governor in 2022, found 554 recorded antisemitism incidents in Virginia over the past year, with most of them occurring in Virginia's schools. 'No one should be unsafe in the classroom or on campus or feel targeted because of their religion or heritage. This executive order reaffirms and strengthens the commonwealth's commitment to safe educational environments free from discrimination and continues our actions against antisemitism and anti-religious bigotry in public schools and institutions of higher education,' Youngkin said in a statement. 'On day one, I signed Executive Order 8 establishing the Commission to Combat Antisemitism. We have made tremendous strides implementing their recommendations, but our work is far from done.' Under the executive order, the governor directed the Secretary of Education, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), and the State Council of Higher Education of Virginia (SCHEV) to develop resources that will help local school divisions, colleges and universities prevent, track, report and follow up on incidents of antisemitism and anti-religious bigotry. The governor also directed the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Public Safety & Homeland Security to establish a working group to design a comprehensive reporting and tracking mechanism for alleged incidents targeting Jewish students. The working group — which will include representatives from VDOE, SCHEV, the Department of Criminal Justice Services and stakeholders from the Jewish community, among others — must provide recommendations for executive, legislative, and budgetary actions to the governor and General Assembly by Sept. 1. Between April 2024 and April 2025, CAM found the number of harassment cases increased from 50 to 158 and vandalism from 19 to 62, Youngkin's order stated. Three assaults were also identified in April of this year, while none were reported in 2024. The order also states that these trends have placed Virginia 11th in the nation for the number of reported antisemitic incidents, most of which occurred in Virginia's public schools and universities. Anti-war protests roiled Virginia college campuses after Hamas, a militant group, unexpectedly attacked Israel near the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking over 250 hostages. Israel struck back with a full-scale war campaign that has left over 52,000 Palestinians dead to date. Both Hamas and Israel began exchanging hostages and prisoners between January and March and the groups are still negotiating a ceasefire agreement. In the meantime, federal lawmakers, including Virginia U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, are urging President Donald Trump's administration to act on delivering food and emergency aid to civilians. With Gaza facing starvation, Virginia Sens. Warner and Kaine press for U.S. action The violence and hostages taken led to a string of campus protests, encampments, and arrests at Virginia's colleges and universities in the months to follow at the University of Mary Washington, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech, and the University of Virginia. In total, more than 125 students from five Virginia institutions of higher learning were arrested at on-campus demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas War in 2023. Virginia lawmakers have sought answers in hopes of determining if the demonstrations and universities' responses to them warrant potential policy changes. Despite the committees being formed a year ago, no action has been taken. In March, the U.S. Department of Education warned 60 higher education institutions, including George Mason University and the University of Virginia, that they could lose federal funding, after the federal agency claimed the institutions have not kept Jewish students safe based on a backlog of complaints. After George Mason responded to the December 2023 complaint, the institution said the Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Education has requested no further information after providing the office with an update of its efforts to combat harassment and discrimination. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
After teachers union's concerns, Va. education dep't. extends deadline for grading system committees
A cup of pencils sit on top of a classroom desk in Virginia (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) On Thursday, Virginia's largest teachers organization cautioned that the Department of Education could be short of teachers to sit on the agency's committees tasked with adjusting the state's grading system. State education leaders pushed back, asserting that teachers would still be pivotal participants on the committees and extended the period they could apply to participate to May 2. The concerns surfaced after the agency announced the committees' application process on April 17, a day before the Virginia Education Association (VEA) office and some schools closed for Good Friday. The original deadline for teachers to apply to participate was April 24, but the interest the agency received prompted the pushed-back cut off date, according to VDOE Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson. Historically in Virginia, teachers have been central to adjusting cut scores to determine whether K-12 students meet proficiency levels, by reviewing assessment questions and determining the minimum score needed to be considered passing. Educators must apply to serve on the committees to demonstrate their understanding of grade-level content and assessments. However, this year's process will include educators, instructional specialists, and community stakeholders such as parents and business leaders. Community members will undergo a selection process led by the board and the governor's office. Committee meetings will begin next month. The VEA, which was also closed Easter Monday, had said the short application period left them scrambling to notify teachers about the opportunity to serve on the committees. 'Why would you let teachers know about something like this with only days to do something about it?' asked Carol Bauer, VEA president. 'We wouldn't do that to our students. The paperwork involved in this process can take an hour or more. It begs the question — does VDOE really want teachers' input on this?' Bauer said teachers' presence on the assessment committees is essential because they work with students every day and they know them better than anyone else in Virginia's school systems. 'They understand their students' needs and how to meet them,' Bauer said. 'Not having teachers involved in important decisions that affect their students' futures would be an injustice. It wouldn't make sense.' However, state education board President Grace Creasey, an appointee of Gov. Glenn Youngkin and former educator, said teachers will continue to be key contributors on the committees. 'These committees are generally made up of more teachers than other stakeholders,' Creasey said. 'I have personally participated in them during my 12 years in the classroom and understand the importance of ensuring teacher voice in this process. I'm excited for the standard setting committee work to begin.' Creasey also defended the application process, stating there have been 'several rounds' of internal and external reviews with stakeholders, testing provider Pearson and the agency's Technical Advisory Committee. Gullickson said in a statement to the Mercury that as of Wednesday, the agency received 231 applicants with 71% of those being educators. The Virginia Board of Education will take a final vote on the updated performance standards in July, after staff presents the proposals for review in June. If approved, the overhauled standards will not take effect until spring 2026. Raising academic benchmarks in public education are part of a broader push by Youngkin's administration to 'restore excellence in education,' which includes hiking standards in core subjects, increasing transparency and accountability and overhauling the state's assessment system. The administration's goal is to adjust the cut scores to better align with the rigor of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The administration has often referred to the NAEP data to show the 'honesty gap,' or the disparity between state-level proficiency standards and the more stringent NAEP standards. Between 2017-2022, Virginia's fourth-grade reading and math results showed a stunning 40-percentage-point gap between the state's Standards of Learning assessment tests and NAEP assessments. The governor has asserted that the state's current proficiency standards are the result of the previous Board of Education lowering cut scores and altering school accreditation standards. However, Anne Holton, a former state education secretary and a current Board of Education member appointed by former Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam, defended the previous board's approach. Holton, the only board member not appointed by Youngkin, has stated that Virginia's pass rates aligned with the NAEP's 'basic' achievement level, which reflects, according to NAEP, 'partial mastery of the knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work at a given grade.' Instead, the Youngkin administration wants Virginia to meet NAEP's 'proficient' standard — defined as a student demonstrating a deeper understanding of complex topics and the ability to apply them in real-world situations. Holton said the process of shifting to the NAEP's higher standard would bring about a dramatic change for the commonwealth. 'There are arguably good reasons to do it, but it's not gonna make any kids smarter,' Holton said. 'No kid can jump higher because the hoop got raised.' Instead, the state's focus should remain on what helps kids learn better, Holton said, such as implementing the Virginia Literacy Act, 'which has been strong and has helped to make kids smarter, but we needed more of that.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Overdose crisis spurs school notification bills, but key details still up for debate
An injectable drug is loaded into a syringe while prescription medication is strewn about haphazardly. (Photo by Getty Images) With drug overdoses continuing to strain Virginia communities, a proposal requiring schools to notify parents of overdose cases is gaining momentum in the General Assembly. However, lawmakers remain divided on whether schools should report 'suspected' overdoses or only 'confirmed' cases, a key sticking point that could shape the bill's final language. Virginia recorded 21,881 drug overdose emergency department visits in 2023, a 2% decrease from 2022, according to recent data by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). Despite the slight decline, fentanyl overdoses remain a major concern, prompting legislative action. Sen. Glen Sturtevant, R-Chesterfield, who sponsored Senate Bill 1240, supports a House amendment expanding the reporting requirement to include colleges and universities. His bill cleared the House Education Committee on Monday, but now faces further scrutiny in the full House. This comes after a similar proposal by Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, D-Prince William, failed in the Democratic-controlled House by 42-57 last session. 'We don't want schools to wait until law enforcement confirms it, or the hospital does the toxicology or the blood work to confirm that it was, in fact, an overdose,' Sturtevant said. 'We want them to sort of err on the side of providing more information sooner to parents because if we [wait] … it can take a week or longer for lab results to get back.' A related measure, House Bill 2774, sponsored by Del. J.J. Singh, D-Loudoun, also advanced to the Senate floor. Singh's proposal was merged with HB 2424 and HB 2287, carried by Dels. Geary Higgins, R-Loudoun, and Del. Carrie Coyner, R-Chesterfield, showing strong bipartisan interest in addressing the crisis. 'I think we would do well to take the input from everybody, from the governor's office, from the Senate and the House, and come up with [the right] approach,' Singh said, expressing confidence in the bill's final passage. Gov. Glenn Youngkin's administration has made fentanyl prevention a priority, signing two executive orders related to overdose response during his tenure. Executive Order 26 outlined a 'comprehensive' strategy to combat fentanyl and opioid abuse, while Executive Order 28 directed the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to ensure school divisions notify parents of school-connected overdoses within 24 hours. The urgency behind the second order came after nine opioid overdoses were documented in Loudoun County Public Schools in October 2023. The administration criticized the district for waiting more than 20 days to notify parents, despite evidence of multiple such cases. However, Executive Order 28 did not specify a deadline for when VDOE should issue guidance, and lawmakers say a legislative mandate for VDOE and tVDH to set clear school protocols is long overdue. Higgins said he doesn't understand why schools hesitate to notify parents but hopes the bill will require school divisions to report where an overdose occurred and include 'suspected' cases — not just confirmed ones. 'We're not trying to point out anybody or anything,' Higgins said. 'We're trying to make sure parents know what's going on and if you don't know what's going on, how do you fix it?' With both bills now reaching each chamber, lawmakers have until Saturday's session deadline to hammer out the final language — ensuring schools balance transparency with accuracy in overdose reporting. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate rejects new school standards delay, fight continues in budget talks
A carpet designed with Virginia and the rest of the United States lies inside a classroom. (Photo by Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury) A decision to delay the implementation of a new accountability system this fall for Virginia's schools will come down to budget negotiations after a Democratic-led effort to delay its rollout failed in the Senate on Tuesday. The legislation, carried by Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Richmond, fell short in a 17-22 vote, with some Democrats breaking ranks to oppose the measure. Critics of the Virginia Department of Education's (VDOE) new School Performance and Support Framework argue the plan lacks transparency, provides no clear resources for struggling schools, and fails to account for English language learners who need more preparation time before assessments. They also slammed the system's development for excluding key voices, including school officials, board members, and parents. Supporters counter that the framework is a necessary step, addressing learning loss and fostering stronger education programs — rather than relying solely on accreditation for improvement. Hashmi warned the transition is happening too abruptly, without a phased rollout. 'Usually what happens when a new model of any kind of assessment in any industry, in any profession is rolled out, you do it in an appropriate way, where you have the older model still continuing forward, with a new model in place as well. But that is not going to happen,' she said. 'Our schools are being thrown immediately, this fall, into a new accountability system, and they have not had this year to adequately prepare for it,' Hashmi added. Senate Bill 979, sought to delay the rollout by one year amid concerns about the overhaul's clarity and impact. The effort followed a failed push by Northern Virginia school districts last year to slow the transition, with educators calling for clearer performance measures and targeted support plans for struggling schools. Hashmi worked with VDOE officials to fine-tune the legislation, ensuring it wouldn't jeopardize federal funding and compliance. A late amendment would have required the VDOE to seek revisions to the state plan if the bill passed, but it wasn't enough to sway the Senate. Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, a public school teacher, was among the Democrats who opposed the delay, arguing that Virginia schools have seen too many shifts in accountability standards. 'We should put this in place so that we can work out the kinks,' VanValkenburg said. 'We've had three accountability systems in 10 years, and that does harm to kids.' Republicans also rejected the delay, aligning with Gov. Glenn Youngkin's push for stronger academic expectations and increased accountability. 'As a parent, I can't help but think when it comes to accountability, if my kid is not thriving … I want to know,' said Sen. Tara Durant, R-Fredericksburg. 'We've got to first be able to take a look at it and say where are the problems. It's not designed to shame teachers or school districts, but we've got to know if there are kinks to work out.' Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin, warned that postponing the system would mean another year of lost opportunities for students. He also emphasized that Virginia's revised plan had already been approved by the U.S. Department of Education. 'If there's one thing that we're responsible for when we're in this body, it's the future of the commonwealth of Virginia,' Stanley said. 'The future of the commonwealth of Virginia lies within our students. They are our future. If we pass this bill, we are passing the buck, and when we pass the buck on our children, we lose, and they especially lose.' Hashmi said she was 'disappointed' that the companion bill had not been taken up in the House before the crossover. On Sunday, however, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee rolled out a budget amendment including language that would delay the system until the 2026-27 school year and establish an advisory committee to review the proposed system. The proposal did not include the governor's $50 million proposal to help support schools most in need. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
