In three “Dear Colleagues” letters, dated April 8, 2025, the United States Department of Education discontinued annual performance reporting (APR) for ESSER, EANS, and GEER.  As a result, they will not collect APR data for FY 2024 and any years after.  The FY 2023 reopening originally planned for later this year is also discontinued.  

Thank you for all your efforts to maximize the support for students and families in Virginia through the administration of these federal funds.  

In June 2026, Norfolk, Hampton Roads, and Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay region will welcome an international fleet of tall ships, military vessels, and character ships to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary. This milestone event, Sail250® Virginia, will include more than 60 ships from 20 countries, bringing 7,000 visiting sailors, officers, and dignitaries to Virginia’s shores. 

Sail250® Virginia events are planned to promote goodwill among nations, inspire patriotism and foster interest in American maritime history and heritage. Virginia educators are encouraged to take advantage of the Sail250® Virginia education program which includes three elements – the successful Adopt-A-Ship program, a collection of online maritime resources, and suggested maritime themed classroom projects. Transportation grants will be available to participating schools helping to offset the cost for those schools to visit Norfolk for the June 2026 events. Please see the information pamphlet on the Sail250 History/Education webpage for more information about the Adopt-A-Ship program and how to get involved. 

If you are interested in involving your school in the Adopt-A-Ship program, please complete the attached Adopt-A-Ship Interest Form and return it via email to Pamela Cook, Education Manager Sail250® Virginia, cookp@festevents.org. 

In 2026, the United States will mark our Semiquincentennial: the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Students are encouraged to participate in America’s Field Trip Contest. America’s Field Trip is a contest that invites students across the country in grades 3-12 to be part of America’s 250th anniversary by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them – with the opportunity to earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks.

Students are asked to submit writing or original artwork in response to the contest’s prompt: “What does America mean to you?” 

Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, April 16, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST. See official rules for full details including how to enter, eligibility requirements, prize description/restrictions, and judging procedures.  

Help celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence by making history come alive, sparking a civics renaissance, and celebrating democracy. Through the work of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250), the Commonwealth is continuing its commemoration with educational activities, community and statewide events to celebrate that “Virginia’s History is America’s Story.”    

Virginia's Secretary of Education, Aimee Guidera, would like to invite students to join in this effort with the Expressions of Freedom competition – an opportunity for students to share their ideas and perspectives through artwork, videos, audio recordings, poetry or essays in response to the question: “What does Freedom mean to you?” 

The competition is open to students in Grades 3-12. Selected work will be chosen to be placed in a time capsule in the restored pedestal of the statue of George Washington located in historic Trafalgar Square, London, England. This statue serves as a reminder of the enduring friendship and shared ideals, principles, and sacrifices between America and England.

For more information, please visit VDOE-VA250.  All competition entries must be submitted electronically by no later than 11:59 p.m., Friday, April 18, 2025, by using the Expressions of Freedom link.

Sign-up for the VA250 Newsletter!

Article: 2025-14-155
Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers
Contact: Christonya Brown, History and Social Science Coordinator, vdoe.hss@doe.virginia.gov, and Cheryl Wilson, VA250 Executive Director, cwilson@va250.virginia.gov

Established by the General Assembly in 2020, VA250 serves to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Revolutionary War, and the Independence of the United States in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Educators and division leaders are highly encouraged to sign up for the VA250 Newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of the latest news and events across the Commonwealth to celebrate Virginia’s 250th commemoration.

The April 2025 edition features exciting updates such as –  

• Two Lights for Tomorrow is a nationwide initiative to commence the celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States of America. The famous ride of Paul Revere occurred April 18 – 19, 1775. 
• Patrick Henry’s Speech - Patrick Henry ignited the flames of revolution with his legendary speech and galvanized the Virginia delegation, leading to a resolution that committed Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War. 250 years later, VA250 brought history alive with a reenactment of the speech. Relive that moment through the archived livestream of the 250thanniversary of Patrick Henry’s, “Give me liberty, or give me death” speech.  
• The VA250 Mobile Museum Experience is a hands-on, interactive, and immersive “museum on wheels,” the VA250 Mobile Museum Experience titled “Out of Many, One,” is housed in a quad-expandable tractor trailer that is traveling throughout Virginia and beyond. The mobile museum brings key stories of Virginia’s rich history to schools, museums, local events, fairs, and more, highlighting every region of the state. School divisions are invited to sign-up for the Mobile Museum for a unique experience.  

Through the work of the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250), the Commonwealth is continuing its commemoration with educational activities, community and statewide events to celebrate that “Virginia’s History is America’s Story.”    

The VDOE is pleased to offer science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional development opportunities for Kindergarten through Grade 8 teachers (K-5 and 6-8 science, mathematics, ITRT, and CTE teachers), school leaders, and division leaders. STEM education promotes an integrated instructional approach, highlighting the interconnectedness of mathematics, science, and technology and how engineering is used to address complex issues. Mastery of the unique skills and practices within each STEM field is crucial for understanding and applying of these principles.  

In June 2025, four in-person professional development opportunities will be provided across the Commonwealth. These sessions will focus on the VDOE resources to support the implementation of the 2024 Computer Science, 2023 Mathematics, and 2018 Science Standards of Learning as independent disciplines and using an integrated instructional approach. Furthermore, this professional development incorporates Career and Technical Education (CTE) competencies, emphasizing workplace readiness and academic and career exploration. Discipline specific division leader meetings will also be conducted at each site for computer science, mathematics, science, and CTE. 

Session dates and locations are provided below. Each professional development will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and lunch will be provided to selected attendees. Space will be limited. Please register for the summer professional development by May 5, 2025.  

• June 5, 2025: New College Institute, Martinsville 
• June 16, 2025: Woodside High School, 13450 Woodside Lane, Newport News 
• June 18, 2025: Tucker High School, 2910 N Parham Rd, Henrico, VA 
• June 24, 2025: Colonial Forge High School, 550 Courthouse Rd, Stafford, VA 22554 

Additionally, STEM-focused webinars will be announced in August and available to all educators in the fall.  

The Regulations Governing Special Education Programs for Children with Disabilities in Virginia recognizes Traumatic Brain Injury through eligibility in accordance with state and federal special education regulations. Students may experience brain injuries that result in special education eligibility for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The VDOE in collaboration with the VCU Partnership for People with Disabilities, offers training for school divisions to support the identification and provision of educational services to eligible students with TBIs. 

The VDOE is seeking applications from school divisions to participate in Cohort 15 of the TBI Team Training. Teams are required to attend a two-day training in July 2025 (participants will receive a stipend) and a follow-up one-day training in March 2026. The July 2025 training will include intensive professional development focusing on the causes, impact, and management of brain injuries. Training will be held in person in the Richmond area. Continuous support throughout the school year is offered to improve divisions’ capacity to provide programmatic and support services for students with TBIs or concussions. 

Each team should include five to six staff members; suggested roles include special education administrator (highly recommended), school administrator, teacher, athletic trainer/coach, occupational and physical therapists, speech/language pathologist, school nurse, school psychologist, school counselor, and school social worker. 

Space is limited. To apply, complete the TBI Team Training - Cohort 15 Application by Friday, May 9, 2025. The VDOE will review completed applications and notify the team leads by May 23, 2025. 

Tomorrow, the VDOE History and Social Science team will release the first two history and social science instructional guides. Instructional guides are companion documents to the 2023 History and Social Science Standards of Learning – amplifying each standard by defining the core knowledge and skills in practice, supporting teachers and their instruction, and serving to transition classroom instruction from the 2015 History and Social Science Standards of Learning to the newly adopted standards.

Instructional guides include five distinct sections, now inclusive of dynamic and interactive components: Changes and Revisions, Understanding the Standard, Supporting Questions, Skills in Practice, and Concepts and Connections aligned to each standard as well as primary and secondary sources to assist teachers with implementation.

Civics and Economics and Virginia and United States Government will be released this week with the dynamic and interactive components. Next week, the following instructional guides will be released:  

Educators should continue to monitor the History and Social Science webpage for additional information. VDOE staff will provide regional professional learning sessions through multiple means to ensure that teachers and division support staff can learn about the purpose, intention, structure, content, and context for implementation. Further announcements of such training will be provided in upcoming Virginia Education Update newsletters.

In accordance with the provisions of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education Act for the 21st Century (Perkins V), the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), Office of Career and Technical Education will provide stakeholders with the opportunity to provide written comments, which shall be included in the State Plan, regarding the update of the State Determined Performance Levels (SDPLs) for school year 2025-2026.

States have been directed by the U.S. Department of Education to submit SDPLs associated with the performance for the operating State Plan of 2025-2026. SDPLs must be higher than the average actual performance for the two most recent program years (2022-2023 and 2023-2024) in accordance with Section 113(b)(3)(A)(i)(III)(ee). The proposed SDPLs will comply with Perkins V, Section 113(b)(3)(B)(ii) and must be aligned in both the Perkins V State Plan and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Combined State Plan. Additionally, in the revised State Plan, the VDOE will provide an assurance that public comments were taken into account in the development of the State Plans.  

Proposed Secondary SDPLs: 

Proposed Postsecondary SDPLs: 

 Public comments regarding the 2025-2026 SDPLs will be received at cte@doe.virginia.gov until  May 9, 2025. 

The Reconvened Session of the 2025 General Assembly concluded on April 2, 2025.  The General Assembly acted on budget amendments proposed by Governor Youngkin.  As a result of the actions taken by the General Assembly, there are no changes to Direct Aid distributions to school divisions compared to the 2025 General Assembly’s adopted budget.  School divisions planning their budgets for the remainder of FY 2025 and FY 2026 should use calculation template published by VDOE on March 6, 2025, as a reference. 

The Governor has 30 days from the conclusion of the Reconvened Session to act on the budget.  If actions are taken by the Governor materially affect Direct Aid distributions to school divisions, there will by communication in the VDOE Education Update Newsletter. 

If you have questions about the 2024-2026 biennial budget, please contact the VDOE Budget Office by email at doebudgetoffice@doe.virginia.gov or by phone at (804) 225-2025.   

The VDOE encourages school divisions to promote and participate in one or more of the USDA-funded summer nutrition programs (SUN Meals, SUN Meals To-Go, and SUN Bucks) to provide meals to children from low-income households when school is not in session.  

SUN Meals 

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) are now collectively known as SUN Meals. Both are administered by VDOE. With SFSP, schools and community sponsors may combine a meal service with an enrichment activity in communities where at least 50% of children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Approved schools and community sponsors are reimbursed for meals served and associated administrative costs. All participating organizations receive training and technical assistance from VDOE. 

Schools may operate SSO instead of SFSP, which follows regulations similar to SFSP, but offers a more streamlined application process. However, SFSP offers simpler meal pattern requirements and higher meal reimbursement rates. 

SUN Meals To-Go 

Schools and community partners in areas designated as rural by USDA may be eligible to serve multiple days’ worth of take-home meals at once, which is referred to as SUN Meals To-Go. 

SUN Bucks 

The SUN Bucks program is a USDA-funded program where eligible households receive $120 per child to purchase groceries during the summer. SUN Bucks is accepted at grocery stores and farmers' markets that accept SNAP. SUN Bucks is administered by VDSS and schools are encouraged to promote this program. 

To support school division planning for the upcoming school year, VDOE would like to remind divisions of recent updates to guidance related to the use of Title I funds to support PreK classroom/students. These updates from February and December of 2024 are related to the Head Start Performance Standards that apply when the LEA or school use Title I funds to support an early education program. Divisions should ensure programs align with this updated guidance in the 2025/26 school year.   

• December 2024 Updates  
• February 2024 Updates  
• VDOE Office of PreK Program Webinar: Blended Funding