[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6511314,"mediaKeyId","5332190-effc35b70d0859fb07539e1886f791db","parentId",5332190,"title","Board approves school construction awards and multiple department items, waives first review on several proposals","audioSeconds",1619,"startMs",4088000,"endMs",5707000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332190-effc35b70d0859fb07539e1886f791db&start=4088&end=5707","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332190-effc35b70d0859fb07539e1886f791db/thumbnail_4088000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6511314/Virginia/Board-approves-school-construction-awards-and-multiple-department-items-waives-first-review-on-several-proposals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511314-22f101716e64d00f5926efbdcfe635b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104718&Signature=nUz4J5tp4ltKwUfbmhhUQvD~BIz6xxCmPEQV5CDj53Pjq1cZJU5EoKSg8nEP3a-FDC3~ZguyZ~t-rO9ljAThixcFb-QWZY0BunXsQaGGH4L4h-ntQHl6C87jgmhO9XUJTQibI566oU1c~aB~uqDJUmpNjXuhqRoKd9UVAIWY20g0sGAqSUdHhQ0oDBoFLqC5VjqJ35VcIDlk9mSmydYDFfiZVNf9duBnpWjqEJg17eXMyidNBqlElY5QOMPQ~uNwuEmbp7FxW3OA~DdevXTrA2JA2gQl7hpExcYtYWXJPxrRblEW6FUAyfaym8SAQm54BJ7ryRjCpAt3TNegtePw1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virginia Department of Education","date","2025-06-18T17:12:31Z","article","The Virginia Board of Education took a series of votes on operational and funding items, approving grant and loan actions and final regulations while waiving first review on documents the department said were time-sensitive.

Key votes and approvals
- Governor’s-school application procedures: The board approved final procedures for initiating an academic-year governor school. Staff said the revisions remove language about department contracts that did not comply with code, add expectations for technical support and evaluation timelines for new programs, and reorganize the document to improve usability. (Vote: unanimous on record; procedural final approval.)

- VQB5 (Early childhood unified measurement and improvement system) guidelines for 2025–26: The board approved proposed VQB5 guidelines for 2025–26. Department presenters said Virginia’s investment in early learning has expanded substantially since 2018 and that the program will involve more classroom observations, more site reviews and an expanded quality-measurement footprint. (Vote: unanimous recorded yes votes.)

- Final regulation: general procedures and background checks for child day centers: The board approved final regulations combining prior rules on licensure and background checks for child day centers and delegated authority to department staff to make technical edits to comply with the Administrative Process Act and the Virginia Register Act. Staff said this action eliminated duplication and clarified appeals procedures. (Vote: unanimous recorded yes votes.)

- Literary Fund loan: Bedford County — Stanton River High School auditorium renovation: The board approved release of a Literary Fund loan for Bedford County for an auditorium renovation and additions at Stanton River High School. The requested loan amount is $14,680,000 payable over 20 years; Bedford is eligible for a 3% annual loan interest rate. (Vote: unanimous recorded yes votes.)

- School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) reallocations, fiscal years 2022 and 2024: The department reported that previously awarded projects were scaled back or canceled (Petersburg reduced project costs, Southampton County declined to implement an approved project and Lynchburg City canceled a previously awarded project). Staff reported the releases yielded approximately $8,000,008.15 available for reallocation across the two award years. The board approved reallocations to several previously undersupported projects, including $555,004.96 to Pennsylvania County (Union Hall Elementary) and full awards to other qualifying projects. Staff said they are holding one Richmond City project (Woodville Elementary) for separate full funding in a 2025 application round. (Vote: unanimous recorded yes votes.)

- SCAP 2025 allocation awards: The board approved recommended grant awards from the 2025 SCAP allocation. Department staff said 28 applications were received (25 from school divisions, 3 from regional CTE programs) and recommended awarding a total of $80,000,000 to 10 school projects and one regional CTE center that met the board’s scoring and eligibility criteria. Staff explained grant award percentages vary with local fiscal capacity. (Vote: unanimous recorded yes votes.)

What this means
Department officials said the approvals will move construction projects forward, free previously tied-up funds for additional smaller projects and allow the 2025 awards to begin. The Bedford loan will allow Stanton River High School to proceed with auditorium renovations under a 20-year repayment schedule at a 3% interest rate. The department also said it will schedule additional webinars and trainings for applicants to improve clarity and transparency in future SCAP application rounds.

Board procedure and next steps
Most of these items were presented as final actions or as waivers of first review; the department expects to publish updated documents and to return to the board with additional final refined materials where statutory or regulatory action is required. Staff emphasized communication with divisions about application processes and timelines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Virginia Board of Education Business Meeting 6/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Virginia Board of Education voted to approve a slate of departmental actions, including final regulations for child day centers, the release of a $14.68 million Literary Fund loan to Bedford County for Stanton River High School, reallocations of School Construction Assistance Program (SCAP) funds and recommended awards from the 2025 SCAP allocation.","taxTitle","Department of Education, Executive Agencies, Executive, Virginia","taxId",19014,"location","Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6511319,"Virginia Board accepts first review of school accreditation report, outlines phased rollout of new accountability framework",3660,6900000,10560000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332190-effc35b70d0859fb07539e1886f791db&start=6900&end=10560","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332190-effc35b70d0859fb07539e1886f791db/thumbnail_6900000.jpg","/articles/6511319/Virginia/Virginia-Board-accepts-first-review-of-school-accreditation-report-outlines-phased-rollout-of-new-accountability-framework","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511319-bad0d856e567378a3b5592e51f7c135a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771104718&Signature=CAUE4Pt8xFHJ1zgElBf2fEWv5oksRu2Q7rl4Hdb3nLTqeRCV0IFQsgRz48o3XCji~MjQ6K1YlUhB8J~fnghXGhlftuBrjYNW40DdWpcgenLfTBmVLL4VMEpaUHf6-iB0Hsq3Eima4XIwtD8Jfgq2VM3qjFleuRgjoqKtvqtHiDl9trKaaFv9Hfi797E5MamYz32OJwlMcbZCYcJxzM7RqKhuALhLIBWJyTaccasQhJntcSE9z2tCYpQaIckqPpKFELsg8i~gSswoTO40mHC1-1-3fw06xgA9IeH5dePn4~gVZbJsjghmbeqj7lQ39GSX~Imr2pVz8yZ2wyl1JrXadw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Virginia Board of Education on first review accepted a new Virginia School Accreditation Report and directed the department to publish guidance, exemplars and rubrics to document how schools and divisions will show compliance with the Standards of Accreditation.

Board staff said the change is part of a broader move to separate “accreditation” — an inputs/compliance review of staffing, graduation requirements, safety and school planning — from the state’s academic accountability system, the Virginia School Performance and Support Framework. Department officials said that separation is intended to make public-facing academic ratings clearer while preserving a compliance process to ensure minimum resources, staffing and safety measures are in place.

The department’s presentation identified 11 compliance areas that principals and superintendents will document annually and said only one new regulatory requirement was added since the 2017 rules: schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) must document that elements of their school improvement plans are being implemented with fidelity. Mark Jennings, the department’s executive director of accountability, said the department will publish templates and rubrics and provide technical assistance and training beginning this fall so schools can submit evidence on a timely basis.

Why it matters: separating compliance (inputs) from performance (outcomes) is intended to reduce confusion in public reporting and to give principals and divisions a clearer set of artifacts to demonstrate that regulations on staffing, safety, graduation requirements and instructional programs are being met. Board members said clearer public messaging will be critical during the transition.

What the board approved and next steps
- The board voted to receive the Virginia School Accreditation Report for first review. Department staff said the material will be followed by additional public engagement over the summer and by a phased implementation schedule in the fall. In comments the department said it will: create a small office under the chief operations officer devoted to accreditation support; publish guidance, exemplars and rubrics; and convene training sessions for principals and division staff.

- The board’s action was procedural (accept for first review). Staff repeatedly emphasized the department will publish the final guidance on its website and supply training and a technical assistance schedule to field partners.

Board and stakeholder concerns
Board members and outside stakeholders who spoke during the meeting urged clarity on three topics: (1) how the accreditation artifacts will be collected and by whom (the department said divisions will submit on behalf of schools for the 2024-25 year and principals will complete tailored submissions in 2025-26), (2) how accreditation reporting will be presented alongside the new academic performance categories to avoid public confusion, and (3) the timing of any additional indicators (for example, proposals to add history/civics measures or middle-school advanced-course access were flagged for further review).

“I’m excited about this… this is a fantastic step forward,” board member Solomon Rotherham said during discussion, praising the emphasis on public reporting and stakeholder engagement. Mark Jennings said the department will begin publishing one-page explanatory materials and begin rollout work this summer.

Public reporting and the school quality profile
The department also described plans to migrate the School Quality Profile to a new platform so the site can host the new school performance and support framework. Staff said the current WordPress-based report card is at end of life and cannot be quickly extended to host new visualizations or meet Virginia Information Technologies Agency security expectations; a replacement site will be phased in beginning with a new framework page.

Timing and public comment
The department asked the board to accept the accreditation report for first review and to permit an extended public comment period over the summer. Staff signaled further briefings will come to the board in July and August, with first formal regulatory or procedural decisions targeted for late summer or early fall (first review in August and final consideration in September were discussed as a likely schedule).","The Virginia Board of Education accepted for first review a new Virginia School Accreditation Report and mapped a phased rollout of guidance, reporting templates and a separate public reporting pathway for the new school performance and support framework, with training and further public engagement scheduled through the summer and fall.","actionData","errors"]

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Board approves school construction awards and multiple department items, waives first review on several proposals

Virginia Board accepts first review of school accreditation report, outlines phased rollout of new accountability framework