[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6528777,"mediaKeyId","5332188-2b02361b124d571432fd9f3877875017","parentId",5332188,"title","Votes at a glance: Board approves loans, regulatory updates and several procedural items","audioSeconds",3206,"startMs",13040000,"endMs",16246000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332188-2b02361b124d571432fd9f3877875017&start=13040&end=16246","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332188-2b02361b124d571432fd9f3877875017/thumbnail_13040000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6528777/Virginia/Votes-at-a-glance-Board-approves-loans-regulatory-updates-and-several-procedural-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528777-634d20f66a3de16e71041c21ee32b751/orig.mp4?Expires=1770968955&Signature=XGvUygwp1G3pcqlV12nBK1-jc5KfshKxsbSrag4ln6fJ7aGWDxnnUsFkaUUnNZ1Io8Dxd6DpzMp4AxhC7w8vC9PNpD7LVk7FZNggWkX85bDmGh6OIfM0RVTI-VrxCv7quhOQyhJrls2r5fYbyWMb711VHUv6KNvBvEnBR~eTFo47qlrTps~dxzRTBweFNrXjK~CCdNs15q8NqVzdeBE83JOkK7KpPnJp9fktGYjjzKnFeMZcUX6IYvcAzOPvwYAgP9QOWIxewZY~J14S81VGoa4Ha4unI3rd0Tlhv8jQnfgDEfbuAbzgqd788~GcSLE2Uk14pG6G8UDsj59vCA6klA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Virginia Department of Education","date","2025-05-22T18:40:34Z","article","At its meeting the Virginia Board of Education recorded a number of routine and substantive votes. Below are the principal formal actions, as stated at the meeting. Where the vote tally was recorded in the transcript the item shows the board response; where roll‑call named a series of \"Aye\" responses, the article notes those as the recorded outcome.

Votes and outcomes

- Release of two Literary Fund loans — Bedford County: Approved. Bedford requested a 20‑year loan at 3% interest for a gymnasium addition at Bedford Primary ($2,800,000) and a 20‑year loan at 3% interest for an auditorium renovation and addition at Liberty High School ($11,207,000). The board approved the release of both loans on the motion presented by staff.

- Approval of consent agenda and minutes: The board approved the meeting agenda and the draft minutes as presented in roll call votes recorded early in the session.

- Regulatory actions and periodic‑review cleanups: The board approved a package of housekeeping and substantive regulatory cleanups, including closing periodic reviews of six regulatory chapters (sick leave plans, superintendent duties, school breakfast regulations, guidance/counseling language updates, state‑funded remedial programs, and scoliosis screening/testing consolidation) and a technical change to remove the word “regionally” from references to accredited institutions in licensure language. The board also accepted first‑review items addressing child‑care background checks and licensure procedural consolidations; VDOE said staff will bring final drafts in June.

- ABTEL recommendation (early‑childhood special education endorsement): Approved. The board waived first review and accepted the ABTEL recommendation to remove an explicit graduate‑level coursework requirement that had applied to the early‑childhood special education endorsement, aligning it with other special‑education endorsements.

- Advisory committee appointments: The board waived first review and approved recommended nominees to the Early Childhood Advisory Committee (ECAC) and the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure (ABTEL).

- Closing periodic rule reviews and other regulatory delegation actions: The board approved staff authority to make technical edits necessary for compliance with the Administrative Process Act and related requirements.

- Governor's school procedures: The board accepted an updated procedures document for initiating an academic‑year governor's school for first review only; members asked staff to return with a redline showing changes and to circulate the draft to interested stakeholder groups before final review in June.

Procedural context: Many of the votes were unanimous \"Aye\" roll calls recorded in the transcript. Several items were approved on waiver of first review, a routinized step that allows the board to take action without a separate month‑long waiting period. In the text above the items are described as the board described them; where staff noted additional follow‑up the department will provide templates, redlines and technical assistance ahead of final steps.

Why it matters: Although many of these approvals are technical or routine, collectively they affect funding for local construction projects, regulatory clarity for licensure and child‑care oversight, and the department's ability to publish materials and support divisions on implementation. The ABTEL endorsement change is intended to expand the pipeline for early‑childhood special education teachers by aligning coursework level requirements with other special‑education endorsements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Virginia Board of Education Business Meeting 05/22/25","oneSentenceSummary","The Virginia Board of Education took a series of approvals ranging from literary‑fund loans for Bedford County to regulatory cleanups, advisory committee appointments and procedural actions. Most votes were approved unanimously.","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},6528782,"Board adopts employment criteria for 3E readiness; requires CTE completer for full credit",4451,8567000,13018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332188-2b02361b124d571432fd9f3877875017&start=8567&end=13018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332188-2b02361b124d571432fd9f3877875017/thumbnail_8567000.jpg","/articles/6528782/Virginia/Board-adopts-employment-criteria-for-3E-readiness-requires-CTE-completer-for-full-credit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528782-a4261e3d7675795967626b3aef7780db/orig.mp4?Expires=1770968955&Signature=gu08TF8sR34UVkJZGNMllwUItKgImleHi-dc3HlXpm6A-GgeU-PbDvzXIGxuYZLMlFBwr4EgfiENp~xySu1nkTAY3D6XUklqbHdwHZd2oZrjSX3nsubJPhrBfGCDJEq3EvVOs1ECUPFJo2NhvM9ouFhmCE8eDtjscysQ46KC9IO8izaq-D1dLjqA6-fp8nuWDF9XJV5KlThED5F0rld1AF6ibulxiuPj~An1I0R4Y2ntzlSX5YF54DqaGtdFA5v71IXC01tXCQGZJK0c6sE4DcNZ7HusuKS3uHZnObOR29nlVOCKjE9Rb3-bSSbXrKREjS9RW3tMmlZWRBmIK8Vi~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Virginia Board of Education voted to adopt a revised employment component for the high‑school \"3E\" readiness indicator (enrollment, employment, enlistment) used in the state school performance framework.

After public comment and lengthy discussion, the board selected the option that ties full employment readiness points to completion of a CTE sequence: a student must be a CTE completer (two sequential CTE courses) and complete a high‑quality work‑based learning experience to earn the top employment score. The board approved the change by recorded voice vote; members indicated unanimous consent.

The employment criteria had been presented with two policy options: option A required a CTE completer plus high‑quality work‑based learning; option B would have allowed a student who completed one state‑approved CTE course plus a high‑quality work‑based learning experience to receive credit. Division superintendents and business/industry stakeholders argued in favor of option A, saying the deeper sequence produced better preparation for credentials and the workforce; other stakeholders — including parents and some district staff — favored option B for flexibility. The department reported 81% of online respondents favored option B in its public comment but said business and industry reviewers preferred option A for rigor.

Mark Jennings, VDOE's Office of Accountability director, said the department modeled both options and presented counts of how many high schools would shift performance categories under each approach. The board discussed equity and access concerns, special‑education accommodations and the need for additional stakeholder guidance for students with disabilities.

In the end the board adopted option A for the employment component; VDOE will revise the consolidated state plan accordingly and submit the minor change to the U.S. Department of Education. VDOE also committed to continue stakeholder work this summer to finalize detailed guidance and to develop supports for students with disabilities, including transition programs and adapted pathways.

Why it matters: The 3E readiness indicator carries weight in high‑school accountability calculations. The board’s choice prioritizes deeper CTE pathway completion in exchange for greater alignment with business needs and clearer credentialing pipelines, while prompting concerns about access for students who need schedule flexibility or are focused on exploration.","After extensive debate, the Board of Education voted to adopt the high‑school 3E readiness employment criteria that awards full credit only to students who complete a CTE sequence (two sequential CTE courses) plus a high‑quality work‑based learning experience (option A).",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6528787,"VDOE reports expansion of VQB5 early‑learning ratings and changes to Recognize B5 funding",2838,2866000,5704000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332188-2b02361b124d571432fd9f3877875017&start=2866&end=5704","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332188-2b02361b124d571432fd9f3877875017/thumbnail_2866000.jpg","/articles/6528787/Virginia/VDOE-reports-expansion-of-VQB5-earlylearning-ratings-and-changes-to-Recognize-B5-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528787-6c0feffb089b5a027f94454bdf160b33/orig.mp4?Expires=1770968955&Signature=hWFuJyZDb-NjrGm1S9Kd8zdnvey1KT3F7VZUSay~bJ84tANbQQJXHfgVrYL8Om23NtZU7U3u-heaKfJJ0lB3ocstsVyg5WZxfzPYfz7BRSf5izuAxIjneVE41cc1Wbq5GaaMqle5ZFOHuu3Q-VVSnTW4d6QV7CTXbAK3Zdo7EV39vE6Ot4XEfWRJtE5~qW7JpPl4J2eFmeHHqw-ls521Et7CKusl07uiz4WGlkEikXrZb6-fI7~6qqNTGLa~MceYbKNMG1gUS3BtTyJpJYBHSlGuA5VVo~4iR4Tlznr8WjLK7mzmLv0snX96GZwL4yRrZjAsYVQCd0nW6mN3jgQfAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","VDOE officials presented a progress report on Virginia's unified early‑childhood quality and improvement system, VQB5, and on changes to the Recognize B5 teacher incentive program.

Jenna Conway, VDOE's chief of early learning and specialized populations, told the Board of Education that participation in the VQB5 system has grown to roughly 3,400 publicly funded early‑childhood sites — covering about 12,000 classrooms — and that the system now uses the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observations two times a year plus third‑party auditing. \"We do every classroom, every infant, toddler, and preschool classroom twice a year, and then we send in a third party to audit those results for accuracy,\" she said.

Conway described three planned guideline changes the department will present to the board: a new integrated data system called VA Connects to link early‑childhood data to early elementary outcomes; a phased increase in the curriculum‑use requirement (moving from credit for curriculum in one classroom to expecting curriculum use in all classrooms for full points, with a two‑year phase‑in); and a new VQB5 “honor roll” to highlight high performers.

She also said Recognize B5, the direct‑to‑teacher stipend program that has delivered more than $105 million to early‑childhood educators since 2019, will not be funded as a direct stipend program in the next budget cycle. Instead, the state intends to shift toward “getting rates right” — revising subsidy and funding rates so providers can pay competitive wages that support retention. Conway and other staff described this as a move from a short‑term stipend model toward durable rate increases to sustain higher compensation.

Board members asked detailed questions about access and workforce effects, including whether the new rate structure will be sufficient to replace the stipend program's retention gains. Conway said the department will continue to analyze compensation, partner with the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation and other stakeholders, and consider whether future legislative action is necessary to close any remaining gaps.

Why it matters: VQB5 is the state's core accountability and improvement system for the publicly funded early‑childhood sector — changes to its metrics, scoring and funding approach affect thousands of early‑childhood educators and tens of thousands of children. The shift away from direct stipends to permanent rate adjustments is intended to address workforce sustainability but will require close monitoring.","The Virginia Department of Education told the Board of Education that participation in the VQB5 early‑childhood measurement system has increased to about 3,400 sites and that the Recognize B5 incentive program will shift away from direct-to‑teacher payments toward rate adjustments intended to support higher wages for early‑childhood educators.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6528792,"Virginia Board of Education approves seat‑time flexibility guidance under HB 1477",532,3965000,4497000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5332188-2b02361b124d571432fd9f3877875017&start=3965&end=4497","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5332188-2b02361b124d571432fd9f3877875017/thumbnail_3965000.jpg","/articles/6528792/Virginia/Virginia-Board-of-Education-approves-seattime-flexibility-guidance-under-HB-1477","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6528792-d480c49c8e4e55a1d28eda6a2f0c0c96/orig.mp4?Expires=1770968955&Signature=GFGenUnjo7pGLkg3prqjl8wrJoab6GJqORfmXYVwarycltAPya7LfN0Q0U8X93O75~YvQuScFgSvyUI-nCRU6vEcBGZliVxycDRaQ-EGzxNxl2GCt52QPUSahmfGH-jBAJc4OuYEAViNdRam04hA40TnIDhkyJyL68LP-qNwYM9-cZTh2H1KxQbnO4HODatZEQvY9G2stiiD3Dj-gv99VkBJXifew4UKRiCgHYp7ul5Nm-JXVXUKt3~b8UGGHQp1z9UNSCi4huNAhBEvKCOTiCZyDVX8p8AVgrmBtQbV9s99zpvLXenxaOPfZZv1JC47SPIpNvkJhyRBqbiCm3iLAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Virginia Board of Education on Thursday voted to approve final guidance implementing HB 1477, the law that gives local school boards maximum flexibility to waive existing instructional clock‑hour requirements.

Board members voted unanimously to approve the department's action kit, notice form and monitoring templates — materials the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) says are designed to let divisions propose alternative instructional-time models, from blended and year‑round schedules to work‑based or project‑based approaches.

VDOE staff framed the update as a return to the statute's intent to grant “maximum flexibility.” Sophia McDaniel, VDOE's lead on the initiative, told the board staff reduced prescriptive language after field feedback and added a fifth “emerging local practices” model to capture innovations that mix elements of alternative hours, course innovations, flexible learning settings and blended courses. \"Model 5 recognizes innovative instructional approaches that fall outside of the other four categories or that blend components of more than one model,\" McDaniel said.

The revised materials also add clearer implementation steps, requirements for educator and parent engagement before a division submits a notice form, and monitoring templates VDOE said will help divisions document student outcomes and educator supports. McDaniel described an implementation support plan that includes office hours, monthly technical ‘lunch‑and‑learn’ sessions and a public resource library.

Board members who spoke praised the outreach. \"Very impressive,\" said one member, referencing the public engagement and work with divisional stakeholders. After the vote the board instructed VDOE to finalize the documents and provide the planned technical assistance to divisions.

What happens next: Divisions that want to pursue seat‑time waivers must use the approved notice form and are expected to use the monitoring templates to report on student progress. VDOE staff said they will revise materials further as early adopters submit proposals and share lessons learned.

Why it matters: The change lets local divisions pursue alternatives to traditional seat‑time — for example, to expand workplace learning, year‑round calendars, weekend offerings or competency‑based pacing — while requiring a documentation and monitoring framework to track whether those alternatives produce the intended student results.","The board voted unanimously to approve the seat time flexibility action kit, notice form and monitoring templates required by HB 1477, clearing a path for local school divisions to use alternative instructional-time models.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Board approves loans, regulatory updates and several procedural items

Board adopts employment criteria for 3E readiness; requires CTE completer for full credit

VDOE reports expansion of VQB5 early‑learning ratings and changes to Recognize B5 funding

Virginia Board of Education approves seat‑time flexibility guidance under HB 1477