Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the English Learners topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
WJCC to add 10 LEAP teachers after state changes staffing model; board told additions are required to meet Standards of Quality
Summary
School staff told the board changes to Virginia’s LEAP staffing model create a need for 10 additional English learner (LEAP) teachers for FY26; the division recommended adding 32 LEAP positions total to meet the new caseload-based model and state guidance.
Williamsburg-James City County Schools told the school board the General Assembly’s revised LEAP staffing model requires the division to increase its LEAP (Language Instruction Educational Program) teacher allocations from the currently budgeted positions to 32 total teachers for FY26 — a net increase of 10 FTEs from the operating budget baseline.
"With this new staffing model that goes into effect for school year 25–26, we will need 31.09 LEAP teachers, but we are recommending rounding that to a total of 32 LEAP teachers due to this increasing EL student enrollment over the last 4 years," said a staff presenter during the budget briefing. The presenter noted the state now sets caseload ratios by proficiency level (for example, 1:20 for Level 1 students, 1:30 for Level 2, 1:40 for Level 3 and 1:50 for Level 4), requiring staff reallocation based on current counts.
Staff reported current division counts by proficiency: 306 Level 1 students (requiring roughly 15.3 teacher allocations under the new standard), 181 Level 2 students (about six allocations), 260 Level 3 students (about 6.5 allocations), 47 Level 4 students (one allocation) and 235 monitor-status students (about 2.35 allocations). The department’s tally produced a 31.09 allocation, rounded to 32 teachers to ensure coverage.
Presenters emphasized this is a standards-based change. Board member Dunn asked whether the staffing is mandatory; staff replied that the change aligns with Virginia’s Standards of Quality and is a required staffing allocation though the state does not fully fund the local share. "This is standard of quality. So this is not a recommendation. This is a requirement for staffing or it's for English learners," a staff member said.
Staff noted current LEAP staffing is partially funded by the state and that because the division’s Local Composite Index is relatively high, the locality will cover most of the added cost. The division said it has already hired additional LEAP teachers using vacant positions to meet demand and plans to include the 10 additional FTEs in the FY26 operating budget request to local funding partners.
Why it matters: The change imposes recurring staffing obligations to serve English learners at established caseload ratios. The requirement increases the division’s recurring personnel costs and will be part of the district’s local funding request for FY26.
