Winchester reports strong VPI results, expands preschool and inclusive practices
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Summary
District leaders reported that Winchester’s Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) participants performed strongly on kindergarten-readiness measures; John Kerr earned a top honor and the district reported a 12% inclusion rate for VPI classrooms (state target 10%). The board also heard about new literacy resources and professional learning.
Winchester Public Schools reported favorable early-childhood results and described steps to expand inclusive preschool practices during the Dec. 8 school board meeting.
Dr. Mullins said John Kerr Elementary was one of four schools in the Blue Ridge region to receive an "excellence" honor on the state preschool rating scale, and that all other preschool sites in the division met expectations. The division completed a VPI (Virginia Preschool Initiative) state monitoring visit and is using the results to shape continuous improvement goals, professional learning and curricular priorities.
Presenters shared baseline assessment data from the VKRP (Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program) and VALS (Virginia literacy screener). Dr. Mullins reported that, in the spring of 2025, 88% of Winchester students who participated in VPI met or exceeded the kindergarten benchmark; 75% of students without preschool experience met the benchmark. She also noted the district’s inclusive-practices target: Virginia’s VPI guideline sets a 10% target for inclusion of students with disabilities and Winchester is currently seated at 12% inclusion in VPI settings.
Instructional leaders described new literacy supports for 3–4-year-olds (Kick Start Literacy) and play-based approaches aligned to VKRP results. The district has provided professional learning, collaborative planning time and resources such as Creative Curriculum Cloud for early-childhood teachers and teaching assistants. Teaching assistants are meeting a VPI requirement of 15 hours of professional learning per year, and the district plans additional targeted sessions for inclusion and IEP-related awareness.
The board also heard a Special Education Advisory Committee report noting SEAC’s three priorities (ECSE, family engagement tied to the "I'm Determined" initiative, and family empowerment), new SEAC members tied to the ECSE community, and SEAC’s outreach on SOL cut-score changes with a letter submitted to the VDOE for review.
The update closed with examples of community-connected experiences such as field trips to West Oak Farm and planned visits to local fire stations.