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Newport News seeks board approval for roughly $17 million in federal grants; literacy plan and 'Elevate' summer programs outlined
Summary
District staff told the board they will seek approval to submit about $17 million in federal formula grants (Title I, II, III, IV), presented the biannual literacy plan required by VDOE with planned VALS expansion in 2025–26, and described 'Elevate' summer learning and STEAM camps serving thousands of students.
District staff told the Newport News School Board on May 20 that they intend to seek local approval to submit federal formula grant applications totaling roughly $17,000,000 for the 2025–26 school year and presented two major programmatic items the grants will support: the biannual literacy plan required under the Virginia Literacy Act and an expanded summer learning program called Elevate.
Federal funding: Letha Brooks, introduced as supervisor for federal programs, outlined the allocation estimates: approximately $14,100,000 for Title I Part A, about $1,600,000 for Title II, roughly $245,000 for Title III and just under $922,000 for Title IV. Brooks also said Title I Part D includes a set aside of just over $81,500 that supports the Newport News Behavioral Health Center. The federal programs office asked the board to approve grant proposals by June 17 so applications can be submitted to VDOE by July 1.
Literacy plan: Lori Wall, director of elementary teaching and learning, presented the biannual literacy plan the district must approve and submit to the Virginia Department of Education by June 30. Wall described use of VDOE‑approved core, supplemental and intervention materials (including Newsela and Read 180), the current K–3 VALS screening implementation, a planned 4–8 VALS rollout for identified students in 2025–26, training requirements for staff and the creation of individualized student reading plans for identified students.
Summer 'Elevate' programming: Dr. Rogers and program staff described Elevate (remediation, enrichment and credit recovery), STEAM camps, program dates and sites: elementary and middle Elevate runs June 30–July 24; high school sessions run June 23–July 10 and July 14–31 with credit recovery and credit advancement options. Staff said the district had received 1,766 applications so far and noted a target from the previous year of servicing about 4,200 students across all summer offerings. Ella Fitzgerald Middle School will serve as the STEAM center; the plan includes partnerships with local universities and industry mentors and offers transportation, breakfast and lunch at no cost.
Board questions focused on eligibility and reach: board members asked whether behavioral health services funded through Title I Part D are available to students from non‑Title I schools (staff said qualifying students across the district may receive services), how screening criteria will be applied for the 4–8 VALS rollout and whether long‑term substitutes and paraprofessionals will be included in training (staff confirmed inclusion in district‑level professional learning opportunities and described hiring plans for reading specialists at elementary schools).
Votes at a glance
The board approved the consent agenda (minutes, financial reports, personnel and a budget transfer) by a voice/roll‑call vote recorded as 7–0 during the meeting.
Ending
Staff requested formal board approval of grant proposals by June 17 and board approval of the literacy plan before the June 30 VDOE deadline; staff said a program report with final summer attendance numbers will be presented after summer programming concludes.
