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School board adopts literacy-aligned policies, reading specialist staffing ratios
Summary
The Colonial Heights School Board approved a package of policy updates tied to the Virginia Literacy Act, including a division literacy plan and staffing ratios that require one elementary reading specialist per 550 students and one secondary per 1,100. The board also approved curriculum adoption and related professional-development steps.
The Colonial Heights School Board voted to adopt a series of policy updates and the division literacy plan intended to comply with the Virginia Literacy Act.
Superintendent (speaking as presenter) told the board the package includes a new AG policy establishing the division literacy plan and the adoption of the Amplify curriculum to meet state standards. "The plan is pretty simple," the presenter said, describing interventions, screenings and the division's approach to informing families through outreach events and online resources.
The board also approved a new GCA policy that sets reading-specialist staffing ratios — one elementary reading specialist per 550 students and one secondary reading specialist per 1,100 — and a GCL policy requiring professional development for staff who work with students with disabilities. Superintendent said the division already meets the indicated staffing ratios.
Members discussed the operational steps for implementing the plan locally, including audits of pacing guides, teacher training scheduled to begin in two weeks and public engagement via the division's outreach events. Dr Bernett summarized the submission timeline: the division plan was to be submitted to the state in July, with state feedback expected sometime after Aug. 1; the locally approved plan will be posted on the division website.
The board approved the literacy plan and related policy revisions on a roll-call vote.
Implementation steps noted by staff include scheduled Amplify training for teachers, continued auditing of pacing guides by reading specialists, parent outreach through CHPS-on-the-road events and posting the adopted plan on the division website.
The action does not itself change budget appropriations beyond previously planned training and staffing allocations; staff said any substantive budget changes would be brought back to the board for approval.
