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Virginia board hears second review of new textbook and HQIM process after 2025 law
Summary
VDOE staff presented a revised textbook and High‑Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) process required by 2025 legislation, proposing clearer definitions of HQIM, a vendor list for curriculum‑linked professional learning, and new educator‑prep requirements; board members pressed for phased implementation and clearer local transparency.
Virginia’s Department of Education presented the second review of a state process to identify and adopt high‑quality instructional materials, a rulemaking step driven by 2025 legislation (House Bill 2777) that requires school divisions to adopt defined HQIM and for educator‑preparation programs to train candidates in selecting and using such materials.
Michelle Wallace, VDOE assistant superintendent for instruction, told the board the update tightens definitions of “textbook” and “HQIM,” revises rubrics used to judge alignment to the standards of learning, and establishes an annual list of approved vendors for curriculum‑based professional learning. “What we are changing is the definitions for textbooks and HQIM, the supports offered to school divisions and other stakeholders prior to and during the process of an adoption process,” Wallace said during the presentation.
Why it matters: The law shifts state and local responsibilities. Divisions will be required to adopt HQIM for several content areas, publish which materials they have chosen, designate an implementation liaison, and report adoptions to VDOE. VDOE will also publish a statewide list of vendors approved to provide curriculum‑linked professional learning.
Board members focused on implementation timelines and supports. Several members asked how VDOE will ensure divisions have the professional learning and funding to buy and use new materials, especially in mathematics, where past surveys showed lower use of aligned materials. “We typically say three to five years before you’re going to see improvements,” Wallace said when asked about expected impacts on student outcomes. Superintendent Lisa Conway pointed to license‑level grants VDOE has already issued and said the department will target additional federal and state resources to support implementation.
Local transparency and accreditation: Several board members urged VDOE to make adoption information easier to find at the division and school level so families can see what curricula are in use. Members also discussed how the department will tie materials adoption into accreditation and the school performance and support framework to ensure adoption aligns with classroom practice.
Next steps: VDOE will solicit additional feedback, return to the board in June for final action on the process language, and then begin rolling out guidance and implementation supports, including rubrics and training for textbook reviewers and division leaders.
Provenance: Presentation and board discussion, SEG 1064–1608; Q&A and debate, SEG 1609–2780.
