11:21 → 12:42(1m 21s)
Vice President Bill Hanson opened the meeting, led a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance and introduced himself as presiding officer. He announced remote participation approvals for Michelle Ashton and Debbie Kilgore under board bylaws (bylaw citation read aloud).
Virginia Board of Education held its Jan. 8, 2026 meeting in Richmond to elect a new board president, receive multiple department presentations (organizational restructure, regulatory reduction, enrollment and small‑learning communities, lab schools, school supports), consider textbook/HQIM process changes and launch public comment on a consolidated state plan amendment and ESSA‑related items. Public commenters emphasized concerns about proposed changes to social studies assessment and accountability.
