Assistant Superintendent's Desk
Dr. Linda M. Wallinger
Assistant
Superintendent for Instruction
Virginia Department of Education
P.O. Box 2120
Richmond, VA 23218-2120
Voice: (804) 225-2034
Fax:
(804) 371-2350
E-Mail:
Linda.Wallinger@doe.virginia.gov
Administrative Assistant : Ms. Ossie M. Lawrence
Voice:
(804) 225-2034
Fax: (804) 371-2350
E-Mail: Ossie.Lawrence@doe.virginia.gov
Table of Contents
Standards of Learning and Related Instructional Resources
Adult Education and Literacy
Career and Technical Education
Early Childhood and Elementary Instruction
Middle School and High School Instruction
Program Administration and Accountability
High Quality Teachers and Administrators
Calendar of Events
Professional Organizations
Journals
News and Announcements
This link is connected to a page that gives access to memos issued by the Superintendent of Public Instruction. It may be searched by topic or date.
Principals'
Memoranda
This link is connected to a page that gives access to memos issued by the Assistant Superintendent for Instruction regarding information of interest to school principals and staff.
Press
Room
This link connects to a page that provides access to press releases and frequently requested information issued by the Virginia Department of Education.
Legislative
Tracking
This page contains links to the Status of Legislation Impacting Education from the Virginia General Assembly.
Standards of Learning Resources
Virginia Standards of Learning
The Standards of Learning for Virginia Public Schools describe the commonwealth's expectations for student learning and achievement in grades K-12 in English, mathematics, science, history and social science, technology, the fine arts, foreign language, health and physical education, and driver education.
Timetable for Revisions to Standards of Learning
In September 2000, the board approved the following schedule in keeping with the legislature’s desire that the Standards of Learning in each subject area undergo review at least once every seven years.
Standards of Learning Resources
The Curriculum Framework, Enhanced Sample Scope and Sequence, Standards of Learning Test Blueprints, Virginia Electronic Practice Assessment Tool, and Standards of Learning Released Test Items are available at this site for grades K-12 in English, mathematics, science, history and social science, technology, the fine arts, foreign language, health and physical education, and driver education.
Textbook and Instructional Materials
At its March 27, 2002, meeting the Board of Education adopted a resolution to approve textbook and instructional materials in accordance with the Constitution of Virginia, Art. VIII § 5(d). This link provides information on the review of textbooks and instructional materials.
Early Childhood and Elementary Instruction
Early Childhood and Even Start Information
Even Start is a federally funded program designed to improve the academic achievement of young children and their parents, especially in the area of reading.
Early Intervention Reading Initiative
The purpose of the initiative is to provide early reading intervention services to students in kindergarten through the third grade who demonstrate reading deficiencies reflected in each student's performance on the PALS (Phonological and Literacy Screening) assessment.
PALS - Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening
Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) is the state-provided literacy screening tool for Virginia’s Early Intervention Reading Initiative.
PASS - Partnership for Achieving Successful Schools
This is a statewide initiative that fosters community involvement with schools that are having difficulty reaching targeted levels of academic performance and specific SOL goals.
Reading First
This statewide initiative is designed to help every young child in Virginia become a successful reader.
Smart Beginnings
The Freddie Mac Foundation recently joined Governor Timothy M. Kaine to launch the Smart Beginnings initiative which is a statewide collaboration to share information and efforts about making the most of the early years for Virginia’s children.
Start Strong Pre-K Council
This council, under Executive Order 7 by Governor Timothy M. Kaine, focuses on developing an affordable, effective, and efficient blueprint for expanding access to high-quality, pre-kindergarten education to every child in Virginia.
Virginia's Foundation Blocks for Early Learning: Standards for Literacy, Mathematics, Science, and History and Social Science
The Foundation Blocks describe specific indicators for prekindergarten children in the content areas of reading, mathematics, science, and history and social science.
Virginia Preschool Initiative
The Virginia Preschool Initiative distributes state funds to schools and community-based organizations to provide quality preschool programs for at-risk four-year olds unserved by Head Start.
Middle School and High School Instruction
Algebra Readiness Initiative (ARI)
The purpose of the Algebra Readiness Initiative (ARI) is to assist school divisions in preparing students for success in algebra. An online diagnostic test and remedial lessons are available to school divisions.
Commission on Civics Education
The purposes of the Commission shall include (i) the education of students on the importance of citizen involvement in a representative democracy, (ii) the promotion of the study of state and local government among the Commonwealth's citizenry, and (iii) the enhancement of communication and collaboration among organizations in the Commonwealth that conduct civic education programs.
Early College Scholars
This program allows eligible high school students to earn at least 15 hours of transferable college credit while completing the requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma.
Economics and Financial Literacy
These objectives for economics education and financial literacy are required of all students at the middle and high school levels to further the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for responsible citizenship in a constitutional democracy.
Gifted Education
The Commonwealth of Virginia provides services to identified students, kindergarten through grade twelve. From this page, the reader may access a variety of information related to the services in support of gifted students.
International Education
The Asia Society has awarded the Virginia Department of Education a grant that will enable the department to integrate international knowledge and skills into the high school redesign efforts.
Leadership Development Curriculum
The Leadership Development Curriculum identifies important processes, skills, and opportunities that promote leadership in all students at all grade levels.
National Governor’s Association’s (NGA) Honor States Grant Program
Virginia has selected thirty high schools (honor schools) throughout the state of Virginia to receive grant funds to assist them with increasing high school graduation rates as well as college readiness.
Project Graduation and Graduation Requirements
Project Graduation provides additional opportunities for students to earn the verified units of credit required to receive a high school diploma. These opportunities include remedial academies and online tutorials.
Virginia Governor’s School Programs
Each year, hundreds of outstanding young people come to one of the different Governor’s Schools in search of knowledge and eager to accept the challenge of acquiring advanced skills.
Virginia's P-16 Education Council
Virginia has formalized its already strong coordination practices through a P-16 Council, which will work to further integrate reforms across the entire spectrum of education, from preschool to graduate school.
Adult Education and Literacy
Adult Basic Education and Literacy (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), Community Based Literacy Organizations (CLBO), and Individualized Student Alternative Education Plan (ISAEP) Program Information and Resources
Programs throughout the commonwealth provide access to basic education and literacy instruction. In Virginia, there are over 1 million adults 18 years old and older that do not have a high school diploma or its equivalent. Three instructional programs are designed to work with the most basic literacy needs of many of these adults.
Office of Adult Education and Literacy
The Office of Adult Education and Literacy (OAEL) distributes funds and provides leadership and services related to adult education programs in Virginia.
Race to GED
The Race to GED includes a Fast Track that allows qualified men and women to earn a GED in three months or less. The Fast Track program is designed for individuals 18-64 years of age who are employed or able to be employed and who demonstrate academic readiness to prepare for and pass the English Version of the GED Test.
Career and Technical Education
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Career and Technical Education in Virginia serves students in grades 6-12 through its career and technical courses and programs.
High Schools That Work
This initiative is a program of study that includes both academic courses and modern career and technical studies to prepare students for a broad career field and further education.
Path to Industry Certification
This program is intended for high school juniors or seniors who have no postsecondary plans and do not possess an industry certification.
Program Administration and Accountability
Language Instruction for Limited English Proficient and Immigrant Students
A multitude of resources are located at this site for English as a Second Language.
Learn and Serve
Learn and Serve Virginia provides training and technical assistance to school divisions that choose to administer service-learning programs. Service-learning involves applying classroom learned knowledge to real life situations.
Regional Alternative Education Programs
This initiative offers statewide programs for students requiring alternative educational settings. The delivery of services ranges from classroom instruction to distance learning, from day and after school programs to evening programs.
Title I, Part A: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
This program provides financial assistance through State educational agencies (SEAs) to local educational agencies (LEAs) and public schools with high numbers or percentages of poor children to help ensure that all children meet challenging State academic content and student academic achievement standards.
Title I, Part C: Education of Migratory Children
The purpose of Migrant Education Program (MEP) is to design and support high-quality and comprehensive educational programs that provide migratory children with the same opportunity to meet the challenging state academic content and student achievement standards that are expected of all children.
Title I, Part F: Comprehensive School Reform (CSR)
The purpose of this grant initiative is to provide financial incentives for whole-school reform, specifically in high-poverty schools that are not succeeding in effectively teaching all children.
Title V: Innovative Education Program Strategies
The purposes of Innovative Education Program Strategies are to: a) support local education reform efforts that are consistent with and support statewide education reform efforts; b) provide funding to enable state and local educational agencies to implement promising reform programs; c) provide a continuing source of innovation and educational improvement, including support for library services and instructional and media materials; d) meet the special educational needs of at-risk and high-cost students; and e) develop and implement education programs to improve school, student, and teacher performance, including professional development activities and class size reduction programs.
21st Century Community Learning Centers
The purpose of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is to establish or expand community-learning centers that provide students with academic achievement enrichment opportunities along with activities designed to complement the students’ academic program.
Virginia Implements No Child Left Behind
This site is the Virginia Department of Education’s information clearinghouse for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB).
High Quality Teachers and Administrators
Job Bank and Electronic Hiring Hall
The Web-based tool allows teachers to post their résumés and school divisions to query for teachers throughout the state, nation, and abroad.
Teach in Virginia
Teach in Virginia is a recruitment initiative of the Virginia Department of Education, Virginia State University and The New Teacher Project, a non-profit organization. Teach in Virginia enables both licensed and non-licensed teacher candidates in high-need subject areas to apply to multiple hard-to-staff divisions throughout the commonwealth.
Teacher Incentives for Hard-to-Staff Schools
This pilot project is designed to improve student achievement in hard-to-staff schools by attracting and retaining licensed, highly qualified, and experienced teachers through an incentive-based program.
Teacher Mentoring - Virginia Requirements of Quality and Effectiveness for Beginning Teacher Mentor Programs in Hard-To-Staff Schools
School divisions in Virginia receive modest funding to support mentoring programs for all beginning teachers.
Turnaround Specialist Program
The program focuses on leadership challenges, strategic change, decision-making, communications, and partnering with experts who are charged with turning around consistently low-performing schools in the commonwealth.
Virginia Middle School Teacher Corps
The Virginia Middle School Teacher Corps is designed to reinforce the quality of mathematics instruction in middle schools and help ensure that students receive a solid foundation in mathematics as they prepare to enter high school.
Calendar of Events
American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
Annual Conference and Exposition
2006 AASA Summer Leadership Institute — Confronting the Thunder and Lightning
July 16 - 19, 2006
Keystone Resort and Conference Center
Keystone, Colorado
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Annual Conference and Exhibit Show
Valuing the Whole Child: Embracing a Global Vision
March 17 - 19, 2007
Anaheim, California
National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
NAESP's 86th Annual Convention & Exposition
Valuing the Whole Child: Embracing a Global Vision
March 30 - April 2, 2007
Seattle, Washington
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
91st Annual Convention & Exposition
February 23 - 25, 2007
Las Vegas, Nevada
National Middle School Association (NMSA)
33rd Annual Conference and Exhibit
November 2 - 4, 2006
Nashville Tennessee
Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (VASCD)
VASCD Annual Conference
November 29 - December 1, 2006
Williamsburg, Virginia
Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals (VAESP)
Annual Principals Conference
November 8 - 10, 2006
Hot Springs, Virginia
Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS)
VASS Annual Conference
May 6 - 9, 2007
Roanoke, Virginia
Virginia Association of Secondary Principals (VASSP)
Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference & Exposition
June 2007 TBA
Williamsburg, Virginia
Virginia Middle School Association (VMSA)
2007 VMSA Annual Conference
March 15 - 17, 2007
Norfolk, Virginia
Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA)
2006 Annual VSBA Convention
November 16 - 17, 2006
Williamsburg, Virginia
Professional Organizations
American Association of School Administrators (AASA)
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP)
National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
National Education Association (NEA)
National Middle School Association (NMSA)
National School Boards Association (NSBA)
Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (VASCD)
Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals (VAESP)
Virginia Association of School Superintendents (VASS)
Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP)
Virginia Middle School Association (VMSA)
Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA)
Journals