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Virginia Department of Education

Information on this page is provided by the Office of Board Relations.

Staff Contacts

Virginia Board of Education

Vision

The vision of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction, in cooperation with their partners, is to create an excellent statewide system of public education that derives strength from our diversity and that ensures equality of opportunity for each student in a safe and healthy learning environment that prepares all students to be capable, responsible, and self-reliant citizens in the global society.

Mission

The mission of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction, in cooperation with their partners, is to develop policies and provide leadership that improve student achievement and prepare students to succeed in postsecondary education and the workplace.

Duties

The main duties of the Board of Education include:

• Setting statewide curriculum standards;
• Establishing high school graduation requirements;
• Determining qualifications for classroom teachers, principals, and other education personnel;
• Establishing state testing and assessment programs;
• Establishing standards for accreditation of local school divisions and preparation programs for teachers and administrators;
• Implementing the No Child Left Behind Act and administering federal assistance programs; and
• Developing rules and regulations for the administration of state programs.

The Board of Education consists of nine members appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. Members are appointed to serve a term of four years. No member shall be appointed to more than two consecutive four-year terms.

Goals for Public Education in Virginia: 2012-2017

Goal 1: Accountability for Student Learning
The Board of Education will support accountability for all public schools by establishing policies that help schools increase the academic success of all students, especially those who are at-risk or in underperforming school systems.  Incorporating student academic progress and narrowing of achievement gaps into the accountability system will provide for a more comprehensive identification of student achievement at each school.

Goal 2: Rigorous Standards to Promote College and Career Readiness
The Board of Education will continue to raise the bar on academic performance standards to ensure global competitiveness. Our schools will lead the nation in rigor and quality, and our students will excel in postsecondary education and/or in the global workplace. Building on the success of the Standards of Learning (SOL) program, more rigorous and relevant expectations will continue to be implemented that meet or exceed national and international benchmarks for college and career readiness. Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting the attainment of literacy and mathematics skills for all students, pre-K through grade 12.

Goal 3: Expanded Opportunities to Learn
The Board of Education will put in place policies and initiatives that expand learning opportunities for all children.  These policies and initiatives will include high-quality charter schools, college partnership laboratory schools, online learning programs, and Governor’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) academies. Such learning opportunities provide options for parents and students while allowing communities and educators to create innovative instructional programs that can be replicated elsewhere in the public school system.

Goal 4: Nurturing Young Learners
The Board of Education will work cooperatively with partners to promote new and innovative partnerships that help to ensure that all children enter kindergarten with the skills they need for success in school.

Goal 5: Highly Qualified and Effective Educators
The Board of Education will establish policies and standards that strengthen the preparation, recruitment, and retention of the best and brightest educators, including meaningful and ongoing professional development, especially in teacher shortage areas and in hard-to-staff schools.

Goal 6: Sound Policies for Student Success
The Board of Education will provide leadership to implement the provisions of state and federal laws and regulations in effective and efficient ways that expand opportunities for all of Virginia’s school children to excel academically.

Goal 7: Safe and Secure Schools
The Board of Education will provide leadership to create safe and secure school environments.

To contact a member of the Virginia Board of Education, please e-mail BOE@doe.virginia.gov.

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