School Division of Innovation (SDI)
The School Division of Innovation (SDI) initiative allows Virginia school divisions to develop, implement, and scale bold, student‑centered approaches that foster mastery‑based learning, expand real‑world connections to the workforce, and strengthen college, career, and community readiness. Divisions designated as SDIs by the Virginia Board of Education (BOE) may receive flexibility in select areas of policy and practice to support innovative instructional models, provided all schools in the division maintain accredited status.
What is a School Division of Innovation?
A School Division of Innovation is a Virginia school division approved by the Virginia Board of Education to implement forward‑thinking instructional, operational, and student‑support models that improve learning outcomes through strategic flexibility.
An SDI must demonstrate a division‑wide commitment to:
- Student‑centered learning with progress based on demonstrated proficiency and mastery.
- Real‑world connections that align instruction with local workforce needs and support transitions to college and career.
- Innovative educator supports and staffing models that elevate teacher collaboration, targeted interventions, and instructional flexibility.
- Clear, measurable goals and performance targets focused on reducing achievement gaps, increasing rigorous learning opportunities, expanding integrated courses, improving readiness indicators, and strengthening student motivation.
The SDI designation is valid for five years and may be renewed. To retain the designation, divisions must maintain full accreditation for all schools and report annual progress toward approved goals and targets. The BOE may revoke the designation if the division fails to meet expectations.
About the SDI Planning Grant
The SDI Planning Grant provides funding and support to divisions as they develop the comprehensive, research‑based School Division of Innovation Plan required for submission to the Board of Education. Grant funds help divisions:
- Conduct research and needs assessments
- Engage stakeholders
- Design innovative instructional and operational models
- Create mastery‑based, future‑ready learning structures
- Identify performance targets and monitoring systems
- Build professional development and staffing models that support innovation
- Draft the complete SDI Plan for BOE review and approval
The resulting Innovation Plan must be cohesive and narrative in structure, integrating all required components into a unified strategy. It must include measurable goals, baseline data, targets, timelines, staffing approaches, monitoring systems, and evidence demonstrating readiness for implementation.
Through Chapter 725 of the 2026 Acts of Assembly, divisions or consortia may apply for up to $50,000 to support completion of the SDI Plan. Grant funding is intended to cover the planning year only; SDI implementation begins after BOE approval.
Grant Application Materials
Application forms, guidance documents, templates, and instructions will be available on the VDOE Office of Innovation webpage.
The SDI Plan of Innovation must address:
- Goals of innovation and performance targets
- Division‑wide and school‑level policies and practices
- Measures of student success
- Optional waiver requests
- Optional alternative policies to meet diverse needs
- Required appendices and evidence (e.g., letters of support, accreditation history, partner identification, baseline data, and monitoring plans)
All SDI Planning Grant applications are due August 25, 2026. Completed applications must be submitted via email to: innovation@doe.virginia.gov.
Submitting the SDI Plan to the Board of Education
The purpose of the SDI Planning Grant is to enable divisions to complete a high‑quality, fully developed School Division of Innovation Plan suitable for submission to the Virginia Board of Education. Only divisions with approved plans may receive the SDI designation.
A completed SDI Plan must demonstrate:
- A clear, cohesive strategy grounded in research
- Strong stakeholder engagement and community partnerships
- Legal compliance, including documentation of any allowable waiver requests
- Sufficient capacity and readiness for implementation
- Student‑centered, innovative approaches that exceed conventional practice
The BOE evaluates each submission using a unified scoring guide, ensuring the plan is ambitious, feasible, compliant, and capable of delivering meaningful improvements in student learning.