Competitive Clinical Faculty Grant

Competitive Clinical Faculty Grant is sponsored by Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Funding for partnerships between school divisions and institutions of higher education to support clinical faculty.

#2025-24 Virginia Education Update June 27, 2025 #2025-24 Virginia Education Update June 27, 2025 Virginia Department of Education sent this bulletin at 06/27/2025 05:46 PM EDT #2025-24 | Update for June 27, 2025 Download Superintendent's Briefing Note (To-Do & Article List) FY2024 School Safety and Security Grant – Expenditure Deadline June 30 Virginia Community Schools Grant Application Information – Webinar July 2 School Year 2025-2026 Breakfast after the Bell Application – Due July 24 Competitive Grant Application Clinical Faculty Programs 2025-2026 – Due July 25 Foster Care Data Collection – Due July 31 2025-2026 School Security Equipment Grant Application – Due August 1 2025-2026 Competitive Comprehensive Literacy Grants – Year 1 Cohort Continuation Application and Year 2 Cohort Application – Applications due August 15 Annual Superintendent Certification of Vehicle Insurance – Due August 15 Annual School Bus Driver Critical Shortage Survey – Due August 15 Meet ing Workforce Needs: VDOE Fine Arts Summer Professional Learning – Starts July 17 VA250 Updates – Save the Dates!

June Virginia Literacy Act Update Computer Science Instructional Guides Release of Statewide Upper Quartile Scores on Mathematics Standards of Learning Assessments for Grades 5-8 Important Reminders on Grant Reimbursement Requests FY 2023 Announcing FY25 Supplemental Career Switcher Mentor Grant Division Awards New VDOE School and Community Nutrition Programs State Director: Sara Bennett, MS, RDN, SNS USDA Guidance on OVS Flexibilities and Enhancing Child Nutrition Programs A Smarter Route: HB2720 Delivers Innovation and Local Solutions for Student Transportation Official Photo by Kaitlyn DeHarde, Office of Governor Glenn Youngkin Yesterday I had the opportunity to join Governor Youngkin, Del.

Terry Austin, and Sen. Chris Head in Botetourt for the bill signing of HB2720. With this new law, Virginia has taken a practical, forward-thinking step to modernize K-12 student transportation with a focus on eliminating access barriers for students in rural and small school divisions.

This legislation is a win for students, families, and local leaders who know that one-size-fits-all mandates don’t work for every school division. HB2720 empowers smaller school divisions with fewer than 4,500 students to explore more flexible, efficient ways to get students to school.

Instead of being locked into outdated bus models that struggle with driver shortages and rising costs, local school boards and superintendents can now pilot commonsense alternatives. This is not about replacing traditional 80-passenger school buses but about adding smart, community-driven options that work in the real world.

When students cannot get to school on time or reach key programs like career training or dual enrollment courses, they fall behind. HB2720 ensures more reliable access to these life-shaping opportunities whether it is a trade certification at a regional center or a class at a nearby community college. By giving school divisions flexibility, we’re also promoting local innovation.

This new law allows superintendents and school boards to design transportation systems that fit their geography, workforce, and budget. It’s a pilot grounded in accountability too, requiring public transparency, safety oversight, as well as annual reporting on best practices, usages, costs, and outcomes. This new law recognizes that education is about more than what happens inside a classroom.

If we want to prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow, we must give them access to the training and opportunities they need today to learn. This is a smart, efficient, locally led solution that respects taxpayer dollars and puts students first. Virginia students deserve transportation that works for the 21 st century.

With HB2720, we’re clearing the roadblocks to innovation and putting families and communities back in the driver’s seat. VA250 Updates – Save the Dates! Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers Contact: Christonya Brown, History and Social Science Coordinator, Christonya.

Brown@doe. virginia. go v ; Cheryl Wilson, Executive Director, VA250 American Revolution 250 Commission, cwilson@va250.

virginia. gov VDOE has partnered with VA250 to engage students across the Commonwealth through extensive studies of history, democracy, and civics in order to promote principles of an informed citizenry and civic engagement. The VA250th Education Committee works with partners throughout the Commonwealth, including VDOE, to Make History Come Alive, Spark a Civics Renaissance, and Celebrate Democracy.

To support educators, external partners, and organizations across the Commonwealth, VDOE has created the following toolkits to create memorable and educational experiences to foster community spirit and civic engagement: Declaration of Independence Toolkit (July 2025, annual review) : VDOE has developed the Declaration of Independence Toolkit to engage the community in reading the Declaration of Independence beginning July 4, 2025.

Multiple tips to create a memorable and educational Fourth of July event that fosters community spirit and civic engagement are included.

Constitution Day and Citizenship Day Toolkit (September 2025, annual review) : In honor of the Constitution of the United States, Constitution and Citizenship Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787, recognizing all who are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become citizens. September 17 is designated as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

Multiple resources and experiences have been cited to support planning educational activities, delineated by grade band. For more information about upcoming VA250 events in collaboration with VDOE, reference the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission | Virginia Department of Education webpage.

News from Across the Commonwealth The Loudoun County School Board has unanimously approved Policy 5430 , outlining the use of generative artificial intelligence in schools. Approved tools may be used to support learning, but must be used transparently and ethically. The policy bans unapproved programs, sharing personal data, and relying solely on AI for major decisions.

It will be reviewed annually to keep pace with evolving technology. A great example for other school board members to learn from! On May 3, Virginia Beach City Public Schools Visual Arts Program and the ViBe created a semi-permanent public art installation in the ViBe Arts District.

Art teachers and students were challenged to create a design that included positive symbols, words and images that best represent their school and the Virginia Beach community. Participating were Point O’View and Windsor Oaks elementary schools, Plaza Middle School, Old Donation School, and First Colonial and Tallwood high schools.

Throughout the school year, Genius Hour at Wenonah Elementary in Waynesboro Public Schools has provided students with opportunities to pursue their passions, explore new interests, and engage in real-world learning experiences. The initiative brought together a variety of community partners and showcased the powerful impact of collaboration between schools and local organizations.

June Virginia Literacy Act Update Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers Contact: Jill Nogueras, Associate Director of K-12 English & Literacy, Jill. Nogueras@doe. virginia.

gov To support school divisions’ continued implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA), VDOE has released an extensive update on the VLA . Reference Charts for Planning Superintendents are asked to review the Literacy Update and also share these resources with key literacy staff and elementary and middle school principals.

2025-2026 Competitive Comprehensive Literacy Grants – Year 1 Cohort Continuation Application and Year 2 Cohort Application – Applications due August 15 Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals Contact: Dr. Michelle Wallace, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Michelle. Wallace@doe. virginia.

gov ; Dr. Angela Byrd-Wright, Director of Humanities , Angela. Byrd-Wright@doe. virginia.

gov VDOE is pleased to announce both the 2025-2026 Literacy Grant (Year 1 Cohort Continuation) and 2025-2026 Literacy Grant (Year 2 Cohort) that will provide additional support and funding to ensure schools have expanded structures, tools, capacity, resources, and service providers to increase literacy growth and achievement for all students.

VDOE is prioritizing three opportunities: family engagement literacy resources for birth through Kindergarten entry, the English Learner Literacy Network, and the Students with Disabilities Literacy Network. Applicants are highly encouraged to register for the 2025-2026 Literacy Grant Information Session, July 2, 2025, 9-10 a. m.

During this time, VDOE staff will review the application requirements and provide information for successful application submissions. Grant applications are highly competitive. Applications will open beginning July 2, 2025, after the grant information session is held .

A division may submit applications on behalf of their schools by no later than August 15, 2025, 3:00 p. m . The application should be submitted by one division-level employee and requires division point(s) of contact; acknowledgement of general assurances, administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for federal awards (uniform guidance); and a programmatic overview summary.

Divisions already having received 2024-2025 Literacy Grant funds should complete the 2025-2026 Literacy Grant (Year 1 Cohort Continuation Application). Divisions newly applying for schools should complete the 2025-2026 Literacy Grants (Year 2 Cohort). Divisions that received 2024-2025 Literacy Grant funds wanting to add schools beyond the Year 1 Cohort, should add these schools to the Year 2 Cohort application.

Optional office hours will also be held July 15, 2025 , and July 22, 2025 , to support divisions through the application process. Division points of contact must register in advance: July 15, 2025, 9-10 a. m.

: Registration July 22, 2025, 9-10 a. m. : Registration The VDOE will work through the division point(s) of contact for all matters related to the application process and notifications.

Applicants submitting applications that are not awarded by the VDOE will be notified in writing. Grant notification emails will be sent by no later than mid-September 2025 . Reference the 2025-2026 Literacy Grant Information Guide for additional details.

VDOE Fine Arts Summer Professional Learning Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals Contact: Kelly Bisogno , Fine Arts Coordinator, Kelly. Bisogno@doe. virginia.

gov Webinar sessions provide relevant and accessible professional learning for Virginia’s fine arts educators related to implementation of the Fine Arts Standards of Learning and content of newly released Instructional Guides. Sessions are intended to support both new and returning fine arts educators and leaders in preparing for the 2025-2026 school year. Sessions will be offered live and will be recorded.

Recorded sessions are posted to the VDOE website. Educators and leaders who attend the live session and complete an exit survey will be sent a certificate of participation for one hour of professional learning. Certificates will not be offered by VDOE for viewing recorded sessions.

Advanced registration is required for each event. Click the event date to register and for the webinar description. VDOE Fine Arts and Blue Ridge PBS Virginia Visual Arts Media Series and Instructional Resources - July 17, 2025 , from 10-11 a.

m. VDOE Fine Arts Instructional Guide Overviews for Educators Elementary Music - July 24, 2025 , from 10-11 a. m.

Elementary Visual Arts - July 25, 2025 , from 10-11 a. m. Instrumental Music - July 28, 2025 , from 10-11 a.

m. New Choral Music - July 28, 2025, from 11 a. m.

- noon Secondary Visual Arts - July 29, 2025 , from 10-11 a. m. Theatre Arts - July 30, 2025 , from 10-11 a.

m. Dance Arts - July 31, 2025 , from 10-11 a. m.

VDOE Fine Arts Update for the 2025-2026 School Year - August 4, 2025 , from 10-11 a. m. Supporting Fine Arts Teaching and Learning for School Administrators - August 7, 2025 , from 10-11 a.

m. Computer Science Instructional Guides Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Teachers Contact: Keisha Tennessee, Computer Science Coordinator, Keisha. Tennessee@doe.

virginia. gov The VDOE Computer Science program is excited to announce the release of the Kindergarten through Grade 8 computer sciences instructional guides and computer science instructional plans, aligned with the 2024 Computer Science Standards of Learning .

The instructional guides serve as a companion document to the 2024 Computer Science Standards of Learning , designed to support educators in implementing standards into effective, developmentally appropriate instruction. Instructional guides include defined learning expectations, cross-content connections, and research-based instructional practices that promote computational thinking and integration across disciplines.

Instructional guides for the computer science standalone courses: Middle School Computer Science Elective, Computer Science Foundations, Computer Science Principles, and Computer Science Programming (NCTE) will be available on the Computer Science webpage no later than August 1, 2025. The K-8 computer science instructional plans are structured teaching guides designed to support effective, standards-aligned classroom instruction.

The instructional plans serve as an instructional resource and model example of an integrated computer science lesson. They outline clear learning goals, define the sequence and methods of instruction, and provide opportunities for assessment and student engagement. The K-8 computer science instructional plans will be made publicly available on GoOpenVA no later than August 1, 2025.

The Department, in collaboration with partner organizations, will offer professional development to support effective implementation of the 2024 Computer Science Standards of Learning . Details will be communicated via Teacher Direct and the Virginia Education Update newsletters.

Release of Statewide Upper Quartile Scores on Mathematics Standards of Learning Assessments for Grades 5-8 Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, School Counselors, Mathematics Coordinators Contact: Amanda Nevetral, Director, Office of Advanced Learning, Amanda. Nevetral@doe. virginia.

gov ; Victoria Bohidar, Coordinator of Mathematics , Office of STEM, Victoria. Bohidar@doe. virginia.

gov ; Office of Assessment, student_assessment@doe. virginia. gov HB2686 r equires each school board to develop and adopt a policy that sets forth the criteria for students in grades five through eight to be eligible to enroll in advanced or accelerated mathematics .

E ach policy should provide for the automatic enrollment of eligible students in advanced or accelerated mathematics based on Standards of Learning assessment scores in the statewide upper quartile , subject to course offerings and availability . For autoenrollment in advanced or accelerated math for the 2025-2026 school year, school divisions should use the statewide upper quartile scores in the table below.

These scores are generated from the 2025 Standards of Learning Mathematics a ssessments. Statewide Upper Quartile SOL Math ematics Scores Resources to assist school divisions with the implementation of Middle School Accelerated Mathematics can be found on the Mathematics webpage .

School Finance & Grant Opportunities FY2024 School Safety and Security Grant – Expenditure Deadline June 30 Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Facility and Transportation Directors, School Security Coordinators Contact: A. K. (Vijay) Ramnarain , Director of Support Services, Vijay.

Ramnarain@doe. virginia. gov The Legislature appropriated $20 million in FY 2024 state and federal funding for a one-time school safety and security grant program for public schools (see Item 136, Paragraph DDD.

, Chapter 1, 2024 Special Session I). From these appropriations, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) awarded $18. 5 million in grant funds to school divisions statewide, $10.

5 million from the general fund and $8 million from federal pandemic State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. School divisions’ federal fund grant allocation was to have been obligated by December 31, 2024, and should be fully expended by December 31, 2025. The federal fund grant allocations are available on a reimbursement basis using the VDOE’s OMEGA grants management application located in the Single Sign-on Web Systems (SSWS) portal.

School divisions were permitted to carryover and spend their state general fund grant allocation during FY 2025 and should complete expenditures of their general fund grant allocation by June 30, 2025. To ensure appropriate use of the state fund allocation, school division superintendents will submit a periodic Expenditure Certification Form to the VDOE Office of Support Services during FY 2025.

This is a reminder to all school divisions that the FY 2024 general fund grant expenditure deadline is June 30, 2025. School divisions should ensure the state fund grant allocation is expended by that date, and the superintendents must submit the required Expenditure Certification Form to ensure appropriate use of the state fund allocation .

Virginia Community Schools Grant Application Information – Webinar July 2 Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals Contact: Alexandra Javna , School Social Work Specialist, Alexandra. Javna@doe. virginia.

gov The 2025 Virginia General Assembly amended the Budget Bill – HB 1600 , providing an additional $2,500,000 from the general fund to support the Community Schools Planning and Development Grant. As a result of this additional funding, VDOE is announcing a grant opportunity to support school divisions in the planning and implementation of community school initiatives.

Eligible applicants include Virginia school divisions as well as Communities In Schools and its affiliates. Applications are due by July 18, 2025, and grants will be awarded in August 2025 with funds available for use through June 2026. Applicants may request funding to support efforts at a single school or across multiple schools.

The VDOE anticipates making 10 to 20 awards, with individual grants ranging from $125,000 to $250,000. Eligible applicants can apply for funds via the Virginia Community Schools Grant Application . A Virginia Community Schools Grant Application webinar will be held on July 2, 2025, at 11 a.

m. , and those interested in attending can register via the Virginia Community Schools Grant Application webinar registration form . A recording will be made available to all registrants .

Competitive Grant Application Clinical Faculty Prog rams 2025-2026 – Due July 25 Audience: Superintendents, Director, School Principals Contact: Shawna LeBlond, Director, Office of Apprenticeships Shawna. LeBlond@doe. virginia.

gov ; Ahmad Saidi, Grants and Report Manager, Office of Human Capital, Ahmad. Saidi@doe. virginia.

gov The Virginia Department of Education is seeking proposals from Virginia public school divisions or consortia of divisions in partnership with regionally accredited institutions of higher education that have Board of Education approved educator preparation programs to support Clinical Faculty Programs that assist pre-service teachers and beginning teachers to make a successful transition into full-time teaching.

The grant is to provide training and mentoring during the 2025-2026 school year for teachers designated as clinical faculty and/or new teacher mentors. The Clinical Faculty Programs-2025-2026 applications will be accepted through July 25, 2025. The Request for Proposals includes a comprehensive program overview and submission requirements.

202 5 -202 6 School Security Equipment Grant Application – Due by August 1 Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Facility and Transportation Directors, School Security Coordinators Contact: A. K. (Vijay) Ramnarain , Director of Support Services, Vijay.

Ramnarain@doe. virginia. gov The Virginia Public School Authority closed on the issuance of $12.

0 million in Notes to fund the 2024-2025 School Security Equipment Grant (SEGM) program on May 15, 2025. This grant is awarded on a competitive basis and school divisions are eligible to receive grant awards up to $250,000. SEGM grant information is located at Security Equipment Grants .

Grant applications must be submitted to VDOE between July 1, 2025, and August 1, 2025, using the VDOE SSWS portal. All funded security equipment must be purchased and installed within six months of notification of the grant award or by March 1, 2026.

To support the installation of school security equipment during the summer months and expedite the spend-down of these Notes funds, school divisions and regional programs may apply for grants reimbursements for school security equipment expenditures beginning on or after May 15, 2025 . Such projects must otherwise meet all existing program guidelines and only approved projects will be reimbursed.

For a school division to receive a grant, a local match of 25 percent of the grant amount is required. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is authorized to reduce the local match for school divisions with a composite index of local ability-to-pay less than 0.

2000, including any such school division participating in a regional vocational center, special education center, alternative education center, or academic year Governor's School. The Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind is exempt from the match requirement. Awarded grant funds will be maintained and disbursed from accounts administered by the State Non-Arbitrage Program (SNAP) under the Virginia Public School Authority.

Upon approval of a reimbursement request, a written certification will be sent to SNAP to effect reimbursement payment within 30 days. Important Reminders on Grant Reimbursement Requests FY 2023 Audience: Superintendents, Directors, Finance Directors, Federal Program Coordinators Contact: Staci Longest, Deputy Superintendent of Budget and Finance, Staci. Longest@doe.

virginia. gov As the end of the grant award period for FY23 grant funding approaches , it is important to ensure that school divisions are maintaining financial management and compliance as it relates to all federal ESEA grants. FY23 federal ESEA grant funding must be fully encumbered by September 30, 2025, and fully reimbursed by November 15, 2025.

School divisions are encouraged to submit grant reimbursement requests at least monthly. Following these best practices helps improve the chances of a successful reimbursement process and supports fiscal responsibility.

This information pertains to federal program coordinators of the programs below: Title I, Part A: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged Title I, Part C: Education of Migratory Children; Title I, Part D: Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk; Title II, Part A: Supporting Effective Instruction; Title III, Part A: Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students; Title IV, Part A: Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants; Title IV, Part B, Nita M.

Lowey 21st CCLC Community Learning Centers: and Title V, Part B, Subpart 2, Rural and Low-Income Education. Title III, Part A Statewide Consortium members please be reminded that all reimbursement requests be submitted through the fiscal manager of Title III, Part A Statewide Consortium at VA Tech. If you need support with OMEGA, please email OMEGASupport@doe.

virginia. gov . If you have questions or need technical assistance with your federally issued grants, please contact individual grant program offices for support.

Announcing FY25 Supplemental Career Switcher Mentor Grant Division Awards Audience: Superintendents, Directors Contact: Ahmad Saidi, Grants and Report Manager, Office of Human Capital, Ahmad. Saidi@doe. virginia.

gov The VDOE is pleased to announce the supplemental 2024-2025 Spring Career Switcher Mentor Grant Awards . The Career Switcher Mentor Grant provides grants to school divisions who have employed new, full-time teachers entering the profession through the Career Switcher Program to help support the mentoring programs for new teachers entering the field through the Career Switcher Program.

The VDOE did an initial data collection in Fall 2024, however, a supplemental data collection for Spring 2025 for the Career Switcher Mentor Grant was announced on March 7, 2025 via the VA Education Update Newsletter . Each local school division will receive $2,455 per Career Switcher reported in the Supplemental Data Collection for Spring 2025 Career Switcher Mentor Program.

For further details regarding the Career Switcher Mentor Program, please refer to the Terms of the Grant Award . Foster Care Data Collection – Due July 31 Audience: Superintendents, School Finance Staff Contact: Ed Lanza, Director of Budget, Edward. Lanza@doe.

virginia. gov Chapter 725, 2025 Acts of Assembly (2025 Appropriation Act) provides state funds for the costs of prior year (Fiscal Year (FY) 2025) local operations and the local share of the FY 2026 (Summer 2025) Remedial Summer School program, as determined by VDOE, for certain children placed in foster care.

A detailed description of state funding requirements for Education of Children in Foster Care and instructions for completing the Foster Care data collection are provided in the Foster Care application in the Single Sign-on for Web Systems (SSWS) portal . Also provided in SSWS are the provisions from the appropriation act, the Code of Virginia , and Board of Education regulations pertaining to the education of children in foster care.

Please note that all school divisions must complete the Foster Care Data Collection through the SSWS portal even if your division is not requesting reimbursement. Once a division has successfully completed the Foster Care certification in SSWS, the division superintendent or designee will certify it electronically through the Superintendent’s Data Collection Approvals (SDCA) application in SSWS.

Please see the instructions in the Foster Care application in SSWS for additional information. The Foster Care data collection will open on July 1, 2025, and is due to VDOE no later than July 31, 2025 . If you have any questions concerning this data collection, please contact the budget office staff at (804) 225-2025 or DOEBUDGETOFFICE@doe.

virginia. gov . Annual Superintendent Certification of Vehicle Insurance Audience: Superintendents, Transportation Directors Contact: Kerry Miller, Director of Pupil Transportation, Kerry.

Miller@doe. virginia. gov Division superintendents are required to certify that insurance providing the required coverage for all vehicles to be used in transporting school children and school personnel has been obtained during the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.

Pursuant to Section 22. 1-191, Code of Virginia , such insurance shall be secured, certified, and submitted to the Superintendent of Public Instruction on or before August 15, 2025 . Compliance with these requirements is mandatory before any state school funds can be distributed (see Sections 22.

1-190, 191 and 197 , Code of Virginia ). The Virginia Department of Education urges you to initiate the procurement process in time to finalize the necessary insurance contract by the end of July 2025. Please ensure that the contract contains the coverage required for all days that schools are operated during the entire 2025-2026 school year.

Insurance certification instructions can be found at: Pupil Transp o rtation Data Collection Annual School Bus Driver Critical Shortage Survey Audience: Superintendents, Transportation Directors Contact: Kerry Miller, Director of Pupil Transportation, Kerry. Miller@doe. virginia.

gov Section 2 2. 1-70. 3 , Code of Virginia, require s the Superintendent of Public Instruction to annually survey all local school divisions to identify critical shortages of school bus drivers by geographic area and by individual school division.

This data will be used to identify school divisions or geographic areas with critical shortages of school bus drivers, thus permitting any school bus driver hired by a local school board in any area or division in which a critical shortage of school bus drivers has been identified to elect to continue to receive a service retirement allowance during such employment if the driver meets certain other conditions.

Additional Virginia Retirement System (VRS) school bus driver critical shortage guidelines can be found at: VRS K-1 2 Critical Shor t age Positions . A survey form to meet this requirement will be emailed to school division transportation directors which must be completed and returned to VDOE by August 15, 2025.

New VDOE School and Community Nutrition Programs State Director: Sara Bennett, MS, RDN, SNS Audience: Superintendents, Directors, School Principals, Child Care Center Operators, Teachers, Non-teaching staff, School Food Authorities Contact: Crystal Crutchfield, SNS, VDOE-SCNP Operations Coordinator, Crystal. Crutchfield@doe. virginia.

gov The Virginia Department of Education is excited to welcome Sara Bennett as the new State Director of the Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs. Bennett brings extensive experience in administering Child Nutrition Programs at the state, local, and national levels.

She has served in three state agencies in Colorado and Virginia, cultivating expertise in program policies and regulations, training development and implementation, grant management, technical assistance, and program compliance with state and federal regulations.

As the Assistant Director for Alexandria City Public Schools’ School Nutrition Services, Bennett supported the Division’s efforts to elevate student meals through scratch cooking, kitchen modernization, and workforce development, including staffing and training.

Most recently with the Child Nutrition Programs at USDA’s National Office, she led numerous training and technical assistance projects—most notably championing stronger local school food systems and partnerships through her leadership on the Healthy Meals Incentives Initiative’s School Food System Transformation Challenge Grants.

Bennett earned a Master of Science in Human Nutrition from Colorado State University, is a Registered Dietitian, and holds the School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) credential. Under Bennett’s leadership, VDOE-SCNP will remain committed to advancing child nutrition in the Commonwealth.

School Year 2025-2026 Breakfast after the Bell Application – Due July 24 Audience: Superintendents, P ublic School Divisions Contact: Crystal Crutchfield, SNS, VDOE-SCNP Operations Coordinator, Crystal. Crutchfield@doe. virginia.

gov Public school divisions may apply for Breakfast after the Bell (BaB) funding, beginning June 30, 2025. School nutrition program administrators (as designated in SNPWeb) will receive an email with the link to the Qualtrics BaB application from noreply@qemailserver. com on June 30, 2025.

Applications are due by July 24, 2025, at midnight. School divisions will be notified of the approved schools in mid-August. BaB is the state incentive program that supports a per-meal reimbursement for breakfasts served using an alternative service model, such as grab and go, second chance, and breakfast in the classroom.

BaB is available to public school divisions participating in SBP. Awarded schools will be reimbursed at the following rates per breakfast served until the allocated state funds ($1. 074 million/fiscal year) are expended: Elementary schools: $0.

05 per breakfast served Middle schools: $0. 10 per breakfast served High schools: $0. 10 per breakfast served Required BaB Application Documents SFAs applying for BaB funding must complete two documents before beginning the online application, as they will be uploaded into the application: The BaB Application School Information Table ( SCNP (Dir.)

Memo #2024-2025- 92 , Attachment A ) The BaB Certification Statement ( SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2024-2025- 92 , Attachment B ) Requires signatures from the division superintendent and the SNP director Review SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2024-2025- 92 for more information on BaB, the application process, and how applications are scored.

USDA Guidance on OVS Flexibilities and Enhancing Child Nutrition Programs Audience: School Food Authorities Contact: Crystal Crutchfield, SNS, Operations Coordinator, Virginia Department of Education, Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs, Crystal. Crutchfield@doe. virginia.

gov This is the same information in SCNP (Dir.) Memo #2024-2025- 90 .

SFAs may review the following USDA memos that were released on June 2, 2025: SP 14-2025, Offer versus Serve Flexibilities for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program SP 15-2025, Enhancing Child Nutrition Program Meal Standards Visit the Virginia Department of Education, Office of School and Community Nutrition Programs’ webpage to learn more about how Virginia supports Child Nutrition Program sponsors.

The Virginia Department of Education is hiring. Access the list of our current job openings to learn more and apply.