Prince William Expands Access to High-Speed Internet Across the County 

Courtesy of Prince William County Communications Prince William County is working to provide access to high-speed broadband to unserved and underserved areas across the county. The county awarded a contract to Verizon, following a competitive procurement process, to install fiber-optic infrastructure to 470 areas in the county. The project is expected to be completed by […]

Virginia Department of Education Announces Eight Commonwealth Conversations on Cell Phone-Free Education

Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Department of Education is hosting a series of Commonwealth Conversations to give parents, educators, and community members the opportunity to share their thoughts on the best ways to achieve cell phone-free education in Virginia and address the increasing evidence of the impact cell phone and social media usage has on […]

Virginia’s new school accountability system is taking shape

by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury The Virginia Board of Education took another step on Friday to clarify how schools will be rated and student performance measured to better determine how to direct state resources.  The board, on the superintendent’s recommendation, approved four performance descriptors: “Distinguished,” “On Track,” “Off Track” and “Needs Intensive Support.” Schools considered “distinguished” […]

More districts leave Virginia School Board Association

by Nathaniel Cline, Virginia Mercury A handful of Virginia school boards are exiting the Virginia School Board Association, the longest-running organization dedicated to supporting school boards in the commonwealth, over claims that it has failed to meet their needs and doesn’t align with their conservative values. Gina Patterson, executive director of VSBA, established in 1906, […]