Authority: Public Education Instructional Services: Title 22.1, Chapter 13, Code of Virginia; P.L. 107-110, P.L. 105-332, P.L.108-447, P.L. 102-305, Federal Code.

Program Administration and Assistance for Instructional Services: Title 22.1, Chapter 13, Code of Virginia; P.L. 107-110, P.L. 105-332, P.L. 108-447, P.L. 102-305, Federal Code.

Compliance and Monitoring of Instructional Services: Title 22.1, Chapter 13, Code of Virginia; P.L. 107-110, P.L. 105-332, P.L. 108-447, Federal Code.

Adult Education and Literacy: §§ 2.2-2472, 22.1-223-226, 22.1-253.13:1, 22.1-254.2, Code of Virginia; P.L. 105-220, Federal Code.

A. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is encouraged to implement school/community team training.

B. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall provide direction and technical assistance to local school divisions in the revision of their Vocational Education curriculum and instructional practices.

C. The Superintendent of Public Instruction, in cooperation with the Commissioner of Social Services, shall encourage local departments of social services and local school divisions to work together to develop cooperative arrangements for the use of school resources, especially computer labs, for the purpose of training Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients for the workforce.

D. Notwithstanding § 4-1.04 a 3 of this act, the Superintendent of Public Instruction may apply for grant funding to be used by local school divisions consistent with the provisions of Chapter 447, 1999 Acts of Assembly. The nongeneral fund appropriation for this agency shall be adjusted by the amount of the proceeds of any such grant awards.

E. 1. Out of the appropriations in this item, $1,300,000 the first year and $1,300,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to support students and teachers pursuing information technology industry certifications. The funding shall be used to provide outreach, training, instructional resources, industry recognized certification opportunities for teachers and students enrolled in Virginia public high schools and regional career and technical education programs, and information technology curriculum resources for use by students' parents.

2. The funds provided in this initiative shall be used to support the following priority objectives: a) increase the percentage of students enrolled in career and technical education courses who receive instruction in information technology leading to an increased number of students achieving industry recognized certifications in information technology; b) increase the number of high schools and regional career and technical education programs that receive the training and technical support to be ready to implement information technology curricula leading to increased statewide implementation and use; c) increase the number of teachers teaching targeted career and technical education courses and other high school teachers who receive training in information technology and in industry recognized certifications leading to an increased number of teachers achieving industry recognized certifications in information technology; and, d) support implementation of information technology curricula in school divisions in Southside and Southwest Virginia so that implementation in those regions is at least comparable to implementation in other regions of Virginia.

F. Out of the appropriation in this Item, $413,000 the first year and $413,000 the second year from the general fund is provided for the Department of Education to continue a professional development program intended to increase the capacity of principals as school leaders in under-performing schools.

G. Out of the appropriation in this Item, $366,000 the first year and $366,000 the second year from the general fund is provided to the Department of Education to assist local school divisions, as needed, to establish criteria for the professional development of teachers and principals on the subject of issues related to high-needs students.

H. a. Out of this appropriation, $1,350,000 the first year and $1,350,000 the second year from the general fund is provided through the Department of Education to the University of Virginia to continue statewide implementation of the Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program conducted in the fall, and to develop and implement a post-assessment upon the conclusion of the kindergarten year.

b. The Department of Education shall coordinate with the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning to ensure that all school divisions shall be required to have their kindergarten students assessed annually during the school year using the multi-dimensional kindergarten readiness assessment model. All school divisions shall be required to have their kindergarten students assessed with such model.

c. Further, out of this appropriation, $100,000 the first year and $100,000 the second year from the general fund shall be allocated to University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning to provide training to school divisions annually on how to effectively use Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program data to improve instructional practices and student learning. Such teacher focused professional development and training shall be prioritized for the school divisions that would most benefit from state assistance in order to provide more time for classroom instruction and student learning.

d. The Department and the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning shall use the results of the multi-dimensional Virginia Kindergarten Readiness Program assessments to determine how well the Virginia Preschool Initiative promotes readiness in all key developmental domains assessed. The Department shall submit such findings using data from the prior year's fall assessment to the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees no later than October 1 each year.

I. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year and $1,000,000 the second year from the general fund is provided through the Department of Education to the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning to ensure that all Virginia Preschool Initiative classroom programs and public school-based preschool teachers receive appropriate individualized professional development training from professional development specialists to support quality teacher-child interactions and effective research-based curriculum implementation. Funding and professional development assistance shall be prioritized for teachers with Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observation scores that did not meet the statewide minimum acceptable threshold standard established by the University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning and the Department of Education. The University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning, assisted on an as needed basis, by the Department of Education, Virginia Early Childhood Foundation, and Elevate Early Education to hire and train specialists to provide such individualized professional development. The University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning and the Training and Technical Assistance Centers funded by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) through the Department of Education shall coordinate to ensure alignment of professional development and supports for teachers of children with special needs.

J. Out of this appropriation, $700,000 the first year and $700,000 the second year from the general fund is provided through the Department of Education to the University of Virginia to ensure that all Virginia Preschool Initiative and public school-based preschool classroom programs have the quality of their teacher-child interactions assessed through a rigorous and research-based classroom observational instrument at least once every two years using the CLASS observational instrument for such assessment. The University of Virginia, with input from the Department of Education and the use of its detailed plan for such assessments, has established a statewide minimum acceptable threshold for the quality of teacher-child interactions for Virginia Preschool Initiative classroom programs, and classrooms that are assessed below the threshold receive additional technical assistance from the Department of Education and the University of Virginia. The threshold shall be reviewed and re-affirmed no later than the beginning of the 2021-2022 school year. The University of Virginia's Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning shall submit a progress report on such classroom observations to the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees no later than June 30 each year.

K. The Virginia Department of Social Services and the Virginia Department of Education shall develop a plan to transfer the Child Care Development Fund grant from the Virginia Department of Social Services to the Virginia Department of Education no later than July 1, 2021. The goal of this transfer is to house responsibility of child care and education programs under one agency. The plan shall be submitted to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees no later than August 15, 2020. Such plan shall confirm the funding amounts and positions that need to be transferred between the impacted agencies, and shall identify any savings or additional costs associated with the transfer of these programs. The review shall also assess any potential administrative impacts on the Department of Social Services and the Department of Education.