School Board Member Alliance

27/08/2026

📚 A Resource Every Parent and School Board Member Should Have

Do you know what rights parents actually have when it comes to curriculum, student records, surveys, religious objections and what happens in the classroom?

WILL’s Parental Toolkit puts those answers in one easy-to-use resource, covering parental rights, FERPA, PPRA, Title VI, Title IX, Mahmoud v. Taylor, special education, reading and math instruction, cell phones, SEL and more.

It even includes practical questions parents can ask schools and tools they can use when concerns arise.

Download it. Save it. Share it with parents in your community.

26/08/2026

The VA Dept of Education is changing school performance indicator language from "Off Track" to "Approaching Excellence."

20/08/2026

Apparently, giving drugs to another student needed a rebrand. Now if a student gives another student he**in or fentanyl it can be called "SOCIAL SHARING" rather than "distribution."

VDOE has created a new school reporting category for the “social sharing” of drugs and says the change is intended, in part, to ensure the “equitable application” of the Persistently Dangerous Schools process.

Virginia law prohibits selling, giving or distributing controlled substances. Va. Code § 18.2-248.

So perhaps VDOE can explain:

Will this new coding help schools avoid being labeled a "persistently dangerous school?"

You don't make schools safer by giving dangerous behavior a friendlier name.

Sharing Goldfish crackers is social sharing. Giving another student controlled substances is not.

08/07/2026

Just TWO Days Left to Apply for the 2026 Patriot Games! 🇺🇸

Know a student athlete who is ready to represent Virginia on the national stage?

The 2026 Patriot Games, part of America's 250th birthday celebration, is accepting applications from students ages 14–17, but the deadline is July 10, just two days away!

Selected athletes will compete against the nation's best in challenges that test:

💪 Strength
🏃 Speed
🤸 Agility
🤝 Teamwork
⭐ Leadership
💥 Resilience

Participants will also have the opportunity to:

🏅 Represent their home state
🎓 Compete for a share of $250,000 in scholarship awards
📺 Be featured during coverage on ESPN and ABC
🇺🇸 Be part of a signature event celebrating America's 250th birthday

To apply, students must submit a short video sharing their story, accomplishments, and why they want to compete.

SBMA encourages school board members to share this opportunity with students, families, coaches, athletic directors, and school staff in their divisions.

⏰ Don't wait! The application deadline is July 10!

# # A National Competition Celebrating the Next Generation {{applyButton}} *The national competition will stream on the ESPN App and culminate with a primetime special on ABC during the nation's 250th celebration.* America's next generation of leaders, competitors, and champions will take center stag...

02/07/2026

America at 250: Are Students Ready to Carry the Republic Forward?
Today’s students grasp some of the basic freedoms at the heart of American democracy, but many still struggle to understand the structure, trade-offs, and institutions that keep it functioning. As the nation celebrates 250 years of independence, civics education remains one of the biggest tests of America’s future.

Former TNTP president & EdNavigator co-founder

29/06/2026

🏅 Attention Virginia families, coaches, and school leaders: A unique opportunity is available for student athletes ages 14–17.

The White House Task Force 250 is accepting applications for the 2026 Patriot Games, a national competition celebrating exceptional student athletes as part of America’s 250th birthday celebration.

Selected male and female athletes from every state and territory will compete August 9–11 in high-intensity challenges testing:
✅ Strength
✅ Speed
✅ Agility
✅ Teamwork
✅ Resilience
✅ Leadership

Participants will compete for a share of $250,000 in scholarship awards.

The competition will stream on the ESPN App and culminate in a primetime ESPN on ABC special on August 13.

Students selected for the Patriot Games will have the opportunity to:
• Compete nationally for scholarship awards
• Gain national recognition
• Showcase leadership and character
• Represent their home state on a national stage

📅 Applications are due July 10, 2026

To apply, students must submit a short video sharing:
• Their story
• Their accomplishments
• Why they want to compete

Please share this opportunity with eligible students and families in your community.

# # A National Competition Celebrating the Next Generation **[Apply or learn more about the 2026 Patriot Games →](/patriot-games)** *The national competition will stream on the ESPN App and culminate with a primetime special on ABC during the nation's 250th celebration.* America's next generation o...

06/05/2026

🚨 New Virginia Law Raises Serious Lawsuit Concerns for Schools

A new law (§ 22.1-2.2) changes how schools handle enrollment and student information, and the biggest issue is the legal risk.

👉 Families can now SUE school divisions if rules are violated.

What that means:
• Lawsuits, damages, and attorney’s fees
• Just 15 days for schools to respond
• Small mistakes can turn into major legal problems

Key concerns:
• Staff asking the wrong questions
• Collecting or sharing the wrong information
• Enrollment forms that go too far

Schools cannot:
• Deny enrollment based on immigration status
• Ask about or collect that information unless required by law
• Share it with outside agencies, including law enforcement, with limited exceptions

📌 Takeaway:
This law increases exposure and raises real concerns about how easily schools could face lawsuits over everyday actions.

If schools are not prepared, it could cost them.

05/05/2026

Virginia’s school accountability system is changing and you have a short window to speak up.
New proposals from the Virginia Department of Education increase the emphasis on student growth alongside proficiency. Growth matters, but it does NOT answer the most important question:
👉 Are students meeting grade-level standards?
Under Governor Glenn Youngkin, the focus returned to proficiency. Now, under Abigail Spanberger, these ESSA changes expand growth measures like “value tables” and adjust how English learners are evaluated.
Here’s the concern:
• Students can improve but still remain below grade level
• Schools can look successful without true proficiency
• Parents may not get a clear picture of student readiness
📣 TAKE ACTION BEFORE MAY 29
Let them know:
• Proficiency must be the top priority
• Growth should support, not replace it
• Students should meet grade-level standards before moving forward
Virginia students deserve real achievement, not just progress.

As part of the ongoing stakeholder engagement, public comments on these two topics are being collected and will be provided to the Board of Education for their review and consideration prior to approving the School Performance and Support Framework for 2025-2026, at the June 24-25,2026,  business m...

04/05/2026

Virginia Military Signing Day Set for May 8

The Virginia Department of Education will host Virginia Military Signing Day on May 8, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Virginia War Memorial in Richmond to honor graduating seniors entering military service.

School divisions are encouraged to provide transportation to the event. If travel is not possible, divisions can hold local recognition ceremonies and consider honoring students during senior assemblies.

School boards should be aware of potential costs, transportation logistics, and how recognition will be handled across schools. This is an opportunity to support students choosing military service while making sure plans align with local priorities.

We welcome all military families to Virginia and look forward to a successful school year. If you are a military family member and have questions about schooling options or need help with your transition, please feel free to contact Dan Dunham, Virginia Department of Education Military Student and ...

24/04/2026

🚨 K-12 Education Just Hit $1 TRILLION — And Virginia Is Spending Big 🚨

This just happened. Public K-12 education in the U.S. has officially passed $1.04 trillion in revenue.

Virginia is right in the middle of it:

👉 $24.3 billion in revenue
👉 $24.0 billion spent
👉 $21.6 billion in operating costs
👉 $19,333 per student , which is above the national average

This is not a funding issue; this is a governance issue.

Spending is rising. Administrative layers are growing. But outcomes are not keeping pace.

⚠️ School boards should be asking right now:
Are dollars reaching classrooms?
Are programs producing results?
Who is actually being held accountable?

We’ve crossed the trillion-dollar line.

Now is the time for school boards to request a forensic audit and make sure that all money being spent is attached to student achievement.