MarchApril+2010


 * __ Virginia Department of Education Update __**

__ Virginia Public School Authority (VPSA) Funds __ Funding for the sale of VPSA notes was included in the approved state budget. Details are currently unavailable. An amendment by the governor allows school divisions to purchase handheld devicies with VPSA funds. [|Governor’s 2010 Reconvened Session Executive Amendments (HB 30)]

__ Standard of Quality (SOQ) – Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT) positions __ School divisions must provide ITRT position to meet the SOQ's. However, school divisions have greater flexibility in how the SOQ related to the ITRT position is met. The General Assembly approved a change that allows school divisions the option to blend the ITRT position with a Test Coordinator position or provide one of the two positions. Details on final decision, currently unavailable.

__ Race to the Top Grant __ The state of Virginia was not among the 16 states selected as finalist for a Race to the Top Grant from the federal government.

[]

__Internet safety updates __

__New Rubric __ Per the //Code of Virginia// (Title 22.1-70.2), every two years the Virginia Department of Education must review the Internet safety programs and acceptable use policies of all school divisions for compliance with the //Code//. The next report to the General Assembly is due in fall 2010. Two years ago, we created an implementation rubric to review the policy and program for each division ([]). Because this was a new program at the time, a rubric was developed with three possible scorings: meets expectations, progress toward expectations, and below expectations. Two years later, the expectation is that all programs have been fully implemented, so the new rubric will have only two possible scorings: meets expectations or below expectations. Based on first experiences using the rubric, some of the items in the original rubric are being shifted to a more logical order. If you are interested in seeing the draft of the new rubric, please e-mail me Jean Weller (Jean.Weller@doe.virginia.gov). Jean will send the draft to you for your review and comment. The final version of the rubric will be available the first week of April and will be sent to all technology directors and will be posted on the DOE Web site ([]). **The report from you to the Virginia Department of Education is due September 1, 2010.**

__Resources __ Related Resources for Internet Safety in Schools, our hyperlinked document of good Internet safety resources, has been updated and posted at []. Please note that there is also a new Delicious bookmarking site ([]) that includes all these resources and any that have been added since the posted update. The Delicious site will be continually updated with the latest resources.

__Poster Contest __ The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) is conducting the national kindergarten through 12th grade 2010 Cyber Security Awareness: Kids Safe Online Poster Contest. The goal of the contest is to engage young people in creating posters to encourage other young people to use the Internet safely and securely. All public, private, or home-schooled students in kindergarten through 12th grade are eligible to participate.

The top three winners from each state competition will be entered into the national competition. Entries received may be used in national, regional, and state cyber and computer security awareness campaigns.

//How to Enter: // Schools may submit entries to the Virginia state competition by e-mailing submissions to vita-access-training@vita.virginia.gov**.** (A parent may submit for home-schooled students.) Please include the following information with your submittals: school, school address, teacher/contact person, contact phone number, student name and student grade.

Virginia state submittals must be received by March 26, 2010. (Winners of the state contest will automatically be submitted to the national contest by March 31, 2010.)

//Entry Requirements: // Please see the MS-ISAC national contest Web site for entry requirements and judging criteria: http://www.msisac.org/awareness/poster2010/index.cfm. For more information or questions, please e-mail Nakita Albritton, Information Security Manager, at vita-access-training@vita.virginia.gov or call 804-416-6032.