Science

These resources amplify the 2018 Science Standards of Learning and define the content knowledge, skills, and understandings that provide a foundation in science concepts and practices. Teachers and instructional leaders use the curriculum framework during teacher collaboration as they plan for units and lessons within their curriculum and ensure alignment of instruction to the expectations of the Standards of Learning.

This repository of professional learning resources is housed in Virtual Virginia and is intended to support new or provisionally certified teachers. The repository is composed of training videos to provide short, targeted information on effective science instruction. Leaders should engage with teachers through follow-up discussions to provide any needed clarification or division/school-specific protocols. Division or school leaders may use these videos in conjunction with planned professional development or as assigned viewings prior to meeting with teachers.

These lessons align to the expectations reflected in the2018 Science Standards of Learning Curriculum Frameworkand provide educators exemplars that demonstrate the integration of the Scientific and Engineering Practices with science concepts. The instructional plans are housed in #GoOpenVA and can easily be accessed through the Science VDOE group. Lesson plans for each grade level and discipline demonstrate howteachers mayengage students as they provide learning opportunities that build science conceptual understanding using the 2018 Science Standards of Learning.

A Textbook and Instructional Material review process will be conducted in Spring 2025. Division and school leaders should consider the intentional use of high-quality instructional materials to allow teachers to dedicate time that was historically dedicated to lesson development to focus on direct student support.

The Science Instructional Guides, companion documents to the 2018 Science Standards of Learning, amplify the standards the standards by defining the core knowledge and skills in practice, supporting teachers and their instruction. The Science Instructional Guides will be released in Spring 2025. The Science Instructional Guides provide additional instructional content to support teachers with identifying common science misconceptions, support for cross-curricular instruction, and strategies to support the application of the Scientific and Engineering Practices.

Science Practice Items provide sample items for students and division leaders to become familiar with question types that are utilized on Science Standards of Learning assessments in Grade 5, Middle School, and Biology.

Local alternative assessments, including performance assessments, are to be administered in place of the eliminated Standards of Learning test in Grade 3 Science. The Exemplar Science Performance Assessments and Common Rubrics provide support on the implementation of performance assessments. Division and teachers may use the exemplar Performance Assessments as part of a balanced assessment program.

This webpage provides resources and training for teachers and school-based staff regarding the eligibility of students with significant cognitive disabilities for taking the VAAP as well as instructional resources that can be used in the classroom that are designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities.The instructional resources are available to support teachers and leaders with effective science instruction.

The Science Safety Repository provide professional development, resources, checklists, chemical hygiene templates, and other resources to division and school leaders to support safe science instruction. Division and instructional leaders should partner with facilities personnel, school nurses, and teachers to develop safe practices for science instruction.

Walkthrough tools are used to support teachers on lesson delivery and are followed by feedback and coaching sessions. School leadership facilitate feedback and coaching sessions to support teachers, discussing what worked well and what is needed to strengthen future planning and lesson delivery.Training for school and division leaders will be available in December 2024.

The instructional plans with EL and Special Education instructional support are identified as support in the title andare housed in #GoOpenVA. These lessons can be easily accessed through the Science VDOE group. Teachers may use the embedded scaffolds and strategies to inform Biology instruction of EL and students with disabilities.

This instructional support video, housedin the Virtual Virginia Supporting Science Instruction course, supports teacher with WIDA evidence-based practices to inform differentiated science instruction for English Learners.

This webpage provides resources regarding the standards-based IEP. School division leaders can use these resources for training and supporting staff in math goals for IEP. Case managers and teachers can use this information to create IEP that incorporate state content standards of learning and link to Virginia’sStandards of Learning (SOL).

This course supports division and school leaders in analyzing the different LIEP models in Virginia and inform the selection of an effective instructional model for their division. The course provides leaders with an understanding of the research behind the models and the importance of the models when implementing instruction for English Learners.Leaders that complete this course will have the tools to inform the selection of an instructional model(s) that would be most effective for their classrooms.

This hub is designed for K-12 educators and leaders to support the instruction of English Learners (EL) and incudes resources, videos, templates, and professional learning recordings and presentations in EL instruction. Teachers may use this hub to learn more about EL instruction and to find instructional resources to best meet the needs of their EL students.

This portal provides teachers and leaders access to resources, webinars, and professional learning on the instruction and assessment of English Learners. The professional development and resources are intended to support teachers with scaffolds and strategies to support effective science instruction for EL students.

The science team provides division and school technical assistance with the implementation of high-quality instruction. Contact vdoe.science@doe.virginia.gov for support.

Schools with the identified need for the student group of students with disabilities will receive professional learning focused on research-based practices and strategies on inclusion of students with disabilities in the general education setting alongside their grade-level peers which improves student performance.

Special Education Administrators Academy will support leaders of federally identified schools in implementing best practices and effective systems and structures to support students with disabilities.

Schools will receive curriculum implementation training to ensure teachers understand the structure, units and lessons, supports for diverse learners, and assessments of their selected curriculum to effectively lead instruction.

This year-long network supported teachers and principals in the five divisions with those most need on instructional strategies for effective science instruction. Divisions can access the training materials and walkthrough forms to support teachers with strong instructional practices in the classroom.

In March 2025, a comprehensive guidance document, trainings, and role-alike webinars will be provided on staffing and scheduling best practices that support all learners in achievement. School leaders, counselors, and divisions leaders of special education, English learners, and counseling will be trained on and create master schedules that support core instruction and intervention, ensuring all students receive core instruction alongside their peers, and content-strong staff are teaching the students with the most need.

In April 2025, school leaders can elevate a teacher into a leadership role while they still remain in the classroom by identifying a Teacher Collaboration Leader. The teacher will complete the microcredential process and receive a stipend to become an expert at planning and facilitating teacher collaboration grounded in HQIM and the lesson preparation cycle.

During February 2025, school and division teams will register for a multi-session series that will occur beginning spring 2025.These sessions will focus on how to facilitate effective leadership team effective byusing data (e.g., walkthrough tools, student work, formative assessments) to make instructional decisions and build the capacity of staff aligned to teacher and student needs.

School improvement experts are assigned to schools to provide support to school leadership teams through the continuous improvement process which includes a needs assessment, developing a school support plan with evidence-based interventions, applying for funding, and monitoring implementation. Division and school leaders can contact their specialist for any assistance needed.

The science team provides division and school technical assistance with the implementation of high-quality instruction. Contact vdoe.science@doe.virginia.gov for support.