James Richardson

The meeting, led by Francisco Lopez, the NPD Team Lead, addressed program updates for the 2017 and 2021 cohorts regarding grant journeys, including closeout processes for the 2017 cohort. Key discussion points included the NPD vision, mission, and goals, emphasizing their role in advancing educational excellence and equity for ELs, and informing Department of Education leadership. The session provided an overview of the NPD program, grant funding ($50 million annually for up to five years), and performance management, which includes two-tiered monitoring systems utilizing G5 and KMS. Specific focus was given to performance metrics, highlighting an 85% response rate on the grantee satisfaction survey, which surpassed the department average of 59%. Topics also covered KMS updates, addressing issues like incomplete gap/target documentation, expired IRB agreements, indirect cost rate agreements (capped at 8% for training grants), carryover miscalculations relative to the August 31st fiscal year-end, and the importance of current contact information. Furthermore, the reporting timeline for the 2021 cohort was adjusted, moving the first reporting due date from December 31st to January 15th.

This Administrator Supplement to the WIDA English Language Development Standards Framework Implementation Guide focuses on programmatic aspects of standards implementation. It outlines four key focus areas for systemic ELD standards implementation: professional learning, collaboration for content and language integration, curriculum and instruction, and data and assessment. The guide aims to provide strategic direction, coherence, and excellence in the education of multilingual learners.

This document outlines a school-based roadmap and toolkit, developed by the Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) in collaboration with McREL International, for the effective implementation of school-wide literacy practices across all grades (pre-K to 12). It promotes a disciplinary approach to literacy instruction, aligning with the Virgin Islands State Literacy Plan (VISLP). The toolkit provides reflection tools and protocols to assist school leaders and staff in assessing current classroom and professional practices, facilitating discussions, setting goals for improved literacy skills in reading, writing, and thinking across various content areas, and monitoring continuous improvement.

The Virgin Islands State Literacy Plan provides a comprehensive, research-supported framework to improve literacy outcomes for all children from birth through Grade 12. It focuses on six essential elements: standards-based curriculum, assessment systems, instruction, intervention and data-based decision making, leadership and culture, professional preparation and learning, and community and family involvement. The plan aims to equip students with critical literacy skills for postsecondary education, careers, and lifelong learning, fostering a culture of literacy across the territory.

This toolkit serves as a school-based roadmap for the effective implementation of school-wide literacy practices across all disciplines within Virgin Islands Department of Education (VIDE) schools. It provides educators with reflection tools and a 'Cycle of Inquiry and Action Protocol' to improve literacy instruction, emphasizing that all teachers are responsible for literacy in their content areas. The plan aligns with the Virgin Islands State Literacy Plan (VISLP) and focuses on developing students' reading, writing, and thinking skills in subjects such as Science, History, Math, ELA, Arts, and Health/Physical Education, ultimately aiming to provide high-quality literacy instruction to all students.