Technology Initiatives
VDOE is nationally recognized for its leadership in the use of technology. Here are some of the VDOE-led technology initiatives that support instruction and accountability in the commonwealth’s public schools.
#GoOpenVA: Open Educational Resources (OER) Initiative
#GoOpenVA is a collaborative initiative that enables educational entities throughout Virginia to create, share, and access openly-licensed educational resources (OER, also known as open education resources). OER are free digital materials that can be used or modified to adjust to student needs. #GoOpenVA encourages all Virginia educators and learners to create, share, and use digital resources with the end goals of providing equitable access to great learning materials throughout the state, and supporting new approaches to learning and teaching for all Virginians.
Computer Science Standards of Learning Implementation
- Computer Science Implementation Frequently Asked Questions (Revised October 2020) (Word) - This document was developed to provide information on the instruction of the 2017 Computer Science Standards of Learning and to provide guidance to counselors concerning student placement and credit opportunities with computer science courses.
- K-12 Computer Science Course Opportunities in Virginia (Word) - This document guides counselors and teachers on the different computer science pathways available to students. Computer Science skills are essential in today’s society. The development of these skills in grades K-12 is a critical component of preparing graduates for entry into the workforce or to pursue higher education coursework.
- Computer Science Course Codes (Word) – Superintendent's Memo 263-18
Digital Learning Integration
The VDOE has created a collection on GoOpenVa.org to connect the content standards of learning with the digital learning integration standards of learning.
Virtual Learning Professional Learning Series
The virtual learning program has create a professional learning series to support educational technology, blended learning, and virtual learning.
Online Assessment
Virginia is recognized as a national leader in the area of online testing. More than 2.5 million Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments are taken online annually. Virginia’s Standards of Learning Technology Initiative provides technical and financial resources to Virginia’s school divisions.
The SOL Technology includes funding to achieve the following goals:
- Establish a computer-based instructional and testing system for the SOL;
- Develop the capability for high speed Internet connectivity at high schools followed by middle schools and then in elementary schools; and
- Administer 100 percent of high school SOL tests online by fiscal year 2011, 100 percent of middle school SOL tests online by fiscal year 2012, and 100 percent of elementary school SOL tests online by fiscal year 2013.
Certification
School divisions use SOL Technology Initiative funding to upgrade technical infrastructure, improve student-to-computer ratio and achieve School Readiness Certification (PDF), indicating all high schools, middle schools or elementary schools within a division are ready to support online testing. All high schools in the commonwealth have achieved full readiness certification.
Allocations & Reimbursement
The SOL Technology Initiative is supported through the issuance of Educational Technology Notes by the Virginia Public School Authority. For more information, see School Finance: Educational Technology Notes.