<a href="https://www.vsba.org/news/national-education-award-recognizes-innovative-initiatives-in-virginia/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">National Education Award Recognizes Innovative Initiatives in Virginia</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The National School Boards Association (NSBA)  announced the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA) as one of the recipients of the 2021 Leading Edge Award. Read the full NSBA release here: https://nsba.org/News/2021/leading-edge-award...</span>

<a href="https://www.restonnow.com/2021/07/28/fcps-will-require-universal-masking-inside-school-buildings-this-fall/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">FCPS will require universal masking inside school buildings this fall</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Face masks are now required when students are inside Fairfax County Public School buildings, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status, the school district announced this morning (Wednesday). FCPS shared its plans for mask-wearing and other health protocols in an email…</span>

<a href="https://newsadvance.com/community/nelson_county_times/news/as-projections-show-ongoing-enrollment-loss-in-nelson-county-schools-officials-ask-why/article_4a4a01c0-d2da-11eb-93cb-df3aa9376306.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">As projections show ongoing enrollment loss in Nelson County schools, officials ask why</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">As projections show enrollment in Nelson County Public Schools will continue to decline in the near future, school officials are eager to see what the next few years will hold. “We don’t have that crystal ball; I wish we did, to truly see what’s going to happen in the next couple years…</span>

<a href="https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/hampton-roads-schools-face-mask-guidelines-under-review-new-cdc-guidance/291-40a640b4-1cd5-4729-9f5a-bd42cb795bc4"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many mask guidelines for Hampton Roads' schools still under review after new CDC guidance</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">As COVID-19 cases surge across the country, health experts have new advice when it comes to face mask requirements in schools.  It’s a hot topic for parents who want to know, what to expect this upcoming school year. This comes after the Centers for Disease Control changed…</span>

<a href="https://wset.com/news/local/botetourt-co-school-board-says-critical-race-theory-will-not-be-taught-in-area-schools"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Botetourt Co. School Board says Critical Race Theory will not be taught in area schools</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">he Botetourt County School Board has released a statement discussing Critical Race Theory and Transgender student policies.The statement says schools in the county will not be teaching Critical Race Theory.The Board's last meeting was held on July 8. Students will return to…</span>

<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/1u6MyKXXxTyfIoYYKTrXLJWEIJxmPrHSg5B8MoTlfKko/edit"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hear from the students: Chesterfield teens reflect on masks, vaccines and going back to school</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many local students are still wondering if they’ll have to wear a mask at school this year. Thanks to COVID, it’s been more than a year since some of them were in a classroom. After missing out on various high school activities like prom, sports, extracurriculars, concerts and more…</span>

<a href="https://newsvirginian.com/news/local/education/waynesboro-public-school-board-approves-reopening-plan-with-masks-mandatory-for-some/article_6592e85a-ef47-11eb-b528-63e19ea891e7.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Waynesboro Public School Board approves reopening plan with masks mandatory for some</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">This fall, the first day of school will be in-person once again. The Waynesboro Public School Board unanimously approved a school reopening plan for this year on a 5-0 vote Tuesday night. Classes begin on Aug. 10. Dr. Jeffrey Cassell, the Waynesboro Public Schools…</span>

<a href="https://www.wdbj7.com/2021/07/30/bedford-county-school-board-shoots-down-mask-transgender-policy-proposals/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bedford County school board shoots down mask and transgender policy proposals</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">At a heated meeting of the Bedford County school board Thursday night, members rejected policies centering on COVID-19 mitigation efforts and transgender students. The board considered two options for COVID-19 strategies, including following Virginia Department…</span>

<a href="https://wydaily.com/local-news/2021/07/29/local-schools-have-yet-to-make-a-decision-on-mask-wearing-for-the-coming-school-year/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Local Schools Have Yet to Make a Decision on Mask Wearing for the Coming School Year</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the 2021-22 school year is fast approaching, local school divisions are ironing out the details regarding mask wearing in the classroom. Both York County School Division (YCSD) and Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools (WJCC) have yet to make a final decision…</span>

<a href="https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/henrico-education-association-demands-masks-in-classrooms"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Henrico Education Association demands masks in classrooms</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Henrico Education Association Thursday denounced the Henrico County Public Schools’ new mask policy for the 2021-2022 school year, which makes mask-wearing optional in schools. “If you have read the new CDC guidelines side-by-side with the new HCPS mask policy, you…</span>

<a href="https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/richmond-teacher-wins-25-000-prize-and-plans-to-share"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Richmond teacher wins $25,000 prize and plans to share</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Crystal Clark can now go on a $25,000 shopping spree to improve her classroom. The fourth-grade teacher at Mary Munford Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia won the top prize in the CIA Mission Possible Classroom Transformation competition. Clark won after she...</span>

<a href="https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6152246259414651918"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Webinar, August 4, 2021: What We Have Here is a Failure to Communicate</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">Often, communication issues within the board or between the board and superintendent are not problems, but rather are indications there are governance issues that need to be examined and strengthened. Learn how to analyze common “Communication issues” in order to identify.…</span>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cpe-charter-school-research-brief-2021.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Impact of Charter Schools On Student Achievement, Funding and Integration</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">
</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Center for Public Education (CPE) has released a research brief on the impacts of charter schools on student achievement, funding and integration. Review the brief by following the link above. </span>