<h3>Overview</h3>
The VSBA Task Force on Students and Schools in Challenging Environments was created by the VSBA Board of Directors at its June 6, 2013 meeting to make recommendations to the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Department of Education on ways to help challenged schools in Virginia. The task force was created as a result of requests for assistance and concerns among VSBA member boards related to school divisions struggling to reach their most challenged student populations. Since its creation, task force highlights include:
<ul>
 	<li>Hosting members of the Virginia Board of Education and the state superintendent of public instruction at a task force meeting</li>
 	<li>Presenting to the Virginia Board of Education</li>
 	<li>Holding a September 2013 roundtable discussion session with school board members, superintendents, and Virginia Board of Education members to discuss challenged schools</li>
 	<li>Conducting a webinar, “Real Numbers, Real Challenges”, with Virginia legislators</li>
 	<li>Having a “Students and Schools in Challenging Environments” track at the VSBA Annual Convention</li>
 	<li>Holding a joint meeting with the VSBA Task Force on Virtual Learning</li>
 	<li>Hosting “The School Board’s Role in School Improvement and Turnaround Conference”</li>
 	<li>Initiating the “Practices of Promise for Schools in Challenging Environments Summit"</li>
 	<li>The creation of a comprehensive report that outlines specific strategies to assist schools in challenging environments</li>
 	<li>Presenting to the Virginia House of Delegates Education Committee</li>
 	<li>Holding a "VSBA Task Force Day on the Hill" during the 2015 General Assembly</li>
</ul>
<h3>Task Force Reports</h3>
<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/VSBATaskForce_2.0_Report.pdf">VSBA Task Force on Students and Schools in Challenging Environments 2.0 Report</a>- Released September 23, 2020

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/VSBAChallengingEnvironmentsTaskForce_October2014Report.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/VSBAChallengingEnvironmentsTaskForce_October2014Report.pdf">VSBA Task Force on Schools in Challenging Environments Report</a> 1.0
<h3>Practices of Promise for Schools in Challenging Environments Summit (12/11/14)</h3>
This one-day summit, a product of the VSBA Task Force on Schools in Challenging Environments, was a partnership with the Office of Governor Terry McAuliffe, the Virginia Department of Education, the VCU School of Education, and the Virginia Association of School Superintendents. The event highlighted the Task Force’s work and featured research and best practices from educational leaders from across the Commonwealth, including school board members, superintendents, central office and building level staff, local and state government officials, and representatives from the organizations listed above. PDFs and videos of several of the presentations are included below:.

<strong>Participant Interviews</strong>

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9CDmt8CAHHk" width="560" height="315" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>

<strong>Introduction &amp; Welcome</strong>

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<strong>Welcome - Virginia Secretary of Education Anne Holton</strong>

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<strong>Engaging Every Family </strong>

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<strong>Peer Groups Research </strong>

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<strong>Luncheon Speaker - The Honorable Ralph Northam, Lt. Governor of Virginia</strong>

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9MQgErSx82c" width="560" height="315" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>

<strong>Presentation Handouts</strong>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Devoloping_and_Supporting_Teacher_Leaders_to_Enhance_Student_Learning_presentation.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Devoloping_and_Supporting_Teacher_Leaders_to_Enhance_Student_Learning_presentation.pdf">Devoloping and Supporting Teacher Leaders to Enhance Student Learning </a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/filedir_2}Developing_and_Supporting_Teacher_handout_-_Virginia_Continuum_of_Teacher_Development_-_Sample.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="filedir_2}Developing_and_Supporting_Teacher_handout_-_Virginia_Continuum_of_Teacher_Development_-_Sample.pdf">Devoloping and Supporting Teacher Leaders to Enhance Student Learning (handout)</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Engaging_Every_Family_-_Increasing_the_Opportunity_for_Similar_School_Divisions_to_Share_Experiences.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Engaging_Every_Family_-_Increasing_the_Opportunity_for_Similar_School_Divisions_to_Share_Experiences.pdf">Engaging Every Family - Increasing the Opportunity for Similar School Divisions to Share Experiences</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Extended_Learning_Opportunities_in_Newport_News_City.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Extended_Learning_Opportunities_in_Newport_News_City.pdf">Extended Learning Opportunities in Newport News City</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Instructional_Coaching_to_improve_Professional_Practice_and_Student_Learning.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Instructional_Coaching_to_improve_Professional_Practice_and_Student_Learning.pdf">Instructional Coaching to Improve Professional Practice and Student Learning</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Making_AMOs_in_the_First_Year_as_a_Priority_School.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Making_AMOs_in_the_First_Year_as_a_Priority_School.pdf">Making AMOs in the First Year as a Priority School</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Making_Data_Driven_Decisions.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Making_Data_Driven_Decisions.pdf">Making Data Driven Decisions - Presentation 1</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Making_Data-Driven_Decisions_-_2.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Making_Data-Driven_Decisions_-_2.pdf">Making Data Driven Decisions - Presentation 2</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Meeting_all_AMOs_and_Exiting_Priority_Status.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="{https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Meeting_all_AMOs_and_Exiting_Priority_Status.pdf">Meeting all AMOs and Exiting Priority Status</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Nutrition_and_Poverty_-_Strategies_for_Increasing_Access_to_Healthy_Foods_and_Encouragaing_Smart_Food_Choices.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Nutrition_and_Poverty_-_Strategies_for_Increasing_Access_to_Healthy_Foods_and_Encouragaing_Smart_Food_Choices.pdf">Nutrition and Poverty - Strategies for Increasing Access to Healthy Foods and Encouragaing Smart Food Choices</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Peer_Groups_Research-_Increasing_the_Opportunity_for_Similar_School_Divisions_to_Share_Experiences.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Peer_Groups_Research-_Increasing_the_Opportunity_for_Similar_School_Divisions_to_Share_Experiences.pdf">Peer Groups Research- Increasing the Opportunity for Similar School Divisions to Share Experiences</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_Standards.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_Standards.pdf">Providing District Support - Standards</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_AARPE_1_and_2_Combined_Std_1_Teacher_Look_Fors.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_AARPE_1_and_2_Combined_Std_1_Teacher_Look_Fors.pdf">Providing District Support - AARPE 1 and 2 Combined Std 1 Teacher Look Fors</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_Cesar_Tarrant_Lesson_Plan_Feedback_14-15.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_Cesar_Tarrant_Lesson_Plan_Feedback_14-15.pdf">Providing District Support - Cesar Tarrant Lesson Plan Feedback </a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_Descriptions_Student_Engagement_Terms.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_Descriptions_Student_Engagement_Terms.pdf">Providing District Support - Descriptions of Student Engagement Terms</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_Effective_Teacher_Pedagogy_Descriptions.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Providing_District_Support_-_Effective_Teacher_Pedagogy_Descriptions.pdf">Providing District Support - Effective Teacher Pedagogy Descriptions</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Successful_Practices_in_Early_Childhood_Education.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Successful_Practices_in_Early_Childhood_Education.pdf">Successful Practices in Early Childhood Education</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Supporting_Teachers_to_Promote_Positive_Classrom_Climates_and_Successful_Engagement_of_All_Students.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Supporting_Teachers_to_Promote_Positive_Classrom_Climates_and_Successful_Engagement_of_All_Students.pdf">Supporting Teachers to Promote Positive Classrom Climates and Successful Engagement of All Students</a>

<a href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Virginia_Continuum_of_Teacher_Development.pdf" data-cke-saved-href="https://www.vsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Virginia_Continuum_of_Teacher_Development.pdf">Virginia Continuum of Teacher Development</a>
<h3>Task Force Members</h3>
<blockquote>Co-Chair, Rodney Jordan, Norfolk City
Co-Chair, Dr. Jason Van Heukelum, Winchester City 
David Woodard, Tazewell County
Barry DuVal, Virginia Chamber of Commerce
Dr. Tamara Sterling, Franklin City
Dr. Aaron Spence, Virginia Beach
Bob Hundley, Hanover County
Lillie Jessie, Prince William County
Barbara Kanninen, Arlington County
Douglas Brown, Newport News City
Dr. Michael Thornton, Retired Superintendent
Chad Stewart, Policy Manager, The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis</blockquote>