The Virginia Department of Education in February launched an academic recovery and coaching program to help students recover from the pandemic’s impact on learning and attendance. But Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration decided to scrap the program, and it is scheduled to end Dec. 31.
Some parents and school division leaders were dismayed to learn this month that the Engage Virginia program would cease halfway through the academic year, and more than 7,200 students will lose its services. An additional 2,000 students on the waitlist will not get the support their families sought.
The Youngkin administration says the one-time federal funding for the program has been exhausted and the program is wrapping up, but that school divisions could individually engage with the program by using their allocations from the governor’s ALL In VA plan.
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In his September announcement, Youngkin directed localities to develop their own state funded programs to combat issues such as learning loss and chronic absenteeism, through mechanisms such as intensive tutoring.