The American Rescue Plan (ARP) was signed into law in March 2021 by President Joe Biden and included Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) funds for school districts across the country.  ESSER III is the largest single federal investment in elementary and secondary education in the nation’s history.  The purpose of ESSER III is to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students by combating learning losses, supporting social-emotional needs and ensuring a safe return to the school environment for students. 

The Virginia Department of Education has required all school divisions to reengage the public in consultation and to update their American Rescue Plan (ARP) ESSER spending plans by December 31, 2022. Click the following link to review the current NPS spending plan: https://www.npsk12.com/Page/17920.  

The ARP ESSER III Spending Plan will be available for public input from November 18 through December 7, 2022.

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In March 2022, the City of Norfolk School Board approved a plan to close Tidewater Park Elementary School. Students enrolled at Tidewater Park will transition to Ruffner Academy, which will change from a middle school to a combined school for grades 3 through 8 beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. The 2022-23 school year will be a planning year for this transition.

Over the last several months, Norfolk Public Schools’ staff, students, and families of the affected schools -- Ruffner Academy, Tidewater Park Elementary School, Jacox Elementary School and P.B. Young, Sr., Elementary School – met to develop a new program at Ruffner that offers academic excellence to those who live within its zoned area as well as city-wide appeal for new choice seats. (All students in the school will be enrolled in the offered educational program.)

A proposal for a school with an academic focus on Career Exploration and Pathways is under consideration by the City of Norfolk School Board. NPS seeks input from our families on this proposal. (View Proposal)

Please take a few moments to complete this survey and share your input as we continue to develop the educational program for the repurposed Ruffner.

Please provide your input by taking this survey.

In December 2019, the City of Norfolk School Board passed a resolution to provide funding and guidance to shape the future of the historic Booker T. Washington High School. The School Board seeks “to ensure that Booker T. Washington High School has a vibrant and competitive Academy that will retain and attract a diverse group of students from across the city.”

To move forward on that direction from the School Board, Norfolk Public Schools hired HBA Architects to conduct a Feasibility Study. The goal of this study is to review the current instruction programs and the spaces that house them, consider the current and future goals of teaching and learning and the school’s curriculum, and define what spaces and structures are needed to support a modern, comprehensive high school and an innovative Academy of the Arts program.

Please provide your input by taking this survey.

Each school year the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is required to report to the U.S. Department of Education the “Percent of parents with a child receiving special education services who reports that schools facilitated parent involvement as a means of improving services and results for children with disabilities.” The VDOE is requesting assistance from local school divisions in promoting the completion of the Indicator 8- Parent Survey by parents/guardians who have a child with a disability and were provided special education services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) during the 2021-2022 school year.

The Department of Learning Support-Special Education continues to work toward improving parent/guardian engagement and communication throughout the special education process. Our goal is to assist schools in working collaboratively with families to meet the needs of our exceptional students. As we continue to seek opportunities to engage our stakeholders in alignment with the Norfolk Public Schools Strategic Plan, we hope that you will take the time to complete this survey.

The VDOE will compile information provided in the survey to identify training needs related to special education processes and improve outcomes for all students. A summary performance rating is reported to local school divisions as part of their annual Special Education Performance Report. Your responses are recorded anonymously and are not personally linked to your child. All parents of school-aged children and youth with disabilities who received special education services in Norfolk Public Schools during the 2021-2022 school year are encouraged to complete the VDOE annual Parent Involvement Survey. Parents with more than one child who received services should submit one survey for each child. The survey will remain open through December 16, 2022.

If you have questions concerning the survey, please contact Chiquita Seaborne, VDOE Family Engagement Specialist & Special Projects Coordinator, at Chiquita.Seaborne@doe.virginia.gov or (804) 225-3898. An English and Spanish version of the 2021-2022 survey is available at the links below.

• English Version: 2021-2022 Indicator 8 Parent Survey
• Spanish Version: 2021-2022 Indicator 8 Parent Survey
• Frequently Asked Questions- Indicator 8 Parent Survey (Word)

The Department of Learning Support-Special Education is sincerely grateful for your partnership. Thank you in advance for your time.