Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
Guidance Document Change: In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 1904 and Senate Bill 1196, and was signed into law by Governor Northam. The law establishes new requirements to support culturally competent educators in the Commonwealth. The Guidance on Cultural Competency Training for Teachers and Other Licensed School Board Employees in Virginia Public Schools was developed for the Board to fulfill the statutory mandate to provide guidance on the minimum standards for the local training requirement.
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1/4/22  8:02 pm
Commenter: Current VA ESOL teacher

This is absolutely necessary
 

As a white woman who teaches students of color from various cultural backgrounds in our VA school system, I am in full support of this law. Without being knowledgeable of cultural differences, it is impossible to celebrate them and leverage their unique strengths. Our student body and our teaching staff continue to become more culturally diverse, and cultural competency is one tool that we need to use in order to provide all students and staff the same opportunities to be affirmed, valued, and successful in our schools. Additionally, teaching is a profession. Almost all other professions that work directly with other people require cultural competency training (the medical field, for example.)

CommentID: 117587