Polaris Education Partners

Highlights from the September 8, 2025 Meeting

Agenda

Submitted Public Comment

On September 8, 2025, the Advisory Board on Teacher Education and Licensure (ABTEL) convened virtually for their first meeting of the 2025-26 school year, bringing together stakeholders from across the Commonwealth to advance conversations around educator preparation, updates on key initiatives, licensure, and policy.

Key Presentations and Updates

The meeting began with opening remarks and introductions, followed by an overview of updates from the Virginia Department of Education’s Office for Human Capital:

  • Paraprofessional Apprenticeship (“Grow Your Own”) Update: Shawna LeBlond, Director of Apprenticeships, verbally shared progress from the State Apprenticeship Expansion Formula (SAEF) subgrant, including key summer activities designed to expand paraprofessional pathways into teaching.
  • Vacancy Trends and Positions and Exits Collection (PEC): This item was removed from the agenda during the approval of the agenda. The data from the PEC report had not been prepared in time for the meeting.
  • Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) Implementation: Dr. Johnelle Torbert presented an update on the VLA, noting that educator preparation programs are revising literacy courses to align with the science of reading and that the new Reading Specialist microcredential has been developed and deployed. She also shared that a self-audit tool will be released in Fall 2025 to guide educator preparation program reviews, with full alignment checks scheduled across upcoming CAEP review cycles.
  • Annual Profile Report and New Endorsements: Dr. Johnelle Torbert presented the Annual Education Preparation Program Profile, noting that all educator preparation programs submitted their required reports, with 100% compliance, and that the resulting institution-level and programmatic data are now publicly accessible through the Department’s Build-A-Table tool. She also introduced endorsement programs that were either new, or being revised, emphasizing that institutions must submit applications with evidence of partnerships, program matrices, and letters of support to gain approval. Members had an opportunity to ask questions and discuss in preparation for a recommendation to the Board to approve the new and/or revised programs.
  • Legislative Update: Robert Gilstrap, Assistant Superintendent, reviewed new legislation impacting licensure and teacher education, framing next steps for implementation across preparation programs and divisions. For legislation affecting teacher licensure and preparation programs, the VDOE has prepared “one-pagers” for each bill that describes what the bill actually does, why it’s important, and next steps.
  • Alternative Licensure Pathways: Mr. Gilstrap introduced the Moreland University Alternative Licensure Program, which is requesting for consideration an alternate pathway to licensure, with remarks from Moreland University President Dr. Susanne Thompson. Dr. Thompson presented the TEACH-NOW Teacher Preparation Certificate Program, an online, cohort-based alternative route designed to address Virginia’s teacher shortages by preparing candidates across multiple endorsement areas. While the presentation highlighted Moreland’s national footprint, clinical practice model, and alignment to InTASC and Virginia standards, board members noted the absence of curriculum alignment materials and raised questions about the program’s integration with the Virginia Literacy Act, Virginia Standards of Learning, lack of regional accreditation, and potential partner school divisions. Members praised the quality of the presentation but emphasized that there was a lack of information and an official application had not yet been submitted to the Board for approval. The members had an opportunity to ask questions and discuss in preparation for a recommendation to the Board to adopt as an approved alternate route to licensure under HB 2486 of the 2019 General Assembly.
  • Special Education Early Childhood Add-On Endorsement: Dr. Jenna Conway, Chief of Early Learning and Specialized Populations, provided additional information on the proposed new add-on endorsement for early childhood special education. This had previously been discussed at the March and April ABTEL meetings and this was a quick overview before the members voted on the recommendation. The linked folder contains the presentation and a copy of the NOIRA that will recommended to the Board for action.
  • Praxis Bridge Assessment: Malik McKinley, Director of Educational Partnerships at ETS, reviewed the Praxis Bridge program, which was presented in more detail at the April 2025 meeting. The Praxis Bridge program is a new assessment developed by ETS to serve as a “bridge” exam for candidates who may not meet traditional licensure testing requirements, but still demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to enter the classroom. It’s designed to provide an additional, accessible pathway for aspiring teachers that recognize competency while supporting broader entry into the profession. The members had an opportunity to ask questions and discuss in preparation for a recommendation to the Board to adopt as an alternate assessment.

Action Items

Four agenda items were discussed and required action:

  1. New/Revised Education Endorsement Programs at various higher education institutions to broaden access to specialized areas of licensure. Dr. Torbert requesting a recommendation for approval. This was approved unanimously. The recommendation will move to the Board of Education for action.
  2. Moreland University’s proposed alternate path to licensure, requesting a recommendation for approval. This was tabled and no action taken.
  3. New Special Education Early Childhood Add-On endorsement created, requesting a recommendation for approval. This was approved unanimously. The recommendation will move to the Board of Education for action.
  4. New Praxis Bridge assessment requesting a recommendation for approval to be used as an alternate assessment. This was approved unanimously. The recommendation will move to the Board of Education for action.

Liaison Reports

No representatives from SCHEV or the Virginia Community College System (VCCS) were in attendance to share updates. However, a written report was submitted by VCCS and provided to board members.

Committee Work

After the general session, standing committees met in breakout rooms.

ABTEL will reconvene on Monday, October 6, 2025. With educator preparation and licensure evolving rapidly in response to workforce needs, ABTEL remains a key advisory body shaping the future of the teaching profession in Virginia.