General

Q: What materials are being reviewed in this cycle? 

A: Core Instructional Programs K-5, Supplemental Programs K-8, and Intervention Programs K-8

Q: What is the deadline for submission of applications for the Cycle 2 review? 

A: The deadline for applications for Phase I: Initial Review of Core materials is Friday, June 2, 2023, 12:00 pm EST. The deadline for applications for review of Intervention and Supplemental materials is Friday, June 2, 2023, 12:00 pm EST. 

Q: Do Supplemental and Intervention Programs have a two-phase review process? 

A: No, the Supplemental Program Review and the Intervention Program reviews do not have multiple phases. 

Q: Is there a way to see all that is required for the Phase I Core instructional Program submission, since the materials are submitted on several different pages on the website?

A: Yes, please see the link to the PDF: View complete Phase 1: Initial Submission Form Grades K-3, View Complete Phase 1: Initial Submission Form Grades 4-5.

Q: Is there a way to see all that is required for the Supplemental Program submission, since the materials are submitted on several different pages on the website?

A: Yes, please see the link to the PDF: View complete Supplemental Program Submission Form.

Q: Is there a way to see all that is required for the Intervention Program submission, since the materials are submitted on several different pages on the website?

A: Yes, please see the link to the PDF: View complete Intervention Program Submission Form.

Q: Are providers required to submit for all grades, K-8, or can they submit for individual grade(s) (for example, K only, K-5, or 4-5)?

A: Providers are NOT required to submit for all grades. You may submit an application for each grade level that you choose. Core Programs may be submitted for grades K-5. Supplemental Programs may be submitted for grades K-8. Intervention Programs are not submitted by grade level. 

Q: The SOL Crosswalk/Publisher Correlation Chart document references Annotated Teacher Editions. Are ATEs required for Phase I submissions, or is it sufficient to provide the exact citation on the worksheet?

A: It is sufficient to provide the exact citations on the worksheet.

Q: Where can I see the Core Instructional Materials Phase 2 Rubric?

A: The Phase II rubrics from Cycle 1 K-3 are available here. The additional rubrics for Grades 4-5 will be available soon. 

Q: The Terms of Service document indicates that digital samples will be required during a public review period. When does the public review window begin, and which program components will publishers be required to supply for the public review?

A: The public review window will occur once an Approved Core, Supplemental or Intervention Instructional Program Guide has been submitted by the Superintendent to the VBOE for approval. It is expected that this will happen in the late fall of 2023. During this public review window, providers must provide online access to all instructional materials for public review and comments. Here, the term "textbooks" means print or electronic media that serve as the primary curriculum basis for a grade-level subject or course.

Q: May I submit more than one program application?

A: Yes. You may submit as many program applications as you would like. Please note that for core and supplemental, you must submit one application per grade level. Additionally, you may only work on one “draft” at a time, so you will need to submit one grade level application before beginning the next one.

Q: Can you tell me more about the webinar that providers need to create and submit as part of their application?

A: The purpose of the webinar is to orient the review team to your program, making it clear how to navigate the site, find evidence you have provided in your application, and get a sense of how to implement entire units or lessons within your program. The goal is to ensure that reviewers are able to easily find their way through your program so that they can provide a full and comprehensive review of your program. It may be helpful to think of your audience as a first-year teacher, eager to implement your program.

Q: Is there a character limit to the text fields?

A: No, there is no character limit.

Q: Can we include hyperlinks in the application?

A: Yes, you may include hyperlinks. While they may not appear as hyperlinks in the text field, they will be “translated” as hyperlinks in the final application submission.

Q: I am submitting my supplemental program review for multiple grade levels. I see that Instructional Design and Usability is required for each grade level. Do I have to fill out ID and U for every grade level, or will one application suffice?

A: You may fill out one Instructional Design and Usability application for your program. After completing those two required sections, you will submit one application for each grade level you would like reviewed, in each component (i.e., phonics, vocabulary, writing).

Publishers

Q: Should we ship curricular kits and materials to you for review?

A: No. No hard copies of materials should be shipped. All submissions are digital. Submission of materials either in hard copy or via email will not be accepted.

Q: On the Publishers’ Submission Form, do all ISBNs in our program need to be listed on this form during the Phase 1 Submission in order to be included on the Recommended Guide, or may we include just our core material at this point?

A: To be considered for a Recommended Program Guide, please include ISBNs for all materials that are part of your core, supplemental, or intervention program.

Q: If vendors have materials in multiple school divisions, will they need to complete the form multiple times?

A: No, providers will submit only one application for each grade level.

Q: Why can’t I see the Publisher’s Submission Form for Virginia’s Textbook Approval Process when I open the Supplemental Application?

A: The Publisher’s Submission Form will appear after you have selected “No” from the radio button choices following the question, “Are you a Virginia School Division?” After you select No, the fields for the form will appear under “Supporting Documents.”

School Divisions

Q: Our division uses a commercial core instructional program for literacy. Do we need to submit an application?

A: No, proprietary content providers are required to directly submit their materials for review. Divisions are asked to inform potential providers that the division wishes their curricula to be submitted and considered for VBOE approval. 

Q: Our division uses several separate commercial programs that, when combined, include all components of a core literacy program. May we submit these as a locally-created core curriculum?

A: If your division is using commercially available products, the best avenue to have those products reviewed is by informing the provider that this review process is underway. Proprietary content providers (not divisions) are required to directly submit these materials for review.  

Q: Our division does not use a commercial core program. Do we need to submit an application for our materials to be reviewed at this time, or is this just for providers?

A: The Cycle 2 review is for commercially published programs. Divisions who have developed and are using locally-created core instructional programs in K-5 settings will be able to submit their curriculum for review at a later date. School divisions will be asked to submit any locally-created core curriculum that the division wants to be considered for VBOE approval. These materials are subject to the same review process as commercially available products (from providers). The cycle for Division Curriculum Review will be announced in a future Superintendent’s Memo. 

Q: Our division uses teacher-created materials from a consultant with whom we work. Do we need to submit these materials for review?

A: The intent of this review is to establish a list of programs that align with evidence-based literacy instruction as defined in the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA). During the review cycle for division-created curriculum, school divisions will be asked to submit any locally-created core, supplemental, or intervention curriculum that the division wants to be considered for VBOE approval.