February 28
In anticipation of the spread of COVID-19, Superintendent Burch issues a memo to all 55 counties recommending the review their emergency preparedness plans for infectious disease outbreaks.
March 4
Governor issues a State of Preparedness for West Virginia.
March 12
Governor Justice announces state employee travel ban and cancels WVSSAC basketball tournament.
March 13
Governor Justice orders all school facilities closed in the state and counties engage students via remote learning. Requires all counties to continue feeding children.
WVDE issues remote learning guidance for counties. Superintendent Burch announces intent to delay state assessment.
March 14
Updates section of wvde.us/COVID19 website is launched in conjunction with the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) to provide ongoing information to the public as the pandemic evolves.
March 16
WVDE assists counties in organizing 505 food distribution sites and routes for students. Feeding site information is posted on wvde.us for families to find meals locally.
March 18
The Office of School Finance issued the COVID-19 School Closure Finance FAQ #1.
View DocumentMarch 22
Superintendent Burch facilitates transition to multi-day meal packs to relieve counties of daily meal preparation and distribution obligations.
March 24
The Office of School Finance issued the COVID-19 School Closure Finance FAQ #2.
View DocumentMarch 25
Governor Justice extends the school closure through April 20.
March 27
U.S. Department of Education announces approval of West Virginia’s waivers for state assessment, reporting and accountability for the 2019-20 school year.
WVDE and West Virginia Public Broadcasting announce partnership to produce and air educational segments called Education Station twice weekly.
Governor announces $16.5 million in Education Emergency Relief funding.
April 1
Governor extends school closure through April 30.
April 3
WVDE assists counties in providing one million meals provided to West Virginia children between March 13 and April 3.
April 6
The Office of School Finance issued the COVID-19 School Closure Finance FAQ #3.
View DocumentApril 7
WVDE CTE division donates more than 65,000 PPE items to hospitals and first responders.
April 10
Superintendent Burch announces WVPB Education Station programming increased to five days each week.
WVDE Office of Teaching and Learning begins sending weekly updates, resources and supports to Pre-K to Grade 12 teachers to assist with engaging learners.
April 14
WVDE coordinates the distribution of 1.4 million meals per week provided to West Virginia children in collaboration with other state agencies.
WVDE Office of Teaching and Learning begins holding weekly Pre-K through Grade 12 educator chats via the Teams platform to ensure support for learners.
State Superintendent grants waiver allowing educators to complete observations and finalize summative evaluations for the 2019-2020 school year.
April 15
Working with HEPC, PTA, counties and educators, WVDE brings together Graduation Taskforce to address issues facing high school seniors and to engage in dialogue about county plans for graduations.
WVDE coordinates CTE programs statewide to create and donate thousands of 3-D printed masks and laser-cut face shields for first responders, nursing home workers and bus drivers.
April 16
WVDE, in collaboration with Governor Justice, postpones 2020 Governor’s Schools program, and plans for delayed celebration for Honor’s School scholars.
April 17
WVDE works with the College Board to coordinate free SAT administration in fall 2020 for students who were unable to take the test spring 2020.
April 21
Governor Justice announces school facilities will remain closed through the end of the school year with remote learning, engagement and feeding continuing.
Upon the WVDE’s request, the US Department of Education grants West Virginia an extension of FY18 Elementary and Secondary Education Funding and waives requirements for Title I carryover and Title IV spending limitations on FY19 funds.
April 23
$86.6 million Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funding.
The State Superintendent approved a waiver to WVBE Policy 8200, Purchasing Policies and Procedures Manual for Local Educational Agencies, with regards to the electronic submission of sealed bids to lessen in-person contact with vendors.
May 2
U.S. Dept of Agriculture (USDA) approves West Virginia’s application for Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) cards to support child nutrition needs during the pandemic.
May 4
Pandemic Electronic Balance Transfer (P-EBT) benefits are announced.
May 5
WVDE seeks partnerships with organizations across West Virginia to help feed children during the summer months.
May 8
The Office of School Finance and the Office of Federal Programs holds a webinar for county treasurers and federal program directors to provide an overview of the CARES Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Funding (ESSERF).
May 13
WVDE works with a network of partners as part of the state’s School Re-entry Advisory Council to assist the school system to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The council consisted of state and national stakeholders who will develop resources and offer expertise critical to the recovery effort.
May 21
Office of School Finance issued the COVID-19 School Closure Finance FAQ #4.
View DocumentMay 29
State Superintendent approves a waiver to WVBE Policy 1224.1, Accounting Procedures Manual for Public Schools in West Virginia, with regards to school funds raised for class trips to provide alternatives for how to handle funds raised for that purpose.
May 31
A total of 11,140 Advanced Placement® exams were taken virtually.
June 1
The Office of School Finance held a webinar for county treasurers and personnel directors regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) federal leave provisions and new leave codes in WVEIS to track the new federal leave.
June 5
WVDE releases scenarios for re-entry and recovery of schools for 2020-21 school year to guide schools in ways to safely conduct in-person learning and to conduct virtual and remote learning.
WVDE launches Blue Ribbon Book Club. This program, in partnership with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, provided more than 650,000 books to children birth through Grade 2. The effort is in partnership with the Dolly Pardon Foundation and the June Harless Center.
June 25
WVDE seeks and receives continuation of waivers from USDA for meal service to continue free of charge for all students through December 31, 2020.
July 8
WVDE releases preliminary School Re-entry guidance for the 2020-21 school year, in conjunction with the DHHR, during the July meeting of the WVBE.
July 28
Revised School Re-Entry Toolkit for West Virginia schools released and included information informed by more than 40 local and national partners.
August 3 - 7
WVDE hosted more than 20,000 participants via 100 virtual sessions during the Instructional Support Professional Learning Forum.
August 7
Governor Justice announces the Kids Connect Initiative for WVDE to install external WiFi connections at all schools, colleges and universities, public libraries and state parks by September 8 opening of school.
WVDE provides $13 million in competitive COVID-19 relief grants to counties for social/emotional supports, technology and closing learning gaps.
Governor Justice issued Executive Order 59-20 to allow county boards of education to maintain their original pay schedules for the 2020-21 school year even though those schedules may result in the prepayment of employees.
August 19
WVDE produces and publishes the West Virginia Bus Safety video in collaboration with the West Virginia School Service Personnel Association.
View VideoAugust 29
In conjunction with the Governor and DHHR, WVDE began implementing school alert system and posting weekly School Re-entry Metrics and Protocols map to guide the permitted level of school extracurricular and athletic activities.
August 31
WVDE seeks and receives continuation of waivers from USDA for meal service to continue free of charge to all students through the duration of School Year 2020-21.
September 5
WVDE posts School Re-entry Metrics and Protocols Saturday Education map developed by the DHHR determining which counties are permitted to open the school year with in-person instruction and the level of extracurricular activities permitted for the following week per order of the Governor. School safety protocols were added in conjunction with the DHHR.
September 15
Governor Justice adds “Gold” category to color-coding scale.
September 25
WVDE begins posting data on COVID-19 outbreaks in public schools on its website using the data provided by DHHR through the local county health departments.
October 16
Governor Justice announces completion of COVID-19 Vaccine Plan; submission to CDC.
November 3
WVDE seeks and is granted a USDE waiver of 21st Century Learning Center requirements to only operate after school hours. This allows programs to offer program supports to students during remote learning days.
November 6
Governor Justice announces color-coded map will continue to determine status of athletic competitions.
November 25
Governor Justice announces first batch of COVID-19 vaccine expected to arrive in mid-December.
December 4
Governor Justice announces vaccinations for teachers and staff to begin Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021.
December 11
Governor Justice provides new information on phases of vaccine allocation plan; WVDE/education community made a part of Phase 1-D.
January 7
WVDE coordinates vaccination sites in all 55 counties and first round of shots for teachers age 50 and above begin.
January 8
Congress announces second round of CARES funding bringing $339 million to state through Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief Fund – II.
January 11
Governor Justice issues executive order establishing all West Virginia public and private elementary and middle schools may resume in-person instruction beginning Jan. 19, 2021.
Governor Justice issues an executive order permitting winter high school sports teams to begin practicing on Feb. 14 and with games/competitions beginning March 3.
January 13
West Virginia Board of Education issues directive requiring the return to in-person instruction for Pre-K – 12 schools.
January 19
WVBE holds emergency meeting to discuss possible action against counties not offering in-person instruction as an option for families.
WVDE seeks and is granted a USDE waiver of the Title IV spending limitations on FY 20 funds.
February 10
State Superintendent grants waiver allowing students with grade point averages below 2.0 to fully participate in extracurriculars until March 19, 2021. Those that have not achieved the 2.0 will not be allowed to continue to participate after March 19.
February 11
U.S. Department of Agriculture approves West Virginia’s plan to issue the second round of Pandemic Electronic Benefits to families.
February 15
WVDE’s P-EBT website and hotline are published are opened to assist families with questions regarding benefits.
February 23
The WVBE adopts a motion regarding in-person instruction for West Virginia schools. This motion replaced the WVBE's motion of January 13, 2021.
View DocumentMarch 22
DHHR and WVDE announced availability of P-EBT and began mailing letters to eligible P-EBT households to provide nutritional assistance to eligible students for the 2020-2021 school year.
March 24
Gov. Justice announces Executive Order 10-21, which deems that DHHR’s color-coded County Alert System map will no longer be used to determine high school schedules in West Virginia.
View DocumentApril 1
WVDE Office of Federal Programs & Support submits the letter to the U.S. Department of Education requesting a waiver from accountability requirements for the West Virginia Summative Assessment.
May 4
U.S. Department of Education approves West Virginia’s request to waive certain fiscal and programmatic requirements under the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grant Program, pursuant to section 8401 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
View DocumentMay 5
The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) extends the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) program to children under the age of six years old who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and are not enrolled in school.
View DocumentMay 17
Gov. Justice announced that, for a second summer in a row, all 55 county boards of education throughout West Virginia will be participating in the USDA Summer Food Service Program.
June 10
Gov. Justice announces West Virginia has surpassed 60% vaccination rate, closing in on goals. Learn more.
June 20
Gov. Justice signs Executive Order 20-21, officially lifting West Virginia’s Statewide Indoor Face Covering Requirement.
July 12
WVDE launches #IGotVaxxedWV competition to increase vaccinations among students. Learn more.
July 15
The U.S. Department of Education announced the approval of West Virginia's American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) plan and distributed remaining ARP ESSER funds. Learn more.
August 4
WVDE and WVBE release back-to-school guidance with updated School Recovery and Guidance document. WVDE also announced changes to #IGotVaxxedWV competition award amounts. Learn more.