For the 16th time, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.
For the 16th time, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation. Now in its 26th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement for providing music access and education to all students.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) values and promotes active engagement of the community in all our schools. The Office of Family and Community Engagement coordinates many volunteer opportunities for community members to interact and contribute to the academic achievement of our students and the overall continuous improvement of VBCPS.
The Virginia Beach School Board received information about proposed federal grant applications at its May 13 meeting. For the 2025-26 school year, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) would receive approximately $21.6 million in formula grant funds through programs authorized under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA).
Students and staff of Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) benefit from the support of over 1,600 community partners each year. Partnerships between community groups, businesses and schools are integral to public education in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) is bringing exciting enhancements to transportation operations for both families and staff with the Zum technology platform. This innovative platform includes GPS tracking and sophisticated routing software that will further ensure safety, efficiency and transparency when driving our students to and from school.
Learn more about the 2025 Spring Catalog.
In a proactive effort to combat reckless driving behavior around school buses, Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) has partnered with the Virginia Beach Police Department and BusPatrol to launch an enhanced school bus safety enforcement program to tackle the pervasive issue of illegal school bus passings and protect students.
At its Jan. 14 meeting, the School Board of the City of Virginia Beach elected Kathleen Brown as chair and Carolyn Weems as vice chair. Brown has served on the School Board for two years and Weems for 22 years.
Lalisha Fitchett, an English teacher at Brandon Middle School, is the 2026 Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) Citywide Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Dr. Donald E. Robertson Jr. made the announcement during a surprise visit to Brandon Middle on Dec. 19.
On Dec. 10, five new members were sworn in to serve four-year terms on the School Board of the City of Virginia Beach starting in 2025. The new members are as follows:
School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Policy 2-58
ADMINISTRATION
Professional Development
The Superintendent shall provide an organized program of professional development designed to assist administrators in acquiring the skills needed to work with all students, including but not limited to, gifted students, special needs students, and students who are at risk of academic failure and to increase proficiency in instructional leadership and management, including training in the evaluation and documentation of teacher and administrator performance based upon student academic progress and the skills and knowledge of such instructional or administrative personnel.
The Superintendent shall allocate such time of administrative employees as may be necessary for the program.
The Superintendent is authorized to employ non-school persons to assist or conduct professional development programs to the extent that funds have been approved by the School Board in the annual budget.
For the purpose of professional development, administrators may attend conferences, meetings and institutes to the extent that funds have been approved by the School Board in the annual budget and after obtaining approval of the Superintendent or designee. The Superintendent may attend conferences or meetings which may prove beneficial to the School Division. Reimbursement of reasonable expenses will be made on the basis of submission of a request listing costs incurred.
Legal Reference
Code of Virginia § 22.1-253.13:5, as amended. Standard 5. Quality of classroom instruction and educational leadership.
8VAC20-450 et seq., as amended. Regulations Governing Professional Development.
School Board Policy 4-62
Adopted by School Board: October 20, 1992
Amended by School Board: April 4, 2000
Amended by School Board: May 9, 2006
Amended by School Board: December 3, 2013
Amended by School Board: August 8, 2023
![Virginia Beach City Public Schools Music Education Program Receives National Recognition for 16th Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1748538366/vbschoolscom/ooj5ws2enad7kidbn5f2/015.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1748538366/vbschoolscom/ooj5ws2enad7kidbn5f2/015.jpg","width":379}])
![2025 Citywide Volunteers of the Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1681847284/vbschoolscom/lvtobimcudyjvqg5erm4/0015.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1681847284/vbschoolscom/lvtobimcudyjvqg5erm4/0015.jpg","width":380}])
![Virginia Beach City Public Schools Model Partners]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1746033249/vbschoolscom/rmkiwbef4ca6xxcqjwa0/012.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1746033249/vbschoolscom/rmkiwbef4ca6xxcqjwa0/012.png","width":379}])
![Virginia Beach City Public Schools adopts Zum technology platform for student transportation]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1744124904/vbschoolscom/gy3zytc4zn6xwmh26vie/011.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1744124904/vbschoolscom/gy3zytc4zn6xwmh26vie/011.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1744124904/vbschoolscom/gy3zytc4zn6xwmh26vie/011.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1744124904/vbschoolscom/gy3zytc4zn6xwmh26vie/011.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1744124904/vbschoolscom/gy3zytc4zn6xwmh26vie/011.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1744124904/vbschoolscom/gy3zytc4zn6xwmh26vie/011.jpg","width":2200}])
![ALC]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743691310/vbschoolscom/whvurm4yzdhtm8i7f6pi/ALCNews.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743691310/vbschoolscom/whvurm4yzdhtm8i7f6pi/ALCNews.jpg","width":379}])
![Virginia Beach City Public Schools launches enhanced school bus safety program]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1741278043/vbschoolscom/vlxd9szo6rj73nqhogcn/010.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1741278043/vbschoolscom/vlxd9szo6rj73nqhogcn/010.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1741278043/vbschoolscom/vlxd9szo6rj73nqhogcn/010.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1741278043/vbschoolscom/vlxd9szo6rj73nqhogcn/010.jpg","width":1200}])
![Kathleen Brown elected as School Board chairwoman, Carolyn Weems elected vice chairwoman]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1736954400/vbschoolscom/ytsynadc6qqjfvffuqjy/009.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1736954400/vbschoolscom/ytsynadc6qqjfvffuqjy/009.jpg","width":330}])
![Lalisha Fitchett selected as 2026 Citywide Teacher of the Year]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1734537288/vbschoolscom/socbt95ullpgpud9hozs/008.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1734537288/vbschoolscom/socbt95ullpgpud9hozs/008.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1734537288/vbschoolscom/socbt95ullpgpud9hozs/008.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1734537288/vbschoolscom/socbt95ullpgpud9hozs/008.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1734537288/vbschoolscom/socbt95ullpgpud9hozs/008.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1734537288/vbschoolscom/socbt95ullpgpud9hozs/008.jpg","width":2200}])