Microsoft is phasing out the Microsoft Office brand and shifting its focus to Microsoft 365, a subscription-based service that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and additional cloud-based tools.

Older, perpetual versions of Microsoft Office—such as Office 2016 and Office 2019—will reach end of support on October 14, 2025. After this date, these programs will no longer receive security updates, though the applications themselves will still function.

Because of the licensing costs associated with Microsoft Office and its end-of-life support, VUSD will be discontinuing the use of Microsoft Office in classroom settings. Moving forward, staff and students will rely on Google Workspace tools (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.), which provide comparable functionality, regular updates, and seamless integration across district devices.