Goals

Global Virginia

We believe Virginia’s students and workforce deserve better opportunities to become and remain globally competitive. We believe by expanding and increasing access to world language exposure and study throughout the K-12 and post-secondary education system increases global competitiveness by improving both linguistic proficiency and intercultural competence. We also believe that better understanding the existing workforce, heritage and native speaker populations, Virginia can improve its economic stature nationally and internationally. Equity is central to our values and essential to our success. The definition of equity has depth and breadth. Equity within the classroom and learning environment includes targeting resources and implementing policies that make global education truly accessible to all learners across the entire educational spectrum. It is grounded in the diverse personal experiences and social identities that impact learners’ educational and career opportunities. Consequential to attaining equity in the classroom and the greater educational ecosystem, language equity must be woven into our social fabric. 

The utility and advantage of multilingualism and multiculturalism within our society is not an abstraction, rather it is our greatest national asset. Our underserved indigenous, heritage, immigrant and refugee communities, people of color and those disenfranchised rural and urban populations are long overdue equal access to the advantages of multilingualism for employment, general educational achievement and access to all this nation’s social rights and privileges –particularly in health, legal and judicial rights.

Our intent is to develop a strategic plan and roadmap by November 2021 that identifies actions state and local officials, educators, businesses, students and parents can take. The roadmap will include defined stages for implementation, assessment and refinement through 2030. Through development, advocacy and implementation of a state-wide strategic plan and educational roadmap that clearly identifies strengths and weaknesses with attainable benchmarks, milestones and tasks, Virginia will be at the forefront in embracing and harnessing the ever-expanding global economic, social, political and academic landscapes.

--The Global Virginia Team