"We know we can do this together. We just have to make it happen. Attendance. Literacy. Learning. I challenge all of us to work together with urgency to create a brighter future and deliver the education our students in the Commonwealth were deprived of for far too long,"  Governor Glenn Youngkin

This week, Governor Glenn Youngkin continued his commitment to address learning loss for all Virginia students. Governor Youngkin - alongside Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera and State Superintendent Lisa Coons - unveiled ALL IN VA, a comprehensive plan to support Virginia students who continue to struggle following the COVID-19 school closures. Youngkin’s plan fosters a partnership between schools, the Department of Education, community leaders, students, and their parents to improve attendance, literacy, and learning. 

Click here to watch Youngkin’s full presentation.

13 NEWS NOW: Gov. Youngkin unveils plan to fight chronic absenteeism and learning loss

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin is rolling out a series of steps he believes will combat learning loss and chronic absenteeism, two things he says got worse during the pandemic.

He’s calling it "ALL in VA," with the “ALL” being "attendance, literacy and learning." The goal is to create task forces that combat absenteeism and implement “intensive tutoring” programs, all in place by October 16.

Governor Youngkin celebrated Labor Day alongside Delegate Emily Brewer, Mike Dillender, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, and the community in Suffolk, where he highlighted the strength of Virginia’s workforce. Under Youngkin’s leadership, more Virginians are working than ever before, and our economy is on the move. Youngkin also launched the Secure Your Vote bus tour, which will drive turnout in early and absentee voting across the Commonwealth ahead of November’s General Assembly elections.

RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH: Youngkin launches bus tour to help promote early and absentee voting

While Labor Day signals that summer is winding down, the heat is on for elections this year. On Monday, a Gov. Glenn Youngkin-led initiative to encourage early and absentee voting, Secure Your Vote Virginia, kicked off a bus tour to supplement awareness efforts around the state.

The bus will include a QR code for people to scan and be directed to the initiative’s website. There, Virginians will be able to register to vote or request an absentee ballot be mailed to them.

On behalf of the Governor, First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin presented a 2023 Spirit of Virginia Award to the Boulder Crest Foundation on Friday.  The First Lady joined the Governor in expressing heartfelt gratitude for the incredible service Boulder Crest provides to military members, veterans, first responders, and their families.  The Youngkins joined the nonprofit’s 10th anniversary celebration alongside military leaders, Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Terry Cole, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs Craig Crenshaw, and other distinguished guests at Boulder Crest’s facility in Bluemont, VA.  The event marked the 4th Spirit of Virginia Award — a recognition of the good works happening in Virginia established by the Youngkins in 2022.

The First Lady also recently visited Urban Baby Beginnings in Petersburg in honor of August’s Breast-Feeding Awareness Month.  Mrs. Youngkin met with leaders from the organization to learn more about the high-quality care and resources available for mothers and families during the prenatal and postpartum seasons.  

In honor of Virginia Derby Day this Saturday, the First Lady, along with Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matthew Lohr, recently met the famous superstar and Virginia-bred colt, Gigante, the Secretariat Stakes champion at Colonial Downs this year. As a lifelong lover of riding, it was a true treat!

Secure Your Vote Virginia is a great way to make sure your voice is heard in the upcoming election. Just go to www.secureyourvotevirginia.com to make a plan to vote early. 

As Governor Youngkin says: Let's compete to win!

The First Lady welcomed former First Lady Jeannie Baliles to the Mansion to discuss her amazing work with the Virginia Literacy Foundation (VLF). Founded by the First Lady in 1985, the foundation continues to make #homehistory by providing literacy services to thousands of children and parents across the Commonwealth. Incredibly grateful for the consistent efforts of our wonderful education department, organizations like VLF, and countless others investing in the next generation.

Get involved and support Governor Youngkin!