Virginia Beach City Public Schools Reaffirms Commitment to Student Safety Through Resolution Agreement with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights

News Release No. 005
Date: 9/18/26

Contact: Nicole Livas
Phone: 757.263.1075 

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Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) has entered into a resolution agreement with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) that strengthens how the division receives, responds to, documents, and resolves reports of sexual harassment and misconduct. OCR conducted a compliance review covering the 2017-2020 school years, the period before the division’s current Title IX procedures were adopted. Since then, a Title IX coordinator was hired, and training was provided for staff.

“Nothing matters more to us than the safety of the children in our care,” said Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. “We take this seriously, and we welcome the opportunity to work alongside the Office for Civil Rights. This agreement gives us a shared roadmap to make sure every student, parent, and employee knows how to report a concern, knows that concern will be heard, and knows it will be addressed fairly and completely.”

The safety and well-being of every student and staff member is, and always will be, the highest priority of VBCPS. We recognize how important this subject is to our families, students, staff, and community, and we want to be open about what this agreement means and what comes next.

What the Agreement Includes

In partnership with OCR, VBCPS will:

• Update Title IX policies to ensure fair grievance procedures for both student-on-student and employee-on-student allegations.
• Share an updated nondiscrimination statement and publish it on the division’s website and in student and employee handbooks.
• Include notification of who the division's Title IX Coordinator is and how to reach that office.
• Enhance the division-wide recordkeeping system to capture documents and actions related to all Title IX cases.
• Continue to provide training for all employees on recognizing Title IX violations, sexual harassment, and reporting responsibilities.
• Clearly communicate to students and families how the division defines Title IX violations, sexual harassment, what resources are available, and how to report concerns.
• Ensure every report of alleged Title IX violations and sexual harassment, including employee-on-student harassment, is addressed consistent with Title IX.

To Our Families

You trust us with your children every day, and we do not take that trust lightly. Know that you will receive clear information about how to report a concern, what support is available to your child, and what you can expect once a report is made. Our goal is simple: no family should ever wonder where to turn.

To Our Students

You deserve to feel safe at school. If something happens that makes you uncomfortable, whether it involves another student or an adult, please tell a trusted adult. You will be listened to and supported.

To Our Staff

You are the first line of care for our students and staff members. Through this Resolution Agreement, you will receive updated training and clear guidance so that every employee feels confident in recognizing concerns and knowing exactly how to report them.

To Our Community

Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility, and VBCPS is committed to providing a learning and working environment free from sexual harassment and misconduct. As we move forward, all students, families, and staff must know VBCPS has no tolerance for Title IX violations and sexual harassment or misconduct of any kind. Every report will be met with a prompt, thorough, and consistent response. VBCPS will continue to work to implement every element of the Resolution Agreement.

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Department of Communications and Community Engagement
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