Learn about specific academic specialty programs for high school students during upcoming open houses beginning Jan. 8 at Prince William County high schools.

The School Board of the City of Manassas will hold a Finance Committee Meeting, Thursday, January 4, 2018, 6 p.m. at Central Office, 8700 Centreville Road, Manassas, VA.

The School Board of the City of Manassas will hold a Public Hearing for residents of Manassas City to give their priorities for the Qualifications of a New School Superintendent, Tuesday, January 9, 2018, 7 p.m.

During a visit on December 21, to Beville Middle School, Governor-Elect Ralph Northam announced the appointment of Atif Qarni, a teacher at Beville, as the next Secretary of Education.

Currently, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 allows certain servicemembers to transfer all or some of their unused education benefits to their spouse or dependent children. The EARNED Act would expand that eligibility to any active duty or retired member of the Armed Forces who has at least 20 years of active-duty service.

The wait is over for students who took the PSAT in October. The College Board has released scores and test takers can now access the information online.

Governor McAuliffe has announced a series of budget actions and signed a new executive directive to address Virginia’s growing teacher shortage. Budget actions include new investments and budget language targeting teacher recruitment and retention. The directive asks Virginia Board of Education to issue emergency regulations giving colleges and universities the option to offer undergraduate majors in education.

A news release from the Virginia Department of Education says that schools attended by approximately 75 percent of Virginia’s 1.3 million public school students now meet or exceed the Federal Communications Commission’s minimum standard for internet connectivity.