Press Releases
Richmond, Va. — (August 21, 2024) Richmond Public School leaders gathered today at Thomas Jefferson High School (4100 W. Grace St.) to celebrate the Division’s state-leading growth on the 2023-24 Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments. RPS students made incredible progress, gaining three percentage points in Reading (47% to 50%) three points in Math (44% to 47%), four points in History/Social Studies (39% to 43%); and a massive ten points in Science (35% to 45%) and Writing (39% to 49%).
Richmond, Va. – Richmond Public Schools (RPS) is pleased to announce that all school buildings have passed their fire inspections with no notice of violations ahead of the first day of school. This milestone underscores the Division's commitment to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students, faculty, and staff. This is the first time that all building inspections have been completed before students return to the building.
Conducted by the Richmond Fire Department (RFD), fire inspections are a critical safety measure that ensure compliance with fire codes and regulations. The inspections involved a thorough evaluation of fire safety equipment, emergency exits, fire alarms, and sprinkler systems to ensure all equipment met the highest safety standards. Inspections began on May 21, 2024, and concluded on July 18, 2024.
"We're grateful for the strong partnership with RFD, which enabled us to begin conversations and upgrades earlier in the year," said Dana Fox, Chief Operating Officer of RPS. “Conversations with the Fire Department began earlier in the year — as did preliminary and official walkthroughs — allowing us additional time to address any findings ahead of the first day of school."
“Our approach to fire inspections at schools this year was a coordinated effort with Richmond Public Schools, undertaken with the safety of all Richmond residents in mind," said Richmond Fire Department Chief Melvin Carter. "Our success is due to the planning, coordination and collaboration between RFD and RPS's Facilities and Risk Management teams, which facilitated the swift implementation of any necessary upgrades. We're pleased to be able to give parents and community members peace of mind as the city gears up for the next school year."
This proactive approach to safety allows teachers, parents, and students to start the school year with confidence and peace of mind. RPS will continue to work closely with local fire and safety officials to uphold the highest safety standards.
Richmond, Va. – Richmond City Public Schools today shared its policy for providing free meals to all students served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Each school as well as the RPS School Nutrition Office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.
All schools in the Division will be participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) as implemented under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Students attending a participating school will be provided a nutritious meal for breakfast and lunch each day at no charge to the household. Households will not be required to submit a meal application form to receive meals at no charge. Each household will receive a letter informing them of the program, including contact information for any questions.
Any questions can be directed to:
Shannon Ebron, Director of School Nutrition Services
1461 Commerce Road
Facility Services, Suite B
Richmond, VA 23224
Phone: 804-780-8216
Email: schoolnutrition@rvaschools.net
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at:
https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-
0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Richmond, Va. – Today, Superintendent Jason Kamras, Mayor Levar Stoney, elected officials, community partners, and volunteers gathered at the Greater Richmond Convention Center for the Seventh Annual Ultimate Backpack Supply Drive. The drive, presented by CoStar Group and hosted by Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), provides essential school supplies to students in Richmond Public Schools (RPS) and other local school divisions.
“CoStar Group's involvement in the Ultimate Backpack Supply Drive underscores our commitment to supporting the educational journey of students in Richmond,” said CoStar Vice President of Research, Brad McGetrick. “By providing essential school supplies, we aim to empower students and set them up for a successful academic year.”
In the past six years, the Ultimate Backpack Supply Drive has distributed more than 112,000 backpacks, thanks to the generous support of so many civic and business partnerships. This year's partners include CoStar Group, Estes Express Lines, Packaging Corporate America, VCU Alumni, Dominion Energy, Target, and many others.
“Preparing students to return back to school can create a huge financial burden for families, and so to be able to partner with the businesses and organizations here today, and relieve some of that stress for our families, is incredible,” said Richmond Superintendent Jason Kamras. “We are immensely grateful to our community partners and volunteers for their continued support.”
Once all of the supplies have been packed by volunteers, they will then be loaded onto trucks and delivered to schools for distribution to students and families. “Estes is proud to be a partner of this important back-to-school event,” said Will Hupp, Director of Hub Operations at Estes Express Lines. “We’re doing what we do best by delivering the school supplies to area schools to make sure everyone has what they need to start the new school year off strong.”
Richmond's mayor was one such volunteer today. “For the past several years, the Ultimate Backpack Supply Drive has been a highlight of the back-to-school season, providing thousands of families peace of mind that their children will have the supplies they need for the school year,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “This initiative would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our volunteers, our partners, and the community. Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of our young learners. I look forward to seeing this event continue for years to come.”
“The Ultimate Backpack Supply Drive started as a dream seven years ago — that no child in Richmond Public Schools should worry about having the supplies they need to be successful in school,” said Seventh District School Board Representative Cheryl Burke, the former principal of Chimborazo Elementary School in Richmond. “We are so grateful for CoStar Group, VCU, and the broader Richmond community for coming together, year after year, to make this dream a reality. Because of these partnerships, each child in the Richmond Metro area will start out on even footing.”
RPS is excited to welcome back students and staff to their classrooms on Monday, August 19. Thanks to these amazing community partners, RPS students will be prepared to learn.
Richmond, Va. – Yesterday, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced $15.3 million in federal funding for Richmond Public Schools (RPS) to make energy efficiency upgrades at 22 schools across the division. RPS is one of only 16 districts across the country to win the grant — and the only one in Virginia. The upgrades will decrease energy costs while also improving air quality.
"Our students deserve the absolute best. As a Division, we are working each and every day to reverse decades of inequitable funding and disinvestments in urban districts across Virginia,” said Superintendent Jason Kamras. “We are thrilled to be the only Division in the Commonwealth to receive this grant. We’re deeply grateful to Sens. Warner and Kaine for their leadership, and hugely proud of our Facilities and Grants team for their work championing this project. The Board and I asked them to turn over every stone to expedite our modernization efforts, and this is a testament to their hard work and ingenuity.”
Funding for the grant was made possible by the 2024 Renew America’s School Prize (RASP), a first-of-its-kind program to invest in creating healthier learning environments and cut costs for public schools by improving facilities and making energy efficiency upgrades.