Item 124, Paragraph J., Chapter 2 Out of this appropriation, the Department of Education shall…

The Virginia Department of Education awarded a contract to Project Discovery of Virginia Inc. on August 13, 2026, with a cumulative value of $987,500.00. The contract provides funding for the Project Discovery program, an educational initiative serving multiple localities across Virginia including Abingdon, Accomack/Northampton, Alexandria, Amherst, Appomattox, Arlington, Bedford, Bland, Campbell, Charlottesville, Cumberland, Danville/Pittsylvania, Fairfax, Franklin/Patrick, Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania, Goochland/Powhatan, Lynchburg, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond City, Roanoke City, Smyth, Surry/Sussex, Tazewell, Williamsburg/James City, Wythe, and Madison/Orange. The contract encompasses program administration costs and the salary of a fiscal officer for Project Discovery.

Project Discovery of Virginia Inc. will distribute funding to participating community action agencies based on performance measures established by the Project Discovery Board of Directors. The contractor is responsible for administering allocations to local programs and requiring financial reports, budget documentation, and program evaluation metrics. Participating community action agencies must submit annual performance metrics demonstrating measurable academic improvement outcomes for participating students, including longitudinal data and evidence of coordination with school-based personnel such as teachers and guidance counselors. The contract specifies a two-year funding commitment of $987,500.00 annually through the general fund.