February 13, 2026

Happy Friday! It's been a busy week at the AEA office and for our committee members.  We had our monthly Delegate Assembly meeting. Our Delegates voted to formally oppose the 2-Factor Authentication plan presented by APS (see more below).   We held a Collective Bargaining meeting to plan for the renegotiation of our Licensed Agreement (we still need a SPED voice on the team!) and also hosted a Support Staff check-in Zoom. We closed out the week with our monthly Union Power Happy Hour.  Thanks to everyone who gave their time to make our union stronger.

Sending lots of positive vibes to you for Valentines Day--enjoy the long weekend.

2-Factor Authentication

As noted above, AEA will formally notify APS of our opposition to the new directive. Our Organizing Committee is exploring actions to further express our views.  Please watch this space for more information.  In the meantime, here are ways that you can take action:

1. Send an email to school.board@apsva.us

2. The next Listen, Learn and Connect chat with Dr. Durán will be held on Wed, Feb. 18, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. in the Claremont Elementary School Library. These sessions provide an opportunity to connect directly with the superintendent and share thoughts on topics that matter most to you.

• Click here to register for the Feb. 18 session.

3. Sign up to speak at the next School Board meeting:  Speak at a School Board Meeting - Arlington Public Schools. The next meeting is February 19.   It's fun to vent on Facebook. Speaking at a meeting is more impactful.  

Take Action

Did you know that the NEA webpage has an 'Action Center'?  Here you can discover topics relevant to our profession, and with one click, you can write to elected officials.

Eliminate Arbitrary Graduate Student Loan Caps | NEA

Hold ICE Accountable and Prioritize Student, Community Safety | NEA

SAVE Act Threatens Our Freedom To Vote | NEA

Praxis Assistance

VEA PRIME is proud to offer another addition to our Praxis Support called the Praxis Equity Bridge! Are you someone who needs to pass your Praxis test(s) before June 30, 2026? Then this is the opportunity for you! Click the link to learn more about this program of support that bridges the gap that many face with payment, time, structure, and study resources as they approach the Praxis. Registration is currently open and will close on February 16th.

Get Started Here

Training Opportunity

Grant Opportunities/News

Grants Available from The NEA Foundation

A check from The NEA Foundation can make a big difference for you and your students, and applications are now open for the current round of Envision Equity, Learning & Leadership, and Student Success grants. Learn more at those links or by attending a virtual information session on February 19 @ 7:00-8:00 p.m. (Please click this link to register.) Application deadline for grants is Monday, March 2.

APS Secures Grant to Build Stronger School-Family Connections

APS is excited to announce a $25,000 National Education Association (NEA) Professional Excellence Grant to expand the Parent-Teacher Home Visit Program, building on more than 15 years of success at Wakefield High School.

• The program helps teachers and families connect, build trust and better support students.

• “Every visit reminds me that we are all writing a story, and that story is different for everyone,” shared one teacher. “When families share their joys and struggles, we better understand what it takes to get their student to school, every day.”

• The grant reflects collaborative work led by Wakefield teachers Rebecca Kigin and Debbie Strauss and Assistant Principal Maggie Hsu, with support from the Arlington Education Association (AEA) President June Prakash, and Cate Coburn (Academics) and Elisabeth Lúa (Family and Community Engagement—FACE).

EAP Open House

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Open House is coming up on Wednesday, February 18, from 3:00 – 6:00 PM at the Syphax Education Center (4th floor). If you’ve ever been curious about our services, we invite you to stop by to meet the team, explore available resources, and connect with representatives from CareFirst and CloseKnit.

Enjoy light refreshments, connect with colleagues, and learn more about the supports and resources available to you and your family members. Whether you’re looking for support, planning ahead, or just want to better understand how the EAP can help, this is a great opportunity to do just that. Drop in at any time. No registration required.

As a reminder, our virtual Teacher & School Staff Support Group will also meet that evening from 5:00 – 6:00 PM. Registration is required. Please visit the EAP page on Staff Central > Quick Links to sign up.

Countdown to Retirement: Now’s the Time to Start Preparing

February 2026

tags/categories

• Education

• myVRS

• Retirees

• Retirement

If you’re looking ahead to a summer retirement, take time now to prepare and understand the application process. All the items you’ll need, including detailed checklists and other planning resources, are at your fingertips on the VRS website.

Begin Planning With myVRS

Remember that you must apply for retirement at least 60 days, but not more than four months (120 days), before the date you want to retire.

First, log in to your myVRS account to review:

• Retirement details: Your retirement eligibility date and estimated monthly benefit.

• Benefit scenarios: Create additional estimates under different assumptions with the myVRS Benefit Estimator.

• Future income planning: Use the myVRS Retirement Planner to estimate your income needs.

• Account balances: Your member contribution account balance and any defined contribution accounts.

• Beneficiary designations: For your defined benefit contributions and group life insurance.

• Contact information: Make sure your mobile number and personal email are up to date.

• Learning resources: Access recommended courses on budgeting, living in retirement and more through myVRS Financial Wellness.

Take Advantage of Your VRS Resources

For an overview of the retirement process, visit the Getting Ready to Retire page.

It includes sidebar links to the Getting Ready to Retire Guide and the Retirement Readiness Checklist. These resources outline what to expect before and after you apply and can help you prepare with confidence.

VRS offers a range of free educational opportunities, including webinars for members on how to apply for retirement and choosing a benefit payout option. Start with this month’s recording of Your Next Steps for a walkthrough of the application process and more on retiree benefits.

You may also consider meeting with a VRS counselor virtually or in person to discuss your benefits, options and the application process.

Skip the Paper Forms

When you’re ready, explore the benefit of online retirement in myVRS. This intuitive, time-saving application comes with pre-retirement counseling, such as informative videos and step-by-step guidance through major decision points.

The online retirement process will take about 30 minutes. You can stop at any point and save your work.

While most members can apply directly through myVRS, exceptions include those retiring with:

• Hazardous duty or judicial service.

• Long-term disability on their record or those retiring on disability.

• Approved Domestic Relations Orders on file.

• Ongoing purchase of prior service agreements.

You’ll see a message if you need to submit a paper form instead. The Getting Ready to Retire webpage includes this form and a brief video explaining the steps.

Learn About Your Defined Contribution Plan Options

If you’re in the Hybrid Retirement Plan, an optional retirement plan administered by VRS or participate in the Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan or Virginia Cash Match Plan, visit DCP Publications for information related to your defined contribution account.

View your plan’s Leaving Employment Guide to understand the options you may have for managing the money in your fund, such as:

• Keeping your balance in your DCP Account to continue enjoying tax-deferred growth and low fees.

• Rolling over the balance to another plan.

• Requesting a cash distribution.

Remember to also designate beneficiaries for your DCP accounts, as they do not carry over from myVRS.

Consider meeting with a Voya DC Plans Education Specialist virtually or in person to discuss the options available in your defined contribution plan(s).

Take Action on Time-Sensitive Benefits

• Optional Group Life Insurance: If you participate in the VRS program, you may continue or convert coverage within 31 days following the month you leave employment.

• Health Insurance Credit: Retirees with 15 or more years of service credit may qualify for a tax-free credit to help with individual health premiums.

• Long-Term Care Coverage: If you’re covered under the Virginia Local Disability Program, you can continue that coverage in retirement. Hybrid plan members are automatically enrolled in VLDP or a comparable program offered by your employer. Submit forms VRS-170 and VRS-171 to illumifin Corp. within 60 days of your last day of employment.

• Retiree Health Coverage: VRS does not administer health insurance. Contact your employer’s human resource office for details on available options.

Know What to Expect After You Retire

Once your first benefit payment is issued, your myVRS account will switch to retiree mode. You’ll be able to:

• View benefit payment information.

• View your health insurance credit and report health insurance premium changes.

• Print income verification.

• Review tax and cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) details.

• Update your payment destination and beneficiary information.

• Download your 1099 tax form if you have group life insurance.

VRS is here to help you navigate the path to retirement. If you have a question after reviewing this information, call us at 888-827-3847.

NEWS FROM VEA

The latest updates from VEA's Department of Government Relations & Research

Crossover: A Crucial Time for Some VEA-Backed Bills

This was the last full week before crossover, the point where bills from one chamber move to the other (i.e. House bills move to the Senate for votes and vice versa). Committees worked overtime to advance bills to the full House or Senate for final votes before Tuesday’s deadline. Bills that have a fiscal impact must first clear appropriations committees, while others can move directly from full committee to the chamber floor.

Thus, this week was all about money. House and Senate appropriations committees are making tough decisions about which bills advance. Extra subcommittee meetings were added to handle the volume of bills carrying a price tag, and patrons worked to revise legislation in an effort to reduce fiscal impact. While that process is routine, it can sometimes result in scaled-back proposals that address only part of an underlying issue, or layer new requirements into the Code without fully solving the problem they were meant to fix.

Many proposals with a fiscal impact, including several VEA bills, did not advance out of appropriations committees. However, a vote in a money committee does not always mean the end of a proposal. In many cases, policy language or funding for an initiative can still be incorporated into the state budget itself. With the House and Senate set to release their budget proposals on February 22, attention now turns to what priorities may reemerge in those spending plans – and that makes next week’s Lobby Day especially important, as members will be urging lawmakers to include VEA priorities in the budgets before they are finalized.

Visit our 2026 GA bill tracker to see where VEA bills stand as we approach crossover, including measures that continue to move forward and those that were impacted by this week’s budget decisions.

Advocacy in Action

Throughout the session, VEA members have been testifying, meeting with lawmakers, and making their presence known at the Capitol. When legislators see and hear directly from educators in committee rooms and hallways, they gain something no policy brief can provide, a firsthand understanding of what teaching and learning truly look like in today’s schools.

Members of our retired lobby cadre have been a steady presence in committee rooms, offering their experience and perspective on behalf of educators and students. This week, active members also stepped forward to testify in support of collective bargaining and to stand alongside allies at a press conference highlighting the importance of strengthening workers’ rights. Their willingness to share their stories and speak directly to lawmakers ensures that decisions made in Richmond remain grounded in the realities of our schools and communities.