Update on AVTE's Position Regarding VTNE Exam Policy Changes
Shared: January 25, 2024

Dear AVTE Community,

I hope this message finds you well. I am updating you on the recent policy changes for the VTNE exam approved by the AAVSB Board just before the holiday.

In my December email, I shared our thoughts and committed to keeping you informed as the situation evolved. As expressed in the letter sent to AAVSB before their Board's action, our position remains unchanged. You can revisit the letter here.

During VMX, we had a productive in-person meeting with AAVSB leadership, where we reiterated the key points from our letter. The conversation was robust, with constructive back-and-forth dialogue and a sincere commitment from the AAVSB to continue the conversation over the coming weeks and beyond.

The AAVSB has agreed to engage directly with the AVTE community in response to our suggestion. They are committed to a virtual conversation in the short term and an in-person session at our 2024 Annual Conversation this July, which will be a town hall during our business meeting. We are coordinating with our colleagues to finalize the details of this conversation, and we will share the date and time with you as soon as possible. It is key that AAVSB leadership hear from our members and that your questions can be answered directly.

AAVSB also expressed a willingness to explore opportunities for AVTE leadership to connect with essential volunteer stakeholders within the AAVSB community. This presents a valuable chance to share more about our community and influence deliberations on the national (AAVSB) and local (state board) levels. We hope to share more about this in the coming weeks.

It is important to remember that key details regarding implementing these changes are pending. In the upcoming weeks, we will collect data from our community, which AAVSB believes could assist in their internal processes. Your knowledge and experience are highly appreciated when we share these requests.

While our meeting in Orlando provided insights, the full picture still evolves as AAVSB navigates its next steps. AAVSB and AVTE have committed to ongoing discussions. The upcoming town hall sessions and community discussions will bring additional clarity, complemented by the data we are committed to helping AAVSB gather.

As the situation comes into greater focus, AVTE will persist in advocating for the needs of our community. We remain steadfast in our commitment to the principles conveyed to the AAVSB board via our letter and in-person discussions.

Please plan to join our virtual town hall with AAVSB to hear directly from them about the VTNE exam's direction and to ask any questions you may have personally. We’ll share more information just as soon as we can.

Thank you for your ongoing support.

Best regards,

Jen Serling
President, AVTE