At the Statehouse: Few Priority Education Bills Remain and Budget Negotiations are Impending
February 4th was Crossover, which is the last day for each chamber to act on its own bills. After that date, all bills that passed in each chamber crossed over to the other chamber for consideration. By February 6th proposed amendments to the existing budget by the Governor and the money committees of both chambers were published online. February 20th is the last day legislators can act on bills and appoint conferees, and February 22nd is the day this legislative session adjourns. Currently budget negotiations are underway.
Status of 4PE’s Priority Education Bills on February 13, 2025
Of our six priority bills, only two crossed over to the other chamber and of those two, only one is still being considered in the General Assembly.
HB 2196 – would provide funding for a Restorative Schools program. It is being considered in the Senate Finance and Appropriations committee. Please answer this new call to action for the Senate committee.
The priority bills that are no longer under consideration by the General Assembly are:
HB1954 – crossed over to the Senate but was passed by indefinitely in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.
HB2118 – was left in the House Education Committee.
SB977 – was left in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee
SB979 – was defeated in the Senate
SB1262 – was left in Finance and Appropriations committee
Budget Amendments
Amendments are being made to the current budget proposed by the Governor and the House and Senate money committees. Although many of the education bills are being defeated in the legislative chambers, some important education issues still are being addressed in Virginia’s Budget. Amendments to the current budget are proposed by the Governor and the House and Senate money committees and are provided on page 3 at this link. The proposed amendments for priority issues and the amendments preferred by 4 Public Education are provided below.
Support Cap
In 2009, during the Great Recession, Virginia lawmakers capped (limited) the amount of state funds that could be spent on support staff. This cap has not changed in subsequent years and with inflation this has resulted in a declining number of support staff positions. Currently Virginia funds less than 40% of its support positions, requiring local governments to make up the difference. As a result, the cap has drained resources from critical roles like clerical, maintenance, and instructional support. The cap on support staff is still in effect in the education budget.The proposed budget amendments for the support cap are:
Governor: No change
House: $222.9 M increase
Senate: $222.9M increase
4 Public Education: Supports the House and Senate proposed amendments to lift the support cap.
Funding Formula for Public Schools
The Joint Legislative and Audit Review Commission (JLARC) reported that Virginia’s funding formula is flawed and should be revised to where it would provide 66 percent to 93 percent more funding to public schools than at present. The proposed budget amendments for correcting the flawed funding formula are:
Governor’s: no change but “allocates $1M from the Transformation Office to build an interactive model” for the funding formula.
House: $1M increase to revise the funding formula
Senate $1M increase to revise the funding formula
4 Public Education: Supports the monetary number and prompt action on the funding formula, but prefers a process that protects the needs of distinct stakeholders rather than the goals of the Transformation Office.
School Vouchers
School vouchers divert public funds to private schools. Problems with school vouchers are discussed at this link.
Governor: $50M, redirected from public school funding to private schools.
House: $0
Senate: $0
4 Public Education: Prefers the House and Senate proposed amendments because public funds should remain in public schools.
College Partnership Lab Schools
Governor: $25M
House: $0
Senate $0
4 Public Education: Prefers the House and Senate amendments. The recently established Lab Schools tend to be management top-heavy with few new dollars reaching classrooms. They also undermine ongoing advanced programs such as Dual Enrollment, IB, and AP. Though the Governor maintains these dollars are available for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), HBCUs were eligible for the earlier grants but chose not to apply. At this time, none of the current Lab Schools have established track records to confirm they are effective, so the promise that they will be self-sufficient in the future appears unlikely.
Community Schools
Governor: $0
House: $2.5M
Senate $1M
4 Public Education: Prefers the House amendment because it calls for greater funding for community schools. These schools create opportunities, empower communities, provide wrap-around services, and meet students where they are in their communities.
School Construction
Governor $140M from the School Construction Fund & $150 m from the Literary Fund for competitive grants.
House: $150M from the School Construction Fund for competitive grants.
Senate: $140M from School Construction. Fund and also allows all localities to hold referendums for 1% local sales tax.
4 Public Education: Prefers the Senate amendment that authorizes localities to hold a referendum for 1% local sales tax for public education.
Bonuses for Teachers and Support Staff
Governor: $0m
House : $1K per position to be provided in September
Senate: $1K per position to be provided in June
4 Public Education: Prefers salary increases instead of bonuses. Bonuses do not contribute to employees base pay for ongoing cost of living or retirement basis. Virginia employees are underpaid and need actual raises that accrue over time, rather than temporary band aids like bonuses.
Students with Disabilities
Governor: $0
House : $52.8M
Senate: $52.8M
4 Public Education: Prefers the House and Senate versions because there is a need for additional funding for students with disabilities.
Funds for “Off-track” & “Needs Intensive Support” Schools
Governor: $51.3M
House: $0
Senate: $0, and implementation of the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) new accountability plan should be delayed.
4 Public Education: Prefers the Senate amendment because the Governor’s amendment calls for implementing and responding to results of the new VDOE accountability framework the 2025-2026 school year. It is critical that implementation of the accountability framework be delayed until the many identified problems are resolved.
There is an opportunity for the public to make comments on the Governor’s, House, and Senate proposed amendments at this link. Please consider making your voice heard.
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