The House Education Committee considered the following bills today.
HB1578, Delegate Rob Bell's bill to require the Virginia High School League to allow home schooled students to participate in interscholastic sports and programs was reported out of the House Education Committee today on a vote of 14 to 7.
HB1392 (Lingamfelter), which would permit a school board to authorize a school security officers to carry firearms in the performance of their duties in certain circumstances. The school security officer must be a retired law enforcement officer and must receive training and certification from the Department of Criminal Justice Services. The school board would also be required to solicit the input of the chief law enforcement officer of the locality regarding the qualifications of the retired officer.
The Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee of the House Education Committee considered the following bills today.
HB1437 (Head) would eliminate the requirement to test the sight and hearing of a student who has any defect of vision or hearing or disease of the eyes or ears that requires the use of a corrective or supplemental device as set forth in the student's Individualized Education Program. The subcommittee recommended reporting the bill.
HB1490 (Marshall), which relates to school board members who are called to active service in the Armed Forces, was recommended for reporting on a vote of 7 to 2.
HB1552 (Bulova) was amended to require each school board to post on its website a notice to high school students and parents of the opportunities available to obtain a nationally recognized career readiness certificate at a local public high school, comprehensive community college or workforce center. The bill, as amended, was recommended for reporting unanimously.
HB1660 (Greason) would add the Federalist Papers to the list of list of documents relating to Virginia history and the United States Constitution that are required to be explained and taught to students in public elementary, middle, and high schools. The bill requires the study of all the listed documents to be incorporated into the Standards of Learning and requires the Department of Education to report to the House Education Committee and Senate Education and Health Committee on how the documents were incorporates into the Standards of Learning. The bill was recommended for reporting on a vote to 6 to 2.
HB1709 (Filler-Corn) was amended to require each school board to have a policy that directs principals to notify the parent of any student involved in an alleged incident of bullying of the status of any investigation within 14 school days of the allegation of bullying. The amended bill was recommended for reporting unanimously.
HB1757 (Dudenhefer) would require each school board to employ at least one full-time nurse in each school and at least one full-time nurse for every 1,000 students. The bill was recommended to be reported and rereferred unanimously.
HB1770 (Freitas) would allow a school board or superintendent to waive certain requirements for licensure in the area of career and technical education. The bill was recommended for reporting on a vote of 5 to 3.
