Engage the Business Community as Leaders, Supporters and Advocates for Public Education

We all know what the data is showing; the United States has a skills gap in our workforce. We’ve also heard Virginia policymakers talk about the important role that education plays in economic development. During the 2016 General Assembly session, legislators passed a bill that will work to redesign high schools and create the Profile of a Virginia Graduate. Educators and business leaders wholly supported this initiative and now the Board of Education is working hard to develop these reforms to better position Virginia’s students in the global economy. This is just one example of how business and education can work together for bi-partisan education reforms. 

Over the past few years, we have encouraged local school boards to engage the business community as leaders, supporters and advocates of public education and we need you to continue that conversation. The business community can be your key partners in education and, if they are appropriately informed, they can serve as advocates for your school division within your community and at the General Assembly. 

Before the start of the 2017 General Assembly session, we encourage you to meet with your Chamber of Commerce, economic development association and local business owners. Invite them to attend and present at your school board meeting to share their work, host a business roundtable, or visit your schools to highlight your CTE programs. Discuss your successes and challenges, look for ways that they can partner with your students and schools and listen to their needs as local business owners. Whether it’s providing financial resources for a specific program, mentoring students, or being a vocal supporter of public education, business leaders can make a positive impact. To assist with your advocacy efforts, please utilize the VSBA Grassroots Advocacy Guide for potential policy topics to discuss and good questions to ask when engaging with business leaders. 

Thank you for your continued support of VSBA’s advocacy initiatives. Your voice makes a difference for your students and your schools. Take time to advocate for your students, teachers, and community and engage with local business leaders today! 

Success in Defeating the Charter School Constitutional Amendment

We are pleased to announce that we were successful in defeating HJ1 and HB3, the charter school constitutional amendments, in the Senate Privileges and Elections committee late yesterday. All of the charter school constitutional amendments and corresponding legislation has now been defeated. So many of you called, emailed, and visited your legislators several times over the past few weeks and we thank you for all of these advocacy efforts.

Update on HB2238 - Parental Choice Education Savings Account

We have good news to share from the General Assembly. Late this afternoon the Senate took a final vote on HB2238, the legislation which created the Parental Choice Education Savings Account that would allow parents of students with disabilities, some of whom may never have been enrolled in public schools, to receive 90% of the state SOQ per pupil funding. The bill failed on the Senate floor on a vote of 18-18-1 with Lieutenant Governor Northam breaking the tie with a no vote.

Thank you to all of you who called, emailed, and visited your senators. Your advocacy efforts kept the heat on and helped us to defeat the bill.

VSBA ACTION ALERT - Contact your Senators on HB2238

This morning, House Bill 2238 was reported from the Senate Finance Committee with a reenactment clause. This legislation, sponsored by Delegate LaRock, would allow parents of students with disabilities, some of whom may never have been enrolled in public schools, to receive 90% of the state SOQ per pupil funding which would be placed in a Parental Choice Education Savings Account. Those state funds could then be used by the parent to send the student to private school, for homeschooling, or to pay for certain other services for the child. There is no requirement that this state money be used to provide special education services for these children.

In HB2238, the parent signs a waiver that releases the local school division of all obligations to educate the student. Under IDEA and Section 504, the school division cannot be released from its obligation to provide a free and appropriate education. Regardless of a parent signing a waiver, local school divisions are ultimately responsible for the education of a child under federal law. Courts have held that this responsibility cannot be waived.

• The bill also places a major administrative burden on local school divisions to collect, verify and audit receipts and invoices, submitted by the parent. School divisions are not provided and funds to perform these functions. Consequently, already limited funding will have to be used to perform these functions, which have nothing to do with the education of our students.
• HB2238 only requires that the child has been identified as having a disability and is receiving or is eligible to receive special education services and has attended a public school for half of the school year. At that point, the parents may remove the child and apply for the funds regardless whether the child was receiving an appropriate education from the local school division. Currently, § 22.1-214 outlines a process by which a parent can dispute a program placement. If the school division is found to not have provided an appropriate education under current law, the local school division may be required to send the child to a private school to fulfill the IEP. 
• While private school students, who are not receiving the Educational Improvement Scholarship Tax Credit cannot apply for the funds, homeschool students or students who claim religious exemption can apply by simply enrolling in a public school for half of the school year. 
• Removing a few students from a local school division does not necessarily reduce overall operating costs, including the need for teachers, buses or other infrastructure. It simply raises the per pupil costs. 

HB2238 will be on the floor for a final vote on Wednesday. We ask that you please contact your Senator and urge them to vote NO on HB2238. You can find the contact information for your Senator here.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent action alert. 

VSBA ACTION ALERT - Contact your Senators today!

This morning, House Bill 1626 (R. Bell) passed the Senate Education and Health committee on a close 8-6 vote. This legislation prohibits school divisions from joining an athletic/interscholastic organization that doesn’t allow home school students to participate in public school athletics or interscholastic activities. 

Participating in after school sports and activities, such as football, basketball, debate or forensics, is a privilege for students.

The VSBA opposes non-public school students’ participation in Virginia High School League competitions unless those students are held to the same standards as students enrolled in our public schools. Such standards include the student code of conduct, attendance requirements, and adhering to the Standards of Learning and related assessments.

Allowing non-public school students to participate in public interscholastic athletics/activities creates two different and unequal playing fields for participation – one for public school students, who are bound to the compulsory attendance requirements, and one for non-public school students, who have much greater flexibility in their schedules. 

HB1626 will be voted on the floor either Monday or Tuesday. We ask that you please contact your Senators, either by phone or email, and urge them to vote NO on HB1626. You can find the contact information for your Senator here: http://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/index.php.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent action alert.