Saturday, March 9, 2024

Virginia General Assembly Day 60

Today is Day 60, the final day of the 2024 session of the Virginia General Assembly. The Senate and House are scheduled to convene at 2:00 p.m., to address the remaining pieces of legislation in conference committees and to vote on the 2024-2026 Biennial Budget. We will update the blog throughout the afternoon as legislation important to K-12 education is resolved.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Budget Writers Release Biennial Budget Conference Report

Senate and House Budget Conferees released the conference report for House Bill 30 late Thursday afternoon. Important items for school board members with explanation can be found below. The budget items below is not a complete listing of items that deal with K-12 education. To review the entire list of K-12 and other budget items, click here.

The Senate and House will vote on the proposed 2024-2026 biennial budget on Saturday, March 9, 2024.

 Item 117 #2cThis amendment provides for development of a plan to provide ongoing school-based mental health funding. This is a recommendation of the Behavioral Health Commission.

Item 117 #6cThis amendment (i) provides $6.9 million the first year and $4.9 million the second year to develop and maintain the Virginia Language and Literacy Screening System (VALLS), (ii) provides $3.4 million each year to continue support for literacy coaching, technical assistance and professional development as required by the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA), (iii) authorizes the Virginia Literacy Partnership to collect fees from publishers to offset costs to review reading curriculum materials for alignment with the VLA, (iv) redirects existing funding related to the implementation of the VLA to the University of Virginia's Literacy Partnership, and (v) delays the implementation of literacy screener for grades 4-8 and associated literacy plans for one year. The amendment also directs remaining federal pandemic relief balances from Learning Acceleration Grants be used to supplant general funds in the first year. This represents a net increase of $5.7 million in fiscal year 2025 and $3.7 million in fiscal year 2026 from the amounts proposed in the introduced budget for implementation of the VLA.

Item 118 #1cThis amendment provides $2.2 million each year from the general fund to implement provisions of House Bill 1089 and Senate Bill 220 related to establishing eight regional special education family support centers, provision of professional development, and ongoing special education coaching. The amendment also directs remaining federal pandemic relief balances from Learning Acceleration Grants be used to supplant general funds in the first year.

Item 120 #1cThis amendment restores $1.9 million from the general fund in each year to the Office of School Quality and establishes reporting requirements.

Item 123 #2cThis amendment provides $140,000 from the general fund each year for one position in the proposed Office of Community Schools.

Item 123 #3cThis amendment provides $300,000 from the general fund each year and up to two positions to support the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding through increased staffing and contracted services.

Item 125 #1cThis amendment redirects $1.7 million GF the first year and $1.6 million GF the second year from the general fund each year by maintaining a cap on supplemental basic aid payments. The introduced budget proposed eliminating this cap.

Item 125 #2cThis amendment provides $186.7 million the first year and $184.6 million the second year from the general fund to (i) consolidate SOQ Prevention, Intervention, and Remediation and At-Risk Add-On incentive funding into a single At-Risk Add-On funding program, (ii) transition the proxy used to estimate the number of at-risk students from federal free lunch rates to federal Identified Student Percentage rates, using a multiplier of 1.25 plus one-quarter of English learner students, (iii) distributes an 11.0 percent add on to basic aid funding per at-risk student, and (iv) distributes a variable add on between 0 percent and 37 percent to basic aid funding per At-Risk student based on the concentration of At-Risk students in the school division relative to all other school divisions. This amendment addresses in part recommendations 8, 9, and 10 from JLARC's 2023 report, "Virginia's K-12 Funding Formula.

Item 125 #3cThis amendment provides $37.9 million the first year and $43.7 million the second year to implement staffing standards for English Learner students based on student proficiency level, in lieu of the current standard that provides one position per 50 identified EL students. Flexibility is provided during the first year to implement this new standard to only require one-half of the additional positions.

Item 125 #5cThis amendment authorizes the Department of Education to offer $250.0 million in school construction loans from the Literary Fund over the biennium and directs the Board of Education to revise its schedule of interest rates to be fully responsive to market rates while providing reasonably discounted interest rates.

Item 125 #9cThis amendment provides an additional $53.3 million the first year and $133.0 million the second year in additional sales tax distributions to school divisions resulting from the expansion of the sales tax base to include digital products and services. Sales tax distributions reduce the state's share of basic aid funding, resulting in a net increase of $23.7 million the first year and $59.2 million the second year.

Item 125 #10cThis amendment provides $121.3 million the first year and $121.8 million the second year from the general fund to restore and reforecast the general fund payments provided in lieu of the K-12 dedicated sales tax on grocery and personal hygiene products that would have been collected had the tax not been eliminated effective January 1, 2023. The amount of these general fund payments is updated to $272.5 million the first year and $273.6 million in the second year. These payments reduce the state's share of basic aid by $151.1 million the first year and $151.7 million the second year.

Item 125 #15cThis amendment provides $178.1 million the first year and $361.0 million the second year from the general fund to provide the state's share of two 3.0 percent salary increases provided on July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025.

Item 275 #2cThis amendment adds $100,000 from the Commonwealth Opioid and Abatement and Remediation fund the second year for the purchase and distribution of additional opioid reversal agents for public school divisions by the Virginia Department of Health. The funding will enable the Department of Health to distribute a supply of opioid antagonists in an amount equivalent to at least two unexpired 20 doses to every public elementary and secondary school in the Commonwealth for the 2025-2026 school year. This will assist School Boards in complying with the provisions set forth in House Bill 732.

Friday, February 23, 2024

Senate Education & Health Committee Meeting- 2/22/2024

The Senate Education and Health Committee met Thursday, February 23, 2024, and considered the following bills related to K-12 education. To review the entire committee docket, click here.

HB 98 (Green) Requires each local school board to accept participation in the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps as fulfillment of any physical education requirements applicable to students in grades nine through 12.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-253.13:1, as it shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to public secondary schools; satisfaction of physical education requirements; participation in Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps.

The bill reported on a vote of 13-2.

HB 121 (Sullivan, Jr.) Requires the Board of Education to include in the Standards of Learning for health education for grade nine and grade 10 an in-person or online severe allergic reaction awareness training that includes certain topics enumerated in the bill.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-274.2:1, relating to grade nine and grade 10 health education Standards of Learning instruction; severe allergic reaction awareness training.

The bill reported with substitute on a vote of 13-2.

HB 131 (Convers Fowler) Requires the Department of Education to continue to maintain until July 1, 2029, a learning needs dashboard that includes an interactive bar chart feature to compare annual pass rates and an interactive scatterplot feature to compare changes in pass rates between select years on history and social sciences, mathematics, reading, science, and writing Standards of Learning assessments on a statewide basis and for specific local school divisions, public elementary and secondary schools, and student subgroups.

This is a Section 1 bill and does not amend or reenact any sections of the Code of Virginia. The bill reported on a vote of 14-1.

HB 168 (Keys Gamarra) Requires the Department of Education to develop and make available to each school board a resource document containing guidance and best practices for providing the necessary supports and services to homeless students, including guidance and best practices relating to (i) decisions regarding whether and when such a student should remain enrolled in a school in a previous school division of residence, (ii) wrap-around supports and services for such students that include the parents when they are available and specific wrap-around supports and services for such students who may have experienced additional trauma prior to becoming homeless, and (iii) any other means by which such students can be best served and protected, particularly those homeless children and youths at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-3 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Department of Education; resource document on supports and services for homeless students.

The bill reported on a vote of 14-1.

HB 224 (Henson) Went by for the week.

HB 253 (Cole) Requires each school board to permit any student enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school in the local school division who provides acceptable proof of identification, if requested, and who signs up in accordance with the sign-up procedures for the respective school board meeting or is physically present at a school board meeting to submit oral comments during any public comment portion of such meeting.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-79 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; meetings; public comment or citizen participation; enrolled students.

The bill was reported with amendment by a 15-0 vote.

HB 360 (Simonds) Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to biennially calculate, compare, and report to the Board of Education and the General Assembly the differences between the fixed staffing ratios in the Standards of Quality funding formula and the actual staffing ratios in local school divisions in the Commonwealth so that such fixed staffing ratios can be regularly adjusted as needed to more closely approximate such actual staffing ratios.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-23 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Superintendent of Public Instruction; duties; fixed and actual school staffing ratios.

The bill reported and was referred to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on a vote of 15-0.

HB 501 (Cohen) Requires any divisionwide or public elementary or secondary school-specific school building evacuation plan, policy, or protocol to include provisions that seek to maximize the opportunity for students with mobility impairments to evacuate the school building alongside their non-mobility-impaired peers.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-137.4, relating to school building evacuation plans, policies, and protocols; students with mobility impairments.

The bill reported on a vote of 15-0.

HB 599 (Simonds) Permits any school board, with the concurrence of the local governing body, to establish a capital reserve fund as a savings account into which it exclusively deposits the local operating funds that remain unexpended at the end of the year for future school division capital expenditures at no additional cost to local taxpayers, subject to certain conditions enumerated in the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-100 and 22.1-100.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; unexpended local funds; capital reserve fund permitted.

The bill reported on a vote of 15-0.

HB 603 (Price) Requires health instruction provided to elementary and secondary school students to include certain topics relating to mental health that are enumerated in the bill, including (i) general themes of social and emotional learning, including self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, relationship skills, and social awareness; (ii) signs and symptoms of common mental health challenges; and (iii) mental health wellness and healthy strategies for coping with stress and negative feelings, including conflict resolution skills.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-207 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools; health instruction; certain topics relating to mental health.

The bill reported on a vote of 11-4.

HB 659 (Ballard) Requires the Board of Education to develop and make available to each school board guidance on best practices relating to open school enrollment, including on several topics enumerated in the bill.

 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-7.1:1, relating to Board of Education; guidance on best practices for open school enrollment policies.

The bill was Passed by Indefinitely on a 9-5 vote.

HB 777 (Callsen) Provides that in the event that a student in a kinship care arrangement moves into a different school division during the school year as a result of safely returning home, being emancipated, or transitioning to a new kinship care arrangement, such student shall be deemed to continue to reside in the previous school division of residence for the remainder of the school year for the purpose of tuition-free enrollment and attendance. The bill also provides that certain provisions of law relating to continuity of public school enrollment and attendance for students in foster care apply to a student who has transitioned out of foster care and whose custody has been transferred to the student's parent or prior legal guardian or who has been emancipated.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-3 and 22.1-3.4 of the Code of Virginia, relating to enrollment of and provision of free public education for certain students. 

The bill reported on a vote of 15-0.

HB 919 (Srinivasan) Directs the Department, in consultation with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Department of Medical Assistance Services, to develop, adopt, and distribute to each school board a model memorandum of understanding between a school board and a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider that sets forth the parameters for the provision of mental health teletherapy to public school students enrolled in the local school division by such provider. Current law only requires the development, adoption, and distribution of a model memorandum of understanding between a school board and a public or private community mental health services provider. The bill also permits each school board to adopt policies and procedures to increase the accessibility of school-based mental health services for students enrolled in each school division that may not have access to mental health services otherwise by providing or expanding virtual mental health resources and establishing or expanding a partnership with a community mental health service provider or a nationally recognized school-based telehealth provider that provides mental health teletherapy to students.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-272.2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to school boards; model memorandum of understanding; partnerships with certain mental health service providers; provision and expansion of virtual mental health services.

The bill reported on a vote of 14-1.

HB 963 (Earley)  Requires the Department of Education to survey each school board to determine (i) whether it has an existing policy or practice relating to the donation of excess food, as that term is defined in relevant law, from public elementary or secondary schools in the local school division to local food banks or shelters that serve meals or otherwise provide food to individuals in need and (ii) if so, how such policy or practice is implemented and the impact that it has on the local community. The bill requires the Department of Education, after completing such survey, to compile in a guidance document or Superintendent's Memo and distribute to each school board a list of resources and best practices on the subject of excess food donation.

A BILL to require the Department of Education to survey each local school division to determine best practices relating to the donation of excess food. This bill would not amend or reenact the Code of Virginia. The bill was Passed by Indefinitely on a vote of 12-3.

HB 1039 (Bennett-Parker) Permits any local school board to adopt and implement policies for the possession and administration of undesignated nasal or injectable glucagon in each public elementary or secondary school in the local school division, provided that such policies are consistent with the guidance outlined in the most recent revision of the Diabetes Management In School: Manual for Unlicensed Personnel published by the Department of Education and include guidance on several items enumerated in the bill. The bill also permits any public elementary or secondary school to maintain a supply of nasal or injectable glucagon in any secure location that is immediately accessible to any school nurse or other employee trained in the administration of nasal and injectable glucagon prescribed to the school by a prescriber. The bill requires any such school to ensure that such a supply consists of at least two doses. The bill permits any school nurse or other authorized employee who is trained in the administration of nasal and injectable glucagon consistent with the guidance outlined in the most recent revision of the Diabetes Management In School: Manual for Unlicensed Personnel published by the Department to administer nasal or injectable glucagon from undesignated inventory with parental consent and if the student's prescribed glucagon is not available on school grounds or has expired. The bill permits any school board to accept donations of nasal or injectable glucagon from a wholesale distributor of glucagon or donations of money from any individual to purchase nasal or injectable glucagon for the purpose of maintenance and administration in a public school in the local school division as permitted pursuant to the aforementioned provisions of the bill.

A BILL to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-274.2 and 54.1-3408 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public elementary and secondary schools; possession and administration of undesignated glucagon; school board policies; donations.

The bill reported on a vote of 15-0.

HB 1473 (Clark) Requires the Department of Education to develop, in collaboration with the Department of Health, a fentanyl education and awareness informational one-sheet designed to promote awareness of the dangers associated with and the prevalence of fentanyl and provide essential information on fentanyl overdose prevention and preparedness among high school-age students. The bill requires the Department of Education to make available to each school board and post in a publicly accessible location on its website such informational one-sheet and to annually review and update such informational one-sheet in collaboration with the Department of Health to ensure its currency and accuracy. The bill requires each public high school or secondary school that includes grades nine through 12 to annually distribute such informational one-sheet to each student in grades nine through 12 within the first two weeks of the school year. This bill incorporates HB 1007.

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-206.01, relating to Department of Education; development and distribution of fentanyl education and awareness informational one-sheet; requirements.

The bill reported on a vote of 15-0.

To view a copy of the full committee agenda, click here. To view a recorded live-stream of the committee meeting, click here.




Thursday, February 22, 2024

Senate Bill 14 Reports from House Finance Committee

The House Finance Committee reported Senate Bill 14 (McPike) yesterday afternoon by a vote of 13-8 after committee members amended the legislation to include the unincorporated towns that operate a school division in the legislation that authorizes all counties and cities to impose an additional local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent with the revenue used only for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools if such levy is approved in a voter referendum. Under current law, only Charlotte, Gloucester, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties and the City of Danville are authorized to impose such a tax.

The bill will not move to the House floor for debate and a vote early next week. The House companion to SB 14, HB 805, passed in the House earlier this month. VSBA's Government Relations team will continue to update you on this, and other, pieces of legislation of importance to school board members throughout the session which is scheduled to adjourn Sine Die on March 9, 2024.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

House Bill 805 Reports to Senate Floor

House Bill 805 which is sponsored by Delegate Sam Rasoul cleared the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee this morning on a vote of 11-7. This legislation authorizes all counties and cities to impose an additional local sales and use tax at a rate not to exceed one percent with the revenue used only for capital projects for the construction or renovation of schools if such levy is approved in a voter referendum. Under current law, only Charlotte, Gloucester, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Patrick, and Pittsylvania Counties and the City of Danville are authorized to impose such a tax.

The Senate companion, Senate Bill 14, sponsored by Senator Jeremy McPike will be heard this afternoon in the House Finance Committee which will meet 15 minutes after adjournment of the full House. The school construction 1% bill has been a priority for VSBA in past sessions. We will continue to update as this legislation is heard in the House committee.

House Education Committee Meeting- 2/21/24

The House Education Committee met Wednesday, February 21, 2024, and considered the following pieces of legislation related to K-12 Education. 

SB 105 (Lucas) Renames the National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program and Fund as the National Board Certification Incentive Reward Program and Fund, expands eligibility for incentive grant awards from such Fund pursuant to such Program from solely teachers who have obtained national certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards to (i) all public school staff who are candidates for initial national certification or maintenance of national certification to cover certain costs of obtaining or maintaining such certification and (ii) all public school staff who have successfully obtained or maintained such certification. The bill also declares as eligible for an annual incentive grant award in the amount of $7,500 all public school staff who have obtained or maintained such certification. Current law declares as eligible for an annual incentive grant award of $5,000 in the first year and $2,500 in each subsequent year all teachers who have obtained or maintained such certification. The bill also establishes the At-Risk Program for the purpose of supporting programs and services for students who are educationally at risk, including prevention, intervention, or remediation activities required pursuant to relevant law, teacher recruitment programs and initiatives, programs for English language learners, the hiring of additional school counselors and other support staff, and other programs relating to increasing the success of disadvantaged students in completing a high school degree and providing opportunities to encourage further education and training. The bill also contains provisions relating to certain funding requirements for the At-Risk Program. Finally, the bill directs the Department of Education to (a) develop and implement a data collection process related to English language learner expenditures and student English proficiency levels to begin to address the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission's 2023 review of Virginia's K-12 Funding Formula and (b) develop, in coordination with the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services or any other relevant stakeholders, a plan for revised special education staffing requirements that addresses the staffing needs of each special education program in each school division. The bill provides for the inclusion of the provisions of the first enactment in the general appropriation act beginning July 1, 2026. 

The bill reported with a substitute 19-0.

SB 220 (Favola) Makes several changes relating to special education and related services for children with disabilities in public elementary and secondary schools in the Commonwealth, including requiring (i) the Department of Education to (a) review and update all forms and worksheets relating to referral, evaluation, reevaluation, and eligibility, and to review and update guidance on the implementation of all such forms and worksheets; (b) develop guidance for students and parents on and processes relating to the alternative path to earning a standard diploma through credit accommodations, including special permission credit accommodations for locally awarded verified credits; and (c) review and consider updating its regulations to include parent and student input as required content in an individualized education program (IEP), define "short-term objectives" for the purpose of IEP content, and include, as appropriate, short-term objectives derived from measurable goals as content in an IEP; (ii) each public elementary or secondary school, after a child with a disability graduates from, ages out of, or otherwise leaves any such school, to retain the special education records of such child for at least seven years; (iii) each education preparation program offered by a public or private institution of higher education or alternative certification program that provides training for any student seeking initial licensure by the Board of Education with certain endorsements as specified in the bill to (a) include a program of coursework and require all such students to demonstrate mastery in instructional practices to support specially designed instruction, as that term is defined in the bill, in inclusive settings and (b) ensure that coursework and, as available, field practice opportunities that build knowledge of instructional practices to support specially designed instruction in inclusive settings are a focus of the education preparation program; and (iv) each school board to notify the parent of any student with disabilities who has an IEP and who fails to meet the graduation requirements of such student's right to a free and appropriate education to age 21, as provided in relevant law. The bill requires the Department of Education to submit to the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations by November 1, 2024 an initial report on its progress toward improving services to students with disabilities, including estimated costs, requirements, and the timeline to implement a Virginia Individualized Education Program data system and template and plans, estimated costs, and timelines for the implementation of other provisions of the bill relating to the development and provision of high quality professional development and instructional practices to support the provision of specially designed instruction in inclusive settings. The bill also requires each school board to adopt by January 1, 2028 policies relating to the utilization of the components of the Virginia Individualized Education Program data system and template or a local alternative. Finally, the bill directs the Virginia Commission on Youth to study and make recommendations to the General Assembly by November 1, 2025 on Virginia's special education dispute resolution system.

The bill reported with a substitute 19-0.

SB 225 (Pekarsky)  Requires each local school board to develop and implement a policy to require the annual notification of the parent of each student enrolled in the local school division, to be sent by email and SMS text message within 30 calendar days succeeding the first day of each school year, of the parent's legal responsibility to safely store any firearm present in the household, risks associated with improperly stored firearms, statistics relating to firearm-related accidents, injuries, and death among youth, and other tips and strategies. The bill requires each school board to make such parental notification available in multiple languages on its website.

The bill reported with a substitute 14-6.

SB 314 (Roem) Requires the Department of Education to establish and appoint such members as it deems necessary or appropriate to the Farm to School Program Task Force for the purpose of increasing student access throughout the Commonwealth to high-quality farm to school programs, defined in the bill as programs (i) whereby public schools purchase and feature prominently in school meals locally produced food or (ii) that involve experiential student learning opportunities relating to local food and agriculture, including school and community garden programs and local farm visits. The bill requires the Task Force to collaborate with local school boards, community-based organizations, farmers, relevant state and local agencies, and other relevant stakeholders to (a) assess existing farm to school programs within the Commonwealth to identify and disseminate to each local school board best practices for implementing and sustaining such programs, (b) establish and distribute to each local school board a guidance document for the establishment and operation of school garden programs, (c) provide information and resources to each local school board to assist it in leveraging grant funds to support farm to school programs, and (d) collect such data and make such policy recommendations to local school boards, the Board of Education, and the General Assembly as it deems appropriate.

The bill reported with a substitute 19-1.

SB 352 (Peake) Establishes universal licensure by reciprocity as a category of teacher licensure in the Commonwealth for teachers who hold a valid out-of-state teaching license with full credentials and without deficiencies that has been in force for at least three years prior to and is in force at the time of application and meet other provisions set forth in the bill. The bill also permits the division superintendent rather than the Board of Education, as in current law, to issue a career and technical education teacher a provisional license to allow time for the teacher to attain the industry certification credential required by law. Finally, the bill directs the Department of Education to compile, publicly post on its website, and update as necessary, data on teacher licensure standards and requirements for each state for the purposes of facilitating the determination of the compatibility of out-of-state teacher licenses with requirements for teacher licensure and licensure by reciprocity in the Commonwealth and increasing transparency of such licensure requirements.

The bill reported with a substitute 19-0.

SB 435 (Suetterlein) Requires the Board of Education to permit school boards to administer, during the 2024-2026 school years, assessments as alternatives to the through-year growth assessment system established by the Board, provided that any such alternative assessment is aligned to the Standards of Learning.

The bill reported 20-0.

SB 441 (Durant) Requires each school board to respond within 10 business days of receiving any request for employment verification of a former employee of the school board when such verification is requested by another school board.

The bill reported with a substitute 20-0.

SB 498 (Carroll Foy)  Requires each division superintendent or his designee to notify the parent of each student in the local school division of any school-connected overdose, defined as any verified overdose that occurs on school premises during or after regular school hours or during school-sanctioned activities whether on or off school premises, within 24 hours of learning of the overdose. The bill requires such notification to include as much information as is known about the circumstances surrounding the overdose, to the extent that the disclosure of any such information is not prohibited by any applicable law, rule, or regulation relating to the disclosure and protection of a minor's personal, confidential, or otherwise sensitive information. The bill requires the Board of Education to establish guidelines for school-connected overdose response and parental notification policies, including (a) a model action plan for each school board to follow in responding to the overdose, including communicating and coordinating with the Department of Education and the local law-enforcement liaison or local law-enforcement agency that employs the school resource officers for such school division, and (b) criteria for issuing the parental notification to ensure sensitivity to the privacy interests of any affected individuals.

The bill reported with a substitute 19-0.

SB 608 (Aird) Requires the Department of Education to establish the Office of Community Schools as an office within the Department for the purpose of supporting the development and growth of community schools throughout the Commonwealth in accordance with the Virginia Community School Framework and, subject to the appropriation of funds, requires the Office to establish and administer the Community School Development and Implementation Planning Grant for the purpose of providing grants to school boards that seek to designate any school within the local school division as a community school to assist with the planning and implementation of such designation over a period of three to five years.

The bill reported with a substitute 13-7.

To review the entire committee docket for the February 21, 2024 meeting, click here. To view a recording of the February 21, 2024 meeting, click here.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Releases Approved Budget Amendments

The Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee have released committee approved budget amendments for Senate Bill 30 (Lucas). The listing of amendments below are not a complete list of all approved budget amendments. To view a complete list of all committee approved amendments by the Senate, click here.

Item 1 #3sThis amendment provides $22,048 each year from the general fund for the costs of the Commission on Artificial Intelligence.

Item 1 #6sThis amendment provides $12,090 GF each year to support Senate Bill 389, which re-establishes the Virginia Autism Advisory Council. The membership is higher than on the previous Council before it expired.

Item 22 #1sThis amendment provides $100,000 the first year from the general fund to support a review of Virginia's special education dispute resolution system. Funds allocated in the first year may be carried over to the second year to support this initiative.

Item 116 #1sThis amendment updates language included in the introduced budget related to a stakeholder work group on teacher compensation.

Item 117 #1sThis amendment redirects $7.2 million GF each year mental health and telehealth services in the introduced budget to other education initiatives.

Item 117 #3sThis amendment provides $300,000 GF each year and two positions to support the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding through increased staffing and contracted services.

Item 117 #5sThis amendment restores $1.0 million GF the first year and $1.9 million GF the second year to the Office of School Quality and requires certain reporting requirements.

Item 125 #1sThis amendment provides $198.6 million GF the first year and $202.0 million GF the second year to remove the support position cap used in Basic Aid funding. The removal of the support cap requires the amount of support positions to be funded based on the linear weighted average methodology for positions per pupil and funded salaries within Basic Aid.

Item 125 #2sThis amendment provides $142.7 million GF the first year and $259.2 million GF the second year for a 3% salary increase each year for teachers and instructional positions.

Item 125 #3sThis amendment provides $121.3 million the first year and $121.8 million the second year from the general fund to restore and reforecast the general fund payments provided in lieu of the K-12 dedicated sales tax on grocery and personal hygiene products that would have been collected had the tax not been eliminated effective January 1, 2023. The amount of these general fund payments is updated to $272.4 million the first year and $273.5 million in the second year. These payments reduce the state share of basic aid by $151.1 million the first year and $151.7 million the second year.

Item 125 #4sThis amendment provides $12.8 million GF the first year and $13.9 million GF the second year to increase the ratio for English language learners from 20 to 22 per 1,000 students.

Item 125 #5sThis amendment provides $88.0 million GF and $25.0 million NGF from 2024 Lottery proceeds the first year and $112.6 million GF the second year to increase the maximum percentage for the At-Risk Add On from 36.0 to 45.2 percent.

Item 125 #6sThis amendment provides $67.5 million GF the first year and $102.3 million GF the second year in additional revenue sources.

Item 125 #15sThis amendment provides $62.2 million GF the first year and $155.8 million GF the second year to account for sales tax base expansion.

Item 125 #18sThis amendment provides $3.2 million GF the first year and $3.6 million GF the second year to increase the per meal reimbursement amount from $0.22 to $0.30 for the state funded incentive program to maximize federal school nutrition revenues and increase participation in the school breakfast program.

Item 125 #22sThis amendment authorizes the Department of Education to offer school construction loans from the Literary Fund.

Item 3-1.01 #1sThis amendment transfers estimated tax revenue dedicated to the PreK-12 Priority Fund to the general fund for the purpose of funding public education initiatives that support student needs.

Item 3-5.03 #1sThis amendment increases the K-12 sales tax transfer for appropriation in Direct Aid from the sale tax base expansion in Part 4.