THANK YOU for subscribing to our policy updates.
Our goal is to keep you informed about issues and actions in state
and federal education policy that relate to VASCD's mission.
Policy Priorities
The Policy Team of VASCD is committed to elevating teaching and deepening learning through advocacy work as well as strong relationships with legislators and policymakers.

Our three policy priorities are:
  • Outstanding Teachers for Virginia's Students: We must elevate the profession and professionals through "autonomy with integrity"
  • Modernizing Virginia's Assessment System: Virginia's student assessment system should support and align with today's student learning goals.
  • Personalized Learning Opportunities for Educators: Educators need relevant, competency-based professional learning opportunities

For an electronic copy of our brochure, click HERE.
General Assembly and Legislation Update
BUDGET
The budget has not yet been approved. A first special session convened on April 4 with no resolution, and another one is called for April 27.

VASCD sent individual letters to the 14 budget conferees to advocate on behalf of the line items in the budget aligned with our policy priorities. One sample is provided HERE.

LEGISLATION
Of the 892 bills passed during the General Assembly, Governor Youngkin has approved 701 and vetoed 26.

Education Bills Signed
  • HB 18: School boards; appointed members, salaries
  • HB 19: Public higher educational institutions, disclosure by offers
  • HB 127: Governor's Schools, academic year; certain practices prohibited and required
  • HB 165: Commonwealth of Virginia Higher Educational Institutions Bond Act of 2022; created
  • HB 197: Through-year growth assessment system; BOE to seek and incorporate input and suggestions into system
  • HB 230/SB 154: Teachers; licensure by reciprocity for military spouses, timeline for determination
  • HB 236: Teachers' licenses, certain; Board of Education permitted to temporarily extend
  • HB 246/SB 596: School attendance; 4-H educational programs and activities
  • HB 319/SB 616: Virginia Literacy Act; early student literacy, evidence-based literacy instruction, etc
  • HB 355: Higher educational institutions, baccalaureate public; website posting of certain comparative data
  • HB 389: Early childhood care and education; regional entities, Child Care Subsidy Program Overpayment Fund
  • HB 418: Elementary and secondary education, public; at-risk add-on funds
  • HB 473/SB 70: Virginia Retirement System; employer contributions
  • HB 507/SB223: Intercollegiate athletics; student-athletes, compensation and representation for name, image, etc
  • HB 525/SB 439: Higher educational institutions, nonprofit and public; hazing policies
  • HB 582: Higher educational institutions, public; notice to students, SNAP benefits
  • HB 583: Public elementary and secondary school students; ability to pay for meals and school meal debt
  • HB 587: School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program; processing of applications
  • HB 649: Children who are deaf or hard of hearing; language development, assessment resources
  • HB 741: Annual public elementary and secondary school safety audits; creation or review of school building
  • HB 829: School counselors; staffing ratios, flexibility
  • HB 938: Public schools; evaluation and recommendations for certain current and proposed policies, revisions
  • HB 979/SB 68: Provisional teacher licensure; teachers licensed or certified outside of the US
  • HB 1022: Public elementary and secondary school students, certain; excused absences
  • HB 1023: Family life education curricula, certain; optional instruction on human trafficking of children
  • HB 1108: Public schools; instruction concerning gambling, report
  • HB 1129/SB 600: School safety audits; law-enforcement officers
  • HB 1215: Public middle schools; physical education to include personal safety training
  • HB 1299/SB 738: High school students; instruction concerning post-graduate opportunities
  • SB 238: School division maintenance reserve tool; DOE, et.al., shall develop, etc, to assist school boards
  • SB 421: Libraries and education services; obsolete provisions
  • SB 431: COVID-19; DOE to recommend options for isolation and quarantine for students and employees at schools
  • SB 656: Sexually explicit content; DOE shall develop model policies, parental notification
  • SB 667: Innovative Internship Program; SCHEV, et. al., to collect and utilize certain data
  • SB 724: School board; broadband, annual report
  • SB 737: Early childhood care and education entities; administration of epinephrine
  • SB 739: Public elementary and secondary schools, etc; student instruction
  • SB 774: School buses; commercial use

Education Bills Vetoed
  • HB 1004: Two-Year College Transfer Grant
  • HB 1298: High school student-athletes; compensation for name, image, or likeness

Education Bills Pending
  • HB 346/SB 598: College partnership laboratory schools; application and establishment

For a full listing and status of bills, click the links below:
If you know someone who might like to be added to our Policy Priorities mailing list, forward this message and ask that they sign up HERE.
Virginia ASCD is a non-partisan, non-political organization.
Like you, we are interested in policy decisions that affect teaching and learning in Virginia.