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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.
VASCD Assessment Summit
July 19 in Williamsburg - FREE!
VASCD is hosting an Assessment Summit in Virginia. We will bring as many as 200 teachers, leaders, parents, students, legislators, and policymakers together to achieve three goals:
  • Develop and extend the capacity of VASCD’s Board of Directors and Policy Team around assessment
  • Build a deeper understanding of assessment throughout the Commonwealth, particularly with the participants
  • Create an executive summary report of the summit to provide legislators and policymakers, with a particular focus on assisting with input and recommendations

To register for this FREE summit in Williamsburg on July 19, click HERE.
Budget, Legislation, and
Commitment to Virginians Update
BUDGET
The next special session convening is scheduled for Wednesday, June 1. There is optimism that a budget will be passed, and streaming will be available on the lis.viginia.gov home page.

Last night, The Washington Post published THIS ARTICLE giving us insight into what will be included/excluded in the budget presented in the special session. Education-specific summary:
  • $4B in tax cuts (elimination of 1.5% state grocery tax),
  • salary boosts for teachers (5% each year over the next two years, plus a $1,000 bonus in the first year),
  • funding for school construction ($1.25B)
  • funding for higher education (figures undisclosed in the article), and
  • $750M to VRS (with a possible additional $250M).

Read more from Monday's Richmond Times-Dispatch article HERE.

LEGISLATION
For an up-to-date and complete list of the governor's recommendations, click HERE.

Report: Commitment to Virginians
On May 19, 2022, Governor Youngkin, Secretary Guidera, and State Superintendent Balow held a press conference and shared a 90-day report, titled Our Commitment to Virginians: High Expectations and Excellence for All Students. Virginia ASCD is proud to represent educators across all roles and school divisions in the Commonwealth and although we disagree with some of the key points of the report, we remain committed to designing an education system that meets the needs of each child.

VASCD will issue a message to both Superintendent Balow and Secretary Guidera outlining how we are best-positioned to support the work outlined in the column on the right of the table below.
For information about our Assessment Summit on July 19, click HERE and register for FREE! We are inviting teachers, school and division leaders, legislators, and Virginia's education leaders.
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.