The purpose of this document (linked below) is to present legislators with guiding language that advances teaching and learning in education. Whether it is to introduce new legislation or make changes to existing law, VASCD aims to provide legislators with educational expertise supported by educators and support staff from across the Commonwealth. The language presented in this document is intended to help model legislation that would lead, support, and serve our public schools across Virginia. The positions presented within this document support those embedded in the 2023-2024 Policy Priorities for the Virginia Affiliate of ASCD. VASCD is ready and willing to work with legislators on drafting or amending legislation to align with the priorities identified in this brief.

• Unified Purpose and Clear Standards: Virginia's law and policy makers must clearly define the purpose of education to guide important decisions.
• Aligned System of Accountability: The system to which schools are held accountability must have coherence and alignment between the purpose, the standards, and the assessments.
• Modernizing Virginia's Assessment System: Virginia's student assessment system must support and align with today's student learning goals.
• Outstanding Educators for Virginia's Students: We must elevate the profession and champion autonomy with integrity from policy to the practitioner.
• Personalized Learning Opportunities for Educators: Educators must have relevant, competency-based professional learning opportunities.
• Guidance for Use of AI in Education: All of Virginia's stakeholders must have recommendations for implementation and appropriate guardrails for use of AI in classrooms.

Crossover is the process of the bills still alive changing chambers. To make it through General Assembly and onto the governor's desk, all bills must pass through both chambers. This past Sunday, budget amendments were due. This is where we get a better understanding of how tax dollars will be allocated over the next biennium.

Senate's Proposed Budget Highlights for Education:

• An additional $1.6 billion GF over the biennium in direct aid to localities and $400 million from the Literary Fund to support school construction
• $402.0 million GF over the biennium to fund a three percent salary increase in October 2024 and an additional three percent salary increase in July 2025 for SOQ funded positions
• $400.7 million GF over the biennium to fully remove the cap on support positions.
• $243.1 million GF over the biennium to replace the grocery tax removed from the Governor’s introduced budget.
• $73.8 million GF over the biennium in undergraduate need-based aid

Check out VASCD's bill tracker, updated as of today!