“I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention.”

As a music educator with over 40 years in the field, I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention

Increased music class size in 6th grade will categorically: - decrease instructional quality - potentially slow down curriculum (it takes longer to tune more instruments or get that many kids into a room) - increase workload for teachers whose workload is already above 1 FTE during the school year This insight is coming from an accomplished flute player who was a product of the FCPS music program, and someone’s whose life has been in the performing arts. There is zero research that would support a musical environment with a worse student to teacher ratio with beginning musicians. Even in high school band, we would have sectionals weekly by instrument to get quality, detailed, instrument specific instruction.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. This would cause a decrease in classwide and individual learning progress.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. As Executive Director of the Virginia Music Educators Association, and a 25 year music educator and music administrator, I have significant concerns about the impact this legislation would have on students across the Commonwealth. Increasing allowable class sizes to 45 for beginning-level music instruction risks diminishing instructional quality, exacerbating staffing shortages, and creating inequitable learning conditions. These changes could undermine student success and long-term program retention rather than expand meaningful access. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued commitment to Virginia’s students and educators.

I oppose SB656 because teaching 45 beginning musicians with just one teacher is nearly impossible. This will have a huge negative impact on our kids and our teachers' mental health.

I oppose SB656 because the current Virginia Code already provides flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who require individual attention. It also detrimentally affects teacher contracts and expectations by expanding responsibilities beyond what is reasonable and creating unrealistic teaching conditions. Additionally, it undermines appropriate student-teacher ratios and can create the false appearance that a teacher does not have a full slate of classes, while in reality they are responsible for an exorbitant number of students. This is unfair to highly qualified and educated educators and ultimately weakens both program quality and student learning.

I strongly oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. Teachers are already exhausted with current scheduling expectations, and this will further deprioritize the importance of music education, instead treating the class as just a daycare center so classroom teachers can have planning time.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. This bill would ultimately harm one on one musical instruction in public schools and it would not increase the accessibility of music classes. Teachers are not seeing students turned away from music classes. Instead, we are seeing fewer sections offered, larger classes, and in some cases, music teachers being reassigned to teach non-music courses. Larger Grade 6 music classes will reduce instructional quality and increase teacher overload. Beginning music students need individual feedback and close supervision. Increasing class sizes makes that harder, while adding to already high student loads for music teachers.

I strongly oppose SB656. The current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. If the goal is to increase access to music education, expanding staffing and course sections would be a more effective and sustainable solution.

I oppose SB 656 and HB 36 on the grounds that they are unnecessary and harmful to music programs. I teach beginning instrumental music in Stafford, where the purported problem of access exists. Students are not being turned away from music education here; instead, positions have already been de-staffed over the last several years, increasing the student load on those who remain. Instrumental music teachers would never let students be turned away, so they have shouldered the burden by taking on more students and larger classes. If the General Assembly wants to support music education, they should provide incentive for localities to properly staff music classrooms. They should also ensure that existing law is followed so that families are notified if classes exceed 35 students, as they routinely do. Having taught beginning classes ranging from 25 to 55 students, I can assure you that having large classes causes students to be left behind, especially those who are disadvantaged and those who receive special education services. It is discouraging for students and teachers alike that students are denied equal access to music education by large classes sizes and reductions in staff. Increasing class size limits does not solve this problem; it exacerbates it.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention.

I am in opposition with this bill as the increase of students in the classroom will decrease the quality of effective instruction for students. This will have a true impact on the quality of music from programs.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. This is especially important in the Fine Arts, where funding and staffing are also a widespread concern. Approving this bill would be a disservice to all educators in the commonwealth and would set a precident that will harm our students and teachers over time.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. At a school with a steadily growing band program, the smaller class sizes have significantly reduced my personal stress and have increased the quality of instruction I am able to provide to first and second year band students.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention.

Oppose

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. We have a great deal of education based research that clearly demonstrates these results.

STRONGLY OPPOSE!!

I am writing to share my concerns regarding SB656 and its impact on sixth-grade music instruction. Expanding access for sixth-grade music students requires the same approach used in every other academic area, opening additional sections and staffing them appropriately rather than increasing class sizes. When enrollment increases in English, math, or science, schools respond by opening more sections to ensure students receive appropriate instruction. Music education should be treated with the same instructional standards. I share this perspective not only as a practicing educator, but as the 2024 GRAMMY Music Educator Award recipient. I was recognized by both the Virginia House and Senate for work centered on meeting every student where they are and expanding access through high-quality instruction. It is deeply concerning to see legislation advance that directly contradicts those stated values by making it harder for educators to provide the level of feedback and support students need. Current Virginia law already allows school divisions to exceed sixth-grade class size limits when necessary, with appropriate notification and collaboration with the teacher, and that flexibility is already being used. The primary barrier to access is staffing and scheduling, not student demand. With SB656, fewer sections would be offered and classes consolidated. Music educators are already carrying increasingly unsustainable class loads without full-time status or while being split across multiple schools. National and state arts education staffing data from the Arts Education Partnership link these conditions to higher attrition rates and persistent teacher shortages in the arts when compared to other instructional areas. Raising the statutory cap to 45 students risks accelerating teacher turnover and institutionalizing unstable instructional conditions rather than improving access or quality.  In practical terms, this bill would allow a school with 90 students to offer two sections of 45 instead of three or four appropriately sized sections. For new musicians, that distinction matters. Early instrumental instruction requires close supervision, individual feedback, and careful attention to student safety and technique. Larger classes significantly reduce instructional quality and increase teacher workload, which directly impacts student success and long-term retention. The unintended consequence is that more students will leave music believing they are “not good at it,” when in reality they were never given a developmentally appropriate opportunity to learn. First-year experiences are foundational, and when instructional quality is compromised at the point of entry, participation declines rather than grows.

While I encourage having more access to music for students, bigger class sizes is not the solution for this. It will compromise the daily lessons the students get and make it harder for students to actually learn and grow within the environment. The proper solution would be to hire more music teachers to accommodate more students. Not make more work for our already hard working teachers.

I strongly oppose this bill. We all want to expand and improve access to music education - that’s not in question. But this proposal would do the opposite. Increasing class sizes means fewer sections for music teachers, which can ultimately reduce staff or force educators to teach or provide support in areas they aren’t certified in. That doesn’t strengthen music programs, it weakens them. As a lifelong music student in Virginia, I appreciate that Virginia lawmakers want to improve access to music education. If that is truly the goal, I urge you to oppose this bill and instead work alongside the Virginia Music Educators Association (VMEA) to craft legislation that genuinely expands and supports music education for our students. Thank you. Silvio Ramirez

I completely oppose this bill to increase class sizes to 45 students. It will be at the detriment to our students' individual learning and developmental needs. This will also cause negative effects on our teachers and their longevity in the field! Please do not pass legislation that will hurt such a large group of educators and students!

I must respectfully oppose this bill. Students need individual instruction as they begin their musical journey. This individualized instruction is critical in creating a foundation of strong performance and music reading skills. Increasing student enrollment in these classes from 35 to up to 45 students is educational malpractice. Students will get frustrated by the lack of individualized time and either create a negative classroom environment or drop out of music altogether; teachers will get frustrated and not feel productive with their students, giving teachers yet another reason to leave the profession. I ask you to reconsider this bill. It is not fair to students or teachers. Thank you.

While I appreciate the spirit of this bill is to provide increased access to music classes, the reality is that increasing class size would likely decrease access overall to a qualified music teacher. Increasing staffing is really the best solution to increasing access. Adding more students to a teacher who is likely already overloaded will have a negative affect on the overall experience for the students seeking participation in music.

Increasing class size in the beginner music classrooms is damaging. 45 in any classroom setting is unrealistic of meeting students needs. Please oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention

From my understanding of this bill, the intent is to increase music participation. However, by increasing music class sizes, the actual result of the bill will be to increase the student teacher ratio, thereby placing a greater responsibility on the teacher to meet the needs of a greater number of students. Instead of hiring more teachers to ensure students the opportunity to participate in a variety of music classes. As a former music teacher, who is currently working with at-risk youth accessing intensive behavioral health services through Virginia’s Children’s Services Act, I know first hand the power of music has for our youth. It is important that all youth have the opportunity to study music in classes with sizes that allow them to have the instruction and individual attention that leads to successful participation. As a parent of a child who participated in the school band throughout high school, I was a witness to how having two band directors to share the load in instruction for a variety of instrumental music classes led to multiple youth’s growth in both the content area and in growing into better humans.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. We should simply hire more staff to accommodate those who wish to learn more about music instead of overwhelming the educators we have.

I teach grades 6-12 orchestra, and I oppose SB656. Increasing class size limits will lower instructional quality, increase teacher workload, and harm beginning music students who need individual attention. Current class sizes do not create a barrier to the arts for students, this bill is an excuse for Stafford schools to destaff hardworking music teachers at the harm of 6th grade students. SB656 will leave lasting consequences to the quality of music programs.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention.

Please OPPOSE this bill! Access to music education is important, but increasing class sizes to 45 (especially at the Beginning level) is the OPPOSITE solution needed. Large class sizes while first learning an instrument diminishes the quality of student instruction; bad quality=lower retention. If you are truly looking to make change to BEST support access to music education, reach out to our state governing bodies- VMEA, VBODA, VCDA, and NAfME. These organizations would be happy to work with you to find better solutions than this bill to support student learning.

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention. What needs to be codified in order to make sure that all children have access to music instruction in the public school setting is to make sure school systems provide the appropriate qualified staffing in order to make sure all children have access. Also make sure the school systems have the full financial support in order to do this.

Please OPPOSE this bill! While we certainly want to improve and increase access to music education, this bill will worsen the situation rather than improve it. When you increase class sizes, you reduce the number of sections that the musicteachers are teaching, which will have the unintended effect of reducing music staff or causing them to be required to teach or provide remedial guidance in subject for which they are not certified. As a lifelong music educator in Virginia, i commend the Virginia legislation for wanting to improve access to music education. If that is truly the goal, we ask you to oppose this bill and work with the team at VMEA (VA Music Educators Association) to create new legislation which will provide more access to Music! Thank you!

Concerned about minimizing staff

I oppose SB656 because the current VA Code already allows flexibility when needed. Increasing class size limits risks lowering instructional quality, increasing teacher workload, and harming beginning music students who need individual attention.

I am writing as a parent of three, a division‑level arts administrator, and a former music specialist at the Virginia Department of Education, to express my strong opposition to SB656 which would raise allowable class sizes for 6th grade music ensembles to 45 students. In my experience, this change is unnecessary and would negatively affect instructional quality. Virginia’s current statute already provides school divisions with the flexibility to exceed class‑size limits when needed, as long as proper steps are followed. School divisions across the Commonwealth already use this flexibility, so SB656 does not meaningfully increase access to music. Instead, it risks making very large classes an accepted norm. The real challenge is not students being denied music, it is improper staffing and scheduling. Instead I am seeing fewer course sections offered, larger classes, and in some cases, music teachers reassigned to teach non‑music subjects. Raising the class-size cap will only amplify these issues. Beginning music students require close supervision and individualized feedback to build foundational skills. Classes of 45 students make that level of instruction nearly impossible and contribute to unsustainable workloads for teachers, which in turn impacts student learning and teacher retention. For these reasons, I oppose SB656 and encourage solutions that strengthen access to music education through appropriate staffing and scheduling, not through expanding class sizes at the expense of instructional quality.

Please pass this important bill