Public Comments for 02/07/2022 Education
HB197 - Through-year growth assessment system; BOE to seek & incorporate input & suggestions into system.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Thank you for representation. I am writing as a citizen about a bill introduced to the education committee. HB197 allows divisions substitute MAP for the SOL Growth Assessment. Many school divisions in Virginia Region II support this bill. However, I am concerned the bill mentioning a specific product which could make it difficult to move through committee. I am sure it can be modified to provide flexibility if allowed. I feel the modification could survive committee if the language was modified directing the Department of Education to identify products that meets the needs of the original code requiring growth assessments. At the very least I would like for the committee to ask the VDOE why school divisions are not satisfied with the current implementation of the new growth assessment which was passed by legislators last year (HB2027).
I am writing in support of this amendment. The current requirement for giving the Standards of Learning three times each year is not giving us the information that would be most helpful. The NWEA growth assessment will provide data for growth of each student AND give educators the Standards of Learning that each student is “ready to learn”. Teachers can use this assessment to help them plan for learning gaps that have occurred due to the pandemic. The SOL tests are not grade adaptive. They only provide questions for that specific grade level. The MAP test provides information for standards K-8. It is imperative that ALL students show growth. Teachers have both ends of the spectrum. If a student misses every single question on the SOL through test (which did happen), they have to give another assessment to determine the instructional level. On the opposite end, we have students who get every single question correct. Those students should show growth as well, so another assessment also has to be given to them to help with their placement for learning. In closing, the NWEA MAP growth assessment will allow educators to get two pieces of information with one assessment. The data provided can monitor growth but also help teachers determine the level of instruction that a child is ready to learn. Thank you for your consideration of this amendment.
This bill is a commonsense way to ensure that local divisions have options in growth assessments. The NWEA Growth assessment is the gold standard and provides actionable data for instruction as well as clear information for families on student achievement and growth. In the school division where I work, we are currently trying to juggle both NWEA Growth assessment and VDOE growth assessments, and find this double testing to be redundant and time-consuming; if given a choice between the two we would definitely prefer NWEA Growth for its actionable, granular data and ease of administration and use.
HB217 - STEM and Computing (STEM+C); required to review federal occupational categories.
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
HB221 - STEM+C; included in Standards of Learning, Bd. of Education to incorporate certain provisions.
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
Please move to report HB221, 340, 533, 873, 1032, 1100, 1125, 1347. Thank you.
As a computer programmer who graduated from a liberal arts college, at least in the younger grades it is not STEAM/STEM/computing that we need. Instead we need systematic instruction in history from the earliest primary grades (instead of the scattershot version we have now that goes over basically holidays only for kindergarten through second grade). We need structured literacy in the primary grades and beautiful literary in the upper elementary grades and beyond. We need the liberal arts as our guiding framework, not STEAM, industry, and computing. Even for students who will go on to applied careers and the trades, we need cultural literacy to be a coherent people. And even for students who will go on to computing, it's formal logic that gives the understanding needed for discrete math and boolean logic later. Rather than striking out widely after buzzwords, it's a classical liberal arts education that would best suit the Commonwealth's kids. Don't just take my word for it - please read the attached op-ed on the importance of liberal arts even in STEM fields.
HB223 - Insurance; locality may provide for employees of certain public school foundations.
Thank you for reviewing House Bill NO. 223, which would allow for health benefits for employees of the Chesterfield Education Foundation. Chesterfield Education Foundation (CEF) is a nonprofit organization that supports Chesterfield County Public Schools through various initiatives and programs. For more than 30 years, CEF has provided funding for innovative classroom grants, literacy growth and retention, teacher support, scholarships, equity initiatives, and much more. Providing health benefits to our current employees would allow the foundation to be a supportive partner in their health care. It would also allow us to attract and retain future employees. By supporting this bill, you’re helping our employees who desire to take care of themselves while working tirelessly on behalf of the students and families of Chesterfield County.
HB340 - High school graduation; multiple pathways to advanced studies diploma, associated diploma seals.
Dear Delegates, Regarding HB 340, it is important for all Virginian high school students to have the opportunity to study world languages as part of an advanced diploma. As a teacher in a Cambridge International School with a World Language Program, every day I see the benefits of students learning other languages. It helps students build their critical thinking, language development, and interpersonal skills. HB 340 makes students choose between studying world languages or CTE. The reality is that being multilingual is a skill that benefits everyone. CTE students, as well as all other students, need the 21st Century cross-cultural and language skills that come from learning other languages in addition to English. Students should not have to choose either one or the other, they should be able to study both as part of an advanced diploma. Sincerely, Rebecca Timothy Bristow, VA
As a longtime World Language educator, I would like to express my opposition to this bill. I strongly believe that our students need the multicultural experience and view that is acquired when they take classes in WL. I have had so many students tell me how thankful they were to have these classes and how it made their entry into the workforce with added advantages. Another negative of this bill is that it pits the 2 departments of CTE and WL as opposed to each other, rather than 2 programs that can, do, and should work together to provide the 21st Century skills needed for our students.
I oppose HB340. I do not agree that language arts should be interchangeable with Career and Tech education for an advanced diploma. Virginia is number 4 in education because we do require exposure to foreign languages. Let's lift Virginia's students up and continue to be one of the most educated states in the United States. Let's focus on equitable funding, teacher retention and agin buildings.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
Please do not support the changing of the advanced diploma and graduation requirements to not include world languages. In a global world and work force, students need to develop the soft skills of working and learning with others of a diverse background. This includes learning and collaborating with people of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, communicating and working towards proficiency. Languages cannot be replaced or compared with CTE courses.
The Foreign Language Association of Virginia opposes HB 340, not because we oppose the creation of alternate curricular paths for students but because the current requirements of the advanced diploma allow for different pathways, including advanced work in Career and Technical Education. Since HB 340 was proposed, numerous parents and teachers have sent examples of students who successfully graduated with an advanced diploma while pursuing CTE courses. One parent wrote, "If a child knows the requirements and what they want to do, they can plan well and get both CTE credits/certifications and the advanced diploma as it stands currently.” That argues for better information and guidance rather than changes in the advanced diploma. In the 21st century, in a Virginia deeply embedded in the global economy in fields ranging from agriculture to national security, all Virginians need the interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills gained in world language learning. When 2100 U.S. Human Resources departments were surveyed, 93% of the respondents said they value employees able to work effectively across a range of different countries and cultures, 66% identified foreign language skills as part of the hiring process, and 41% reported a hiring preference for multilingual applicants. Virginia needs career-ready global citizens. HB 340 sets up an unnecessary opposition between career and technical education and world languages, which is unacceptable in the modern workplace. The two disciplines must work together to prepare all Virginians for work in this century's economy. World languages and career and technical education are both needed and are not in opposition to each other. The attached infographic illustrates how world language learners develop the skills identified in the Employability Skills Framework for Career and Technical Education. The new Secretary of Education has spoken about the need for an education system that prepares "all Virginians for life, career, and college." Governor Youngkin talks about "restoring high expectations for excellence" in education. Removing components from the advanced studies diploma contracts these goals and lowers expectations for Virginians in high school.
Protest against HB 340
On behalf of the Foreign Language Association of Virginia (FLAVA), I am writing to express our overwhelming opposition to HB340. This bill seeks to “[e]stablish a pathway to the advanced studies high school diploma, and an associated diploma seal for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathway, that requires advanced coursework in a career and technical education field but does not require coursework in world language.” While the intent of this bill is to elevate the prestige of career and technical education, Virginia's students need both career readiness and global readiness skills to succeed after high school. It is imperative that we not diminish the important role of world languages in our students' development. If anything, we need more world language study for both advanced and standard diploma students coupled with career and technical courses. HB340 in its current status, requires one curriculum to rival another. But as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, we should continue to encourage the study of world languages in support of Virginia’s profile of a graduate and as a work readiness skill. In addition to eliminating an opportunity for students to develop soft skills that are important to ensuring our students are equipped to be successful in the workforce, HB340 would do students a second grave disservice. Most four-year universities in Virginia require 2-3 years of world language studies to apply for admission. Top-tier schools across the nation require 3-4 years of world language studies for admission. Language study is valued because it develops both global competency and literacy and contributes to soft skills that successful businesses seek in their employees. Not only would this bill prevent many of our students from gaining admission to the four-year universities of their choice, but it would hamper their economic futures. Currently there is a critical need for speakers of world languages in Virginia. A quick search of indeed.com reveals that there are over 6400 open positions for proficient world language speakers of American Sign Language, French, German, and Spanish, which are taught throughout Virginia's public schools. As President of FLAVA, I join my voice with the administrators and employers who understand the economic value and the cognitive benefits of world language study and in opposition to HB340 in its original and revised forms. I hope that you consider our reasoned opposition as you discuss the bill. Let’s set our students up for success in a globally competitive economy by ensuring they possess the linguistic skills and global competence to succeed.
Thank you for taking the time to hear my thoughts on HB340. As everyone knows, with the invention of the Internet and advancements of technology, the world is becoming "smaller", but what many may not know is that about 75% of the world's population does not speak English. Why is this fact important? It shows the importance of being proficient in a World Language. So why should we not have separate pathways for World Language and CTE? Any educator in either of these content areas will tell you that both content work together to make sure our students are work or world- ready. Ensuring that Virginian students need to be work or world-ready has been part of most school districts 5C's for the past few years. In fact the American Council for Teacher of Foreign Languages has an article that is dedicated to how acquiring a World Language helps students to be World-ready. In one article published by ACTFL "Making Languages our Buisness" (2019) states "(there is) a high and growing demand for language skills in the workplace with 9 put of 10 employers surveyed citing a reliance on bilingual employees and 1 in 3 reporting a Language skill gap." There are about 79 career pathways identified in the 16 major career clusters where being proficient in a World Language gives the applicant an advantage. 56% of employers have stated their need for bilingual speakers will increase in the next 5 years, and this was stated in 2019. My eldest daughter currently works for Hamilton Beach in Richmond as a Bilingual consultant. She was given this employment because of her proficiency in French which she gained by attending and graduating amaury High School in Norfolk. Part of the skills employers look for is intercultural and global competence. These skills are achieved in a World Language course. This does not just apply to students who plan to attend college/University, but to all students. In Virginia alone, there are over 800 internationally owned companies. These companies prefer that a potential employee be proficient in a World Language so they do not have to pay to send the employee through Language classes. Virginia ranks 12th in employment from Europe in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Now, imagine if more of our students were hired due to not only the skills they acquire in CTE, but their ability to converse and interact in a World Language. Currently 14,500 Virginia's are hired by companies like Airbus, Andros, and Thales, to name a few French companies. Final thought, by creating separate pathways and separating CTE and World Languages, you are essentially putting one content area against the other. The Math department does not try to outshine the Social Studies department because they both know they are essential in creating a well-educated member of society. World Languages and CTE have worked together to do the same; creating a student who is not only well-educated but also globally competent and ready plus have a cultural understanding and awareness to be empathetic to various situations. These students need to be creative and critical thinkers, problem-solvers and innovators. This is accomplished through the skills they acquire in World Languages and CTE. Last consideration, several states have World Languages as a cor subject and not elective, look how far there students go. World Languages is no longer for traveling abroad, not when it is heard locally. Thank you for your time.
I ask that the House vote against HB-340. As a professional educator and teacher of World Languages, I feel that this bill is undercutting the importance of the study of world languages and it's role in creating well-rounded citizens of the Commonwealth. The creation of two different advanced diplomas, one with world languages included and one without world languages included sets up an opposition between CTE and the interpersonal, cross-cultural skills all Virginians need in the 21st century. In a global economy, all of our citizens need to have a perspective and understanding of other cultures, which can be gained as students in a world language classroom. Students should be asked to engage in both CTE and language study as part of the advanced high school diploma requirements.
Dear Members of the Education Committees, I ask that you not delete world languages from high school graduation requirements. There is value to language study. See below and in the attached document. Please follow the links to gain more information in those categories of relevance and where information is grounded in research. Please do not shortchange our students. Respectfully, Dick Kuettner Benefits of studying another language - 1. Improves memory – the more you learn new skills, the better your brain functions work. Learning a new language forces you to learn new vocabulary and grammar rules. This trains you brain to remember new words, make connections between them, and use them in contextual situations 2. Enhances multitasking ability – having the ability to think and communicate in different languages helps train multitasking. 3. Improves Attention 4. Improves performance in other academic areas – while learning a language you engage in extracurricular activities in that language, such as communicating with other peers. 5. Develop empathy and compassion – while learning a new language, you are also learning about a new culture. This can lead to thinking in different perspectives and develop understanding for those in that culture. 6. Reduced risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s – the brain creates more neural pathways while learning, keeping it strong a. In a study of more than 200 bilingual and monolingual patients with Alzheimer’s disease, bilingual patients reported showing initial symptoms of the disease at about 77.7 years of age—5.1 years later than the monolingual average of 72.6. Likewise, bilingual patients were diagnosed 4.3 years later than the monolingual patients (80.8 years of age and 76.5 years of age, respectively). 7. Can help math and science - When you learn a language you become used to sorting and processing new information in your target language. Also, there is a correlation between learning a new language and the ability to develop scientific hypotheses. 8.Increased creativity- forces you to think creatively to get you point across, especially if you have a limited vocabulary. 9. Landing jobs – roughly 23% of Americans are bilingual, giving those who are a bilingual a chance to stand out. 10. Improve confidence – the more languages you can speak the more confident you are to put yourself out there. Plus can put you in situations that you never thought you would be in. 11. According to the NIH, millions of Americans use a language other than English in their everyday lives outside of the home, when they are at work or in the classroom. 12. Bilingual people perform better on inhibitory control tests, conflict management, task switching 13. Higher proficiency in a second language, as well as earlier acquisition of that language, correlates with higher gray matter volume in the left inferior parietal cortex 14. Bilingualism positively influences attention and conflict management in infants as young as seven months. a. Navigating a multilingual environment imparts advantages that transfer beyond language. Another useful Link: https://www.actfl.org/center-assessment-research-and-development/what-the-research-shows/cognitive-benefits-students ^ACTFL citations, with papers cited https://www.ostaz.com/english/blog/eu-blogs/benefits-of-learning-a-new-language
We have alternative pathways for learning and provisions like 8VA20C-131-110, allowing students to replace the 140 hours seat time for high school credit by taking, and passing state approved assessments. This bill clearly targets the study of World Languages, and is contrary to the recommendations from the US Department of Education, and business organizations. We have data showing that Virginia is experiencing a foreign language skills gap, and that the study of World Languages and Cultures is aligned with the Virginia Profile of a Graduate. The demand for multilingual employees will double in the next five years. 9 out of 10 employers, who took part of a study conducted by the American Council of Teachers for Foreign Languages "Make Languages our Business" (2017) stated that they need bilingual employees. All career clusters have a demonstrated demand for bilingual employees to meet local and global demands. Instead of eliminating the requirement, we ought to expand the offering of foreign language learning. Employees with language skills have higher incomes in comparison to monolingual employees. This bill will be a disservice to the students of our Commonwealth, who not only need to engage in language learning, but also will need 21st Century soft skills, like intercultural competence, creative problem solving, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. Learning a language develops and strengthens analytical skills, and gives students different insights and perspectives. Having a 21st century, career ready workforce, and a school system that values global competence and world language studies, will attract future investors to consider Virginia, instead of Atlanta or the NC research triangle. This bill is by no means innovative. Quite the contrary! It moves the needle back and forces students on predetermined tracks or learning silos without regard for data and evidence that we need to lead with languages. We strongly oppose this bill.
Dear Delegates. I ask that you please reconsider HB340, in its revised and previous form, before you take action and move this forward. I ask so for the following reasons: 1. The Bill singles out one discipline in favor of others. 2. Language is the root of communication and is a significant part of our being. 3. Society cannot function without language. 4. Virginia is one state where many languages are spoken because of the diverse communities we have established throughout our history. 5. Not all cultures around the world rely on English language as the main language of communication...no, not even here at home. 6. Language and culture study enhances knowledge of various countries, time-periods, perspectives, and ways of life. 7. Language and culture study improves analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills. 8. If our legislators want us to be more inclusive, more diverse, and more global, how do we do it without world languages to accomplish these goals? 9. If language study is, as I foresee your ambitions, cancelled, you will be shortchanging many Virginia high school students who will not even be able to apply for admission to some of the Commonwealth’s better colleges and universities, which require language for entry. 10. I can vouch first-hand the statistics that state that employers seek potential employees who are beyond being monolingual. Language study and/or fluency is often a deciding point between two good candidates. Paul R. Kuettner
I support HB 340.
Providing this type of support and flexibility to educators and students is one of the things we repeatedly hear is needed. Students need to be able to learn and develop in the skills in which they are interested. There are many examples of students who excel outside of the traditional classroom in a career and technical education environment. CTE schools in Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, and on the Peninsula have success stories of students who were not doing well in a traditional classroom environment, but thrived when taking a hands on class about aerospace engineering, nursing, or technology, to name a few. This bill supports the approach of recognizing students strengths and supporting their career interests, and it is a step forward in putting the student first and the Hampton Roads Chamber supports the bill.
On behalf of the Virginia Organization of World Language Supervisors (VOWLS), I am writing to express our overwhelming opposition to HB340. This bill seeks to “[e]stablish a pathway to the advanced studies high school diploma, and an associated diploma seal for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathway, that requires advanced coursework in a career and technical education field but does not require coursework in world language.” While the intent of this bill is to elevate the prestige of career and technical education, Virginia's students need both career readiness and global readiness skills to succeed after high school. It is imperative that we not diminish the important role of world languages in our students' development. If anything, we need more world language study for both advanced and standard diploma students coupled with career and technical courses. HB340 in its current status, requires one curriculum to rival another. But as the world becomes increasingly interconnected, we should continue to encourage the study of world languages in support of Virginia’s profile of a graduate and as a work readiness skill. In 2017, after years of data collection and evaluation of employees, Google found among the most important qualities of their top employees were all soft skills. These skills include, but are not limited to: communicating and listening well, possessing insights in others (including others’ different values and points of view), having empathy toward and being supportive of colleagues, and being able to make connections across complex ideas. Google goes on to report that good team members demonstrate generosity, empathy, emotional intelligence, emotional safety (meaning each team member can feel confident in speaking up and in making mistakes), and can exhibit a curiosity toward the ideas of their teammates. Each of these soft skills are practiced and are an integral part of the world language curriculum, classroom, and community, so much so they have been identified by ACTFL in their World Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. In 2022, The Center for Global Education Asia Society pondered in their article “Global Competence Through Career and Technical Education” how to ensure students are prepared with skills to connect, to compete, and to collaborate in a global economy. And as the world becomes more interconnected with 1 in 5 jobs tied to international trade, how do we prepare students for work and civic roles in an environment where success increasingly requires the ability to work with others from diverse backgrounds in a global market? The Association for Career and Technical Education concluded that critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration, along with creativity and innovation were imperative for work readiness standards. It takes only a glance at Virginia’s Standards of Learning for World Languages to conclude that world language courses are instrumental in supporting students in these areas. In addition to eliminating an opportunity for students to develop soft skills that are important to ensuring our students are equipped to be successful in the workforce, Most four-year universities in Virginia require 2-3 years of world language for admission. Language study is valued because it develops both global competency and literacy and contributes to soft skills that successful businesses seek in their employees. Oppose HB 340.
I am against the passage of VA HB 340 and ask that you oppose this legislation as well. VA HB 340 is misguided legislation and bad policy for the future of our students and workforce. We can do better in educating our students for employability and success in their future. This is an insidious effort to dilute and divest the learning and study of world languages. You should be supporting and advocating for more study and learning of world languages ---not less for all graduation pathways. Eliminating world language study to further the attainment of an advanced diploma does nothing to further Virginia’s prestige as a preeminent leader in education. What is the purpose of an advanced diploma; what is the intended outcome? In all facets, HB 340 misses the mark! Why not cut or eliminate other disciplines of knowledge and learning? Most of us don’t use much math, science, biology, music, or history these days. Why would the future workforce need to know the Pythagoras theory? Why would they need to know about the massacres in Bosnia, much less where is Bosnia? Why would they need to know the difference between meiosis and mitosis? Why would they need to know about covalent bonding? Why would they need to know about the law of gravity? Why would they need to know about the great works of literature and art? The answer is they need to know about all of these; they need to care about them and understand them. I submit that CTE graduates will find themselves in a very diverse, if not the most diverse work environment than almost any other career field. Likely more diverse in all sense of diversity: ethnic, racial, cultural and cognitive than this august chamber. Studies and research indicate that employers across the spectrum want employees with language and intercultural skills –soft skills. The construction sector, healthcare and social assistance/services sector report the highest foreign language skills gap. 39% of employers in the construction sector and nearly 30% in the professional and technical services sector are most likely to be unable to pursue or have lost business in the past three years due to a lack of world language skills in their employee. This is the CTE space! World language study involves perspective taking and sense making; it develops interpersonal skills, intercultural awareness, and empathy. It provides an expanded Weltanschauung to better understand the other –any other! Expanded critical thinking and cognitive clarity are unquestionable outcomes from world language study. Our student’s world is an ever increasingly diverse and complex place and they need the cognitive and critical thinking skills that learning world language and these other disciplines gives them: a well-rounded education.
Please move to report HB221, 340, 533, 873, 1032, 1100, 1125, 1347. Thank you.
Dear Delegates: The following written feedback relates to HB 340. In the attached letter, you will find my thoughts on the bill, but please find here a summary of the letter itself. In regards to the declaration, “The Board of Education shall establish pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways, that require advanced coursework in a career and technical education field such as advanced manufacturing or robotics in lieu of world language courses or any other required course that the Board deems appropriate," it is important to keep in mind that career and technical education is not in opposition to the study or exploration of world languages and cultures; the two disciplines can and should work together to prepare career-ready global citizens. If one of our primary goals as a state—and as educators—is to produce highly skilled, well-rounded, and culturally sensitive individuals who will eventually become strong job candidates (technical or otherwise) who can compete with those of other states or nationalities, this bill must not pass as it is in its current state. As expressed by ACTFL (the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages), learning a second or third language (other than English) in the 21st century is not only beneficial, but necessary for success in life. If we want our students and citizens of the Commonwealth to become integrated in the local and world community and thus able to function in the modern global marketplace, learning another language is an essential component of any education. Language learning has been associated with enhanced problem solving skills, improved verbal and spatial abilities, improved memory function, enhanced creative and flexible thinking capacity, not to mention enhanced tolerance of individuals and groups from other cultures. Thank you for your time and consideration of this feedback. Sincerely, Antonia Delgado-Poust, Ph.D. Fredericksburg, Virginia
HB 340 is currently before the House Education Committee. I’m commenting as a Virginia voter, a parent, and an educator to ask that you oppose this bill, which clearly aims to eliminate world language courses from the advanced studies diploma. I certainly understand the need to differentiate educational paths for Virginia students based on their talents, interests, and goals. Outlining various curricular paths for students who aspire to the advanced studies high school diploma can serve this goal. However, the original wording of HB 340 unnecessarily prejudges the curriculum that might be established by these new pathways and unfairly targets the world language courses that teach skills--communication and cross-cultural awareness--essential to all Virginians, no matter their career orientation. When representatives of the Foreign Language Association of Virginia expressed our concerns to Delegate Davis, he was kind enough to meet with us and gave us his draft of a substitute HB 340. Unfortunately, this bill sets up a direct opposition between world languages and career and technical education by creating an advanced diploma with no world language requirement and another with no career and technical education requirement. This is unacceptable. All Virginians will pursue careers in a multilingual, multicultural society within the global economy. Career and technical education is not in opposition to world languages; the two disciplines can work together to prepare career-ready global citizens. Finally, HB 340 is unnecessary. Since this bill was proposed, parents and teachers have sent numerous examples of students who successfully met the advanced diploma requirements while pursuing career training in CTE programs. One parent wrote “If a child knows the requirements and what they want to do, they can plan well and get both CTE credits/certifications and the advanced diploma as it stands currently.” That argues for better information and guidance rather than changes in the advanced diploma. Governor Youngkin has talked extensively about "reestablishing expectations of excellence" in public education. Lowering the standards for the advanced diploma by taking away any components of the advanced diploma directly contradicts his goal. For all these reasons I ask that you oppose HB 340. Thank you. Sincerely, Sharon Guinn Scinicariello, Ph.D. University of Richmond (retired) Advocacy Chair, Foreign Language Association of Virginia
The study and acquisition of a World Language is vital to the youth of Virginia. Not only does becoming proficient in a language other than English make a person more marketable in the work place but for our students who decide to attend a University, it makes the student more competitive for admittance. The study of 3 or more years shows the student is dedicate, resilent and prepared for a challenge. These students can think critically and creatively, have an understandinh and empathy of various cultures, not to mention have the ability to deliver their message with clarity and detail. All areas and soft skills desired in the work place. Let's look beyond the multitude of skills taught in a World Language class. There are multitude of published and peer reviewed studies in the area of brain health that show a correlation between the study and continued use of a World Language and the delaied on-set of dementia and Alzeheimer's. We tend to say that our students recieve top education in the state of Virginia, but you are now considering taking away the ability for all of the Virginian students to be Globally competitive in a state that has thousands of international and multinational companies who hire bilingual and multilingual Virginians. Therr is also the military installations which welcome fellow military personnel from our allied countrirs and NATO families typically live in Norfolk/Virginia Beach during their station time here in Virginia. My eldest daughter is a graduate of Maury High School in Norfolk. She was fortunate to study French from Monsieur and Madame Bouziane while she was there. She took French her whole high school career. When she began to study to become a teacher at Virginia Wesleyan University, she was able to place in an advance French class and had her minor of French completed by the end of her Fall semester of her Sophomore year. Today, she works for Hamilton Beach in Richmond as a French-speaking consultant and handles calls from all Francophone countries, mostly Canada and France. There are several states where the study of a World Language is a core subject, such as Massachusetts and Louisiana. We want our students to take the world by storm and use every tool they have been taught to make positive changes to the world and community around them. How can they do this when they cannot communicate with 75% of the world? That's right 75% of the world do not speak English or cannot speak English proficiently enough to have a basic conversation. The U.S. is only 4% of the World's population and we need our students to represent that 4% in a matter that will bring effective change in their future. Some may say that there are translation apps and sites that can be used. That's true but those tools do not know the difference of some of the finer nuances in various languages nor understand slang nor idioms of the languge they are trying to communicate in. Besides having to rely on such tools take away from the flow of a conversation as you build a relationship. Our students, all students, need a World Language so they can be challenged, learn to persevere, and interact with a World that is becoming smaller every single day.
I oppose HB 340 with the creation of an advanced diploma without the world language requiremen. World languages are a crucial component to the advanced studies diploma. Language learning reflects the 21st century skills of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity. Students who study world languages also learn invaluable soft skills, such as interpersonal communication which involves listening and adjusting what you say accordingly ; possessing and understanding different points of view; empathy; critical thinking; and making connections across complex ideas. Recently Google announced that “The seven top characteristics of success at Google are all soft skills: being a good coach; communicating and listening well; possessing insights into others (including others different values and points of view); having empathy toward and being supportive of one’s colleagues; being a good critical thinker and problem solver; and being able to make connections across complex ideas.” (Washington Post). If one of the world’s top tech companies is placing more emphasis on the soft skills, does this not indicate the importance of language learning and the skills that world language educators are instilling in their students on a daily basis? It is not only Google that sees the importance of these soft skills fostered in the language classroom. According to NACE’s Job Outlook 2016 survey, important hirable attributes include “written communication skills, problem-solving skills, verbal communication skills, and a strong work ethic”. By placing a focus on soft skills, as well as 21st century skills, we are preparing language students to be ready for the competitive global society in which we live. In addition to marketability, learning a language has a multitude of other benefits for students. In order for students to be successful in the global society, they need to develop a sense of interculturality. In the language classroom, students learn to understand and appreciate other cultures and how those cultures relate to their own. Students’ perceptions of the world change and they become more understanding of others. Language truly is a product of a culture, and the knowledge that comes with learning different ways of seeing the world is something that we need more of in today's society. HB 340’s current wording unnecessarily prejudges the curriculum that might be established by the new pathways, unfairly targeting courses that teach skills--communication and cross-cultural awareness--of use to all Virginians, no matter their career orientation. All Virginians live in a multilingual and multicultural society within a global economy. Virginia graduates are expected to “build connections and value for interaction with diverse communities,” one goal of world languages courses. Moreover, all world languages courses teach students interpersonal and communication skills, essential in any workplace. Because they teach such necessary skills, I oppose any advanced studies high school diploma that does not contain world language components.
I am writing to oppose the inclusion of language singling out World Language programs in HB340 and weakening the requirement for world language study in the advanced diploma coursework. The publication _France-Amerique_ reported in 2018 that every US state has a French business operating in it and that in 2017 France was "the third biggest foreign employer" in the US. The same report from the embassy of France in Washington, DC, as commented on by _France-Amerique_, states that 16,500 jobs in Virginia exist because of the presence of French companies. It is crucial to maintain robust language programs in the state of Virginia so that our state can, with the same ease shown by French companies, continue to do business abroad ourselves and create strong links with international business. By grade 8, as far back as the 1980s, students in France were already learning two world languages, with the addition of Latin or Greek as a third language for those aiming for advanced studies. Many of our local middle schools do not offer any world language until grade 8, and then only offer one world language option. It is through universal world language study that France has been in the position to have at least one business in each of our states. All students can learn another language. Best practices in world language instruction are rapidly changing to emphasize proficiency in communicating in the language and to promote the use of authentic language resources. All students should be learning languages long before high school. It is time to strengthen rather than weaken our state's world language education. https://france-amerique.com/en/a-french-company-in-every-u-s-state/ The 2020 report https://frenchtreasuryintheus.org/la-relation-bilaterale/
Please do not support HB340. Proficiency in World Language(s) is a career skill and essential for adults to live, work and thrive in a diverse world. Languages offer a competitive advantage not only within the job market but with many colleges and universities around the planet. World Languages offer more than simply grammar or words, they offer the development of soft skills in being productive global citizens including culture, problem solving, collaboration and organization. All are valuable, but World Languages cannot be replaced by CTE or IT or coding courses for the high school credit requirement or advanced diploma in that they are completely different skill sets.
Dear Committee Members: I am writing to request that the term "in lieu of world language courses" be removed from HB340. It is essential for young people entering the workforce to have the skill of bilingualism . The effectiveness of private businesses and government agencies are minimized by an inability to make international connections. Additionally, world languages uniquely express customs, traditions, values, and history that are not able to be replicated through alternative means. Students should be encouraged to gain proficiency in another language in order to support their cognitive development and communication skills, making them more well-rounded individuals. Virginia must make this a priority for our students - not an alternative.
I am opposed to eliminating foreign languages as a requirement for advanced studies high school degrees. Foreign languages provide invaluable tools to understand the development of words and thus strengthens vocabulary. Also studying foreign languages makes one appreciates one's own language rules, as well as the culture of other countries. Let us keep this useful discipline in our schools.
Students now more than ever need world languages to compete in the global market place. If they do not have access to this important skill in high school it will be detrimental to them obtaining jobs that require languages in the future. Removing world languages from the advanced diploma will hurt all world language departments all over the state. Students in high school need exposure to world languages and if it is no longer a requirement for at least one diploma, they will be less inclined to enroll. This decision has long term impacts for their economic growth in the future.
Yes to HB - 340 - (An amendment could include students with disabilities to allow them to focus on their natural strengths and not force them to take courses they would likely fail, so, differentiated special education instruction...) I support HB 340 in the interest of differentiated instruction in order for students to focus on their career goals. Each students' pathway is different, and flexibility in focusing on what they and their parents choose for them is paramount to post secondary education success in their lives and in our communities.
HB 340 is currently before the House Education Committee. I’m writing as a Virginia voter, a parent, and an educator to ask that you oppose the wording of this bill, which clearly targets world language courses: “The Board of Education shall establish pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways, that require advanced coursework in a career and technical education field such as advanced manufacturing or robotics in lieu of world language courses or any other required course that the Board deems appropriate.” I certainly understand the need to differentiate educational paths for Virginia students based on their talents, interests, and goals. Outlining various curricular paths for students who aspire to the advanced studies high school diploma can serve this goal. However, the wording of HB 340 unnecessarily prejudges the curriculum that might be established by these new pathways and unfairly targets courses that teach skills--communication and cross-cultural awareness--essential to all Virginians, no matter their career orientation. All Virginians live in a multilingual and multicultural society within a global economy. When 2100 U.S. Human Resources departments were surveyed, 93% of the respondents said they value employees able to work effectively across a range of different countries and cultures, 66% identified foreign language skills as part of the hiring process, and 41% reported a hiring preference for multilingual applicants. Career and technical education is not in opposition to world languages; the two disciplines can work together to prepare career-ready global citizens. Therefore, I ask that you vote to amend the wording of HB 340 to read ““The Board of Education shall establish pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways, that require advanced coursework in a career and technical education field such as advanced manufacturing, robotics, or other courses that the Board deems appropriate.” Thank you. Sincerely, Sharon Scinicariello, Ph.D. University of Richmond (retired)
Dear Delegates. I ask that you please reconsider HB340 before you take action and move this forward. I ask so for the following reasons: 1. The Bill singles out one discipline in favor of others. 2. Language is the root of communication and is a significant part of our being. 3. Society cannot function without language. 4. Virginia is one state where many languages are spoken because of the diverse communities we have established throughout our history. 5. Not all cultures around the world rely on English language as the main language of communication...no, not even here at home. 6. Research shows that language and culture study enhances knowledge of various countries, time-periods, perspectives, and ways of life. 7. Research shows that language and culture study improves analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills. 8. If our legislators want us to be more inclusive, more diverse, and more global, how do we do it without world languages to accomplish these goals? 9. If language study is, as I foresee your ambition, cancelled, you will be shortchanging many Virginia high school students who will not even be able to apply for admission to some of the Commonwealth’s better colleges and universities, which require language for entry. What a disservice! 10. I can vouch first-hand statistics that show that employers seek potential employees who are beyond being monolingual. Language study and/or fluency is often a deciding point when two equally good candidates compete. Thank you for taking these items into consideration. Sincerely, Dr. Paul R. (Dick) Kuettner
As the 2019 ACTFL Language Teacher of the Year finalist, FLAVA (Foreign Language Association of Virginia) President, a world language educator in Loudoun County, and a Virginia resident, I am horrified by House Bill 340 which would “establish pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways, that require advanced coursework in a career and technical education field such as advanced manufacturing or robotics in lieu of world language courses or any other required course that the Board deems appropriate”. Career and technical education (CTE) classes cannot replace World Language classes. By doing so, you and your fellow legislators are doing a disservice to ALL students in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Furthermore, by allowing the substitution of CTE classes for World Language classes, you would create a system that is not in alignment with the newly approved Virginia Profile of a Graduate. House Bill 340 undermines the career and college readiness of students in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Most colleges and universities in Virginia require several years of world language study and do not allow CTE classes to replace World Language requirements. All students and therefore all college and career pathways (including computer science) need world language instruction to be successful in the job market of the 21st century. In order for students to be successful in the global society, they need to develop a sense of interculturality. In the language classroom, students learn to understand and appreciate other cultures and how those cultures relate to their own. Students’ perceptions of the world change and they become more understanding of others. CTE courses do not afford students any opportunities to develop cultural competence. Language truly is a product of a culture, and the knowledge that comes with learning different ways of seeing the world is something that we need more of in today's society. HB 340’s current wording unnecessarily prejudges the curriculum that might be established by the new pathways, unfairly targeting courses that teach skills--communication and cross-cultural awareness--of use to all Virginians, no matter their career orientation. All Virginians live in a multilingual and multicultural society within a global economy. Virginia graduates are expected to “build connections and value for interaction with diverse communities,” one goal of world languages courses. Moreover, all world languages courses teach students interpersonal and communication skills, essential in any workplace. Because they teach such necessary skills, I oppose any advanced studies high school diploma that does not contain world language components. Career and technical education classes should not be a substitute for world language classes for the advanced studies diploma. I respectfully oppose any attempts to substitute CTE classes for language study, which is vigorously and uniformly rejected by those in the career and technical field and world language educators. If House Bill 340 resurfaces for a vote, I urge you to consider these facts and vote against it.
Please read the attached letter regarding House Bill 340. I oppose the wording of HB 340, as it clearly targets world language courses: “The Board of Education shall establish pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways, that require advanced coursework in a career and technical education field such as advanced manufacturing or robotics in lieu of world language courses or any other required course that the Board deems appropriate.” I advocate that the bill be amended to read: “The Board of Education shall establish pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways, that require advanced coursework in a career and technical education field such as advanced manufacturing, robotics, or other courses that the Board deems appropriate.” Cordially, Heidi L. Trude FLAVA President
Please do not remove or replace World Languages from the diploma requirements. World languages are required for most four year universities. Changing this would start a domino effect of changes for so many students and their career paths. Any world language can be a wonderful addition to any career. CTE has their own standards and tests for competition to be able to receive a license to work in that field. World Languages and CTE are both equally important but are in two different categories. In addition, world languages teach our students to speak and to speak confidently! These languages are a trade in their own and help our students to learn more about the world around them. Learning a World Language will ALWAYS be a useful tool for any student to have. I should know because I grew up learning both French and Spanish just like the majority of my students.
Dear Delegate Davis: HB 340 is currently before the House Education Committee. I’m writing as a Virginia voter, a parent, and an educator to ask that you oppose the wording of this bill, which clearly targets world language courses: “The Board of Education shall establish pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways, that require advanced coursework in a career and technical education field such as advanced manufacturing or robotics in lieu of world language courses or any other required course that the Board deems appropriate.” I certainly understand the need to differentiate educational paths for Virginia students based on their talents, interests, and goals. Creating various curricular paths for students who aspire to the advanced studies high school diploma can serve this goal. However, the wording of HB 340 unnecessarily prejudges the curriculum that might be established by these new pathways and unfairly targets courses that teach skills--communication and cross-cultural awareness--essential to all Virginians, no matter their career orientation. All Virginians live in a multilingual and multicultural society within a global economy. When 2100 U.S. Human Resources departments were surveyed, 93% of the respondents said they value employees able to work effectively across a range of different countries and cultures, 66% identified foreign language skills as part of the hiring process, and 41% reported a hiring preference for multilingual applicants. Career and technical education is not in opposition to world languages; the two disciplines can work together to prepare career-ready global citizens. Therefore, I ask that you vote to eliminate the words “in lieu of world language courses” from HB 340. Thank you. Sincerely, Natalia Dudnik
I am writing as a World Language teacher and as Vice President of the Virginia Organization of World Language Supervisors (VOWLS) to express my opposition to HB 340, in particular the part that states ‘in lieu of world language courses.’ There is no doubt that CTE courses are a valuable part of students’ education. However, replacing or eliminating the World Language requirement for the Advanced Studies Diploma is not required to support student enrollment in CTE courses. All Virginians live in a multilingual and multicultural society within a global economy. World Language courses help Virginia graduates to "build connections and value for interaction with diverse communities," an identified goal of the profile of a Virginia graduate, and teach interpersonal and communication skills essential in any workplace. World Languages and CTE should be encouraged equally to encourage student success in the skills they will need to be successful and productive adults in an ever changing world. I invite you to read the February 2017 report from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences which addresses the needs of investing in language education in the 21st century, demonstrating that learning a World Language "would have real benefits for our personal lives as well as for commerce, security, and diplomacy. Researchers are discovering that language learning, particularly among young children, improves learning outcomes in a variety of other disciplines over a long period of time. New empirical evidence suggests that it also encourages the development of empathy and effective interpretive skills. Bilingualism enhances overall cognitive ability..... and that a greater public emphasis on language education would yield results far greater than any initial financial investments." ACTFL’s Lead with Languages (2018) reports there is a significant shortage of employees who speak another language. 6400 current job postings IN VIRGINIA that require a second language: these range from Data Analysis, Defense, Healthcare, Energy, Translators, Customer Service and Instructors. World Languages do not hinder CTE careers but only can enhance them making students more marketable. I appreciate your consideration and ask you to vote against HB 340 or at minimum remove the ‘in lieu of world languages’ phrasing.
I am writing with concern about HB340. I am a Spanish teacher and have been for 33 years. I see the need now more than ever for students to learn a world language. I feel that it is very important for students to have a background in a world language - many colleges and universities require it and it does help when people get into the workforce. I have had many former students tell me that they use their Spanish more than they would have thought. I know that taking a World Language is not for everyone, but I think it is important for as many students as possible to take one in school. I do feel that CTE classes are important as well. I don't understand having the alternative. I hope you will reconsider pushing through this alternative to world languages for an advanced diploma. Thank you.
I am writing to express my opposition to HB 340, in particular the part that states ‘in lieu of world language courses.’ There is no doubt that CTE courses are a valuable part of students’ education. However, replacing or eliminating the World Language requirement for the Advanced Studies Diploma is short sighted. ACTFL’s Lead with Languages (2018) reports there is a significant shortage of employees who speak another language. This includes many jobs in technology. Our district, Roanoke County Public Schools, has students that qualified for scholarships and jobs in STEM ONLY because they had competency in another language. It is short sighted to trade one competency for another. Schools’ current schedules frequently allow a student to take up to 8 classes a year and there is adequate room in a schedule for both types of courses. A search of indeed.com lists over 6400 current job postings IN VIRGINIA that require a second language: these range from Data Analysis, Defense, Healthcare, Energy, Translators, Customer Service and Instructors. You can see this is not an isolated skill. I appreciate your consideration and ask you to vote against HB 340 or at the least remove the ‘in lieu of world languages’ phrasing. Cammie Williams Supervisor of World Language and ELL Roanoke County Public Schools
Virginia Secretary of Education, Aimee Guidera, pledged to ensure that each and every student in the Commonwealth will have a "world class" education. A world class education comprises proficiency in a language other than English, preparing our students to be career ready. Being globally ready starts right here in the Commonwealth, with local language needs in every career cluster. HB340 is asking for alternative pathways for students on the expense of World Language acquisition. I oppose this bill in its current form. There is nothing innovative about the nature of the bill. It is taking us backwards. What we need, and what the Virginia Chamber of Commerce clearly prioritizes on their VA Blueprint 2030, are language skills for all. The Seal of Biliteracy is an option for all students to earn a distinguished credential on their high school diploma, demonstrating language proficiency in a language other than English. What we should be asking for is a bill that would ensure that students who successfully earns a Seal of Biliteracy earns high school credit. Passing a VDOE approved standardized test with intermediate mid proficiency in all modes of communication, should be rewarded with 3 WL high school credits. To this day, there are inequitable practices in awarding high school credit for passing the Seal of Biliteracy. Some divisions award credit by exam others don't. Let's change the language of HB340 and include the Seal of Biliteracy. This would truly serve our students, and ultimately Virginia's economic growth potential.
We are faced with yet another attack on world languages instruction in the Commonwealth. With the ability to communicate in another language at the top of employers' desired skills lists, why would we consider this step backwards? Replacing world language education with something else is not the right way to promote alternate pathways. We can work with the sponsor of this bill to keep world languages as a priority in Virginia while providing access to alternate pathways. Removing the requirement for coursework in world languages, coursework that promotes inclusion, understanding, intercultural competence, and interpersonal skills, would set Virginia back, not move us forward. The Commonwealth needs this valuable 21st century skill to be promoted and expanded.
HB340 At this time, more than ever, we are living in a global economy and our Virginia students deserve a chance to fully engage internationally. As an upper-level French and Spanish teacher for the last 20 years, I have had students double and triple major in math, computer science, economics, finance AND a language. Because of their stellar AP language scores, they were able to add a language major or minor to another field of study in order to be competitive in the multi-lingual global marketplace. Now is the time to encourage all Virginians to become proficient in another language. HB340, does not provide the support that our students need to develop global competencies. Virginia educators and the VDOE have been working tirelessly to promote the benefits of multilingualism with our World Language Governor's School Program and the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy. Students should be challenged to expand their horizons, not limit them. According to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, in Virginia alone, we have over 1200 international business locations operating within our commonwealth. These international companies come from all over the world and speak a myriad of languages. Do not sell our students short. Their future depends on you! https://internationaldirectory.vedp.org/
While I applaud the intent of this bill to elevate the prestige of career and technical education, the devil is always in the details. Virginia's students need both career readiness and global readiness skills to succeed after high school. Please don't diminish the important role of world languages in our students' development. If anything, we need more world language study for both advanced and standard diploma students.
I am writing in opposition to HB 340. In a world that is increasingly multilingual and multicultural, we should be encouraging students to study more world languages for longer, not offering ways to avoid learning world languages. I oppose any advanced studies diploma that does not include world language components. The wording of this bill "in lieu of world language courses" unnecessarily prejudices the curriculum that might be established by these new pathways, unfairly targeting courses that teach skills -- communication and cross-cultural awareness -- of use to all Virginians, no matter their career orientation. All Virginians live in a multilingual and multicultural society within a global economy. World language courses help Virginia graduates build connections and value for interaction with diverse communities, an identified goal of the profile of a Virginia graduate, and teach interpersonal and communication skills, essential in any workplace. Please do not approve HB340 as it is currently written. Do not intentionally put Virginia students at a disadvantage in both the college application process and in the work world. All of us need the skills learned in our world language classrooms.
Hello, I write today in opposition to the current wording of HB340 which unnecessarily targets world language education as part of the high school advanced diploma. Education in world languages provides intellectual and cognitive benefits far beyond the actual language learned. Despite what some think, language learning is accessible to all students, including those with benefits, but should absolutely be a part of any honor or advanced educational program or diploma. World language education is an integral part of Global Readiness standards, 21st Century skills, as well as a core element of all International Baccalaureate programs, including the IB Career Readiness Diploma. The rest of the world understands the importance of communication skills as seen by the requirements of 2nd and 3rd language studies for students in most industrialized countries. Any exclusions of world language learning from the Virginia Advanced Diploma would be a detriment to our students. Thank you for time.
HB 340 is currently before the House Education Committee. I’m writing as a Virginia voter and an educator to ask that you oppose the wording of this bill, which clearly targets world language courses: “The Board of Education shall establish pathways to the advanced studies high school diploma, and associated diploma seals for students who successfully follow and demonstrate excellence on such pathways, that require advanced coursework in a career and technical education field such as advanced manufacturing or robotics in lieu of world language courses or any other required course that the Board deems appropriate.” I certainly understand the need to differentiate educational paths for Virginia students based on their talents, interests, and goals. Creating various curricular paths for students who aspire to the advanced studies high school diploma can serve this goal. However, the wording of HB 340 unnecessarily prejudges the curriculum that might be established by these new pathways and unfairly targets courses that teach skills--communication and cross-cultural awareness--essential to all Virginians, no matter their career orientation. All Virginians live in a multilingual and multicultural society within a global economy. When 2100 U.S. Human Resources departments were surveyed, 93% of the respondents said they value employees able to work effectively across a range of different countries and cultures, 66% identified foreign language skills as part of the hiring process, and 41% reported a hiring preference for multilingual applicants. Career and technical education is not in opposition to world languages; the two disciplines can work together to prepare career-ready global citizens. Therefore, I ask that you vote to eliminate the words “in lieu of world language courses” from HB 340. Thank you. Sincerely, Cristina Berry
In 2017, the US Department of Education developed a framework for Global and Intercultural Competence, in which the need for language proficiency and intercultural competence is clearly outlined. This constitutes an essential commitment to all students, and today, more than ever, we need to prepare all of our students to be career ready to meet local and global demands . Whether hospitality, construction, EMT, police, healthcare or any other career cluster, our Virginia employers are looking not only for technical skills, but global century career skills, which comprise socio-cultural competence and the ability to speak at least one other foreign language. Virginia already offers alternate pathways of learning. What we need is to prepare all students to be globally ready. The Virginia Chamber of Commerce also understands this necessity and prioritizes world language learning Prek-12 in their Virginia 2030 blueprint p.9: Support and expand Dual Language Immersion and the Seal of Biliteracy as seminal pathways toward industry credentialing Emphasize language instruction in earlier grades where children more easily learn other languages Partner with and create internships with multinational companies emphasizing language and technical skills Virginia is already behind our neighboring states, who have invested in world languages studies K-12. Students in Georgia, NC, and SC are graduating multilingual with increased job opportunities and higher starting salaries. I strongly oppose HB 340, as it constitutes a disservice to the students in the Commonwealth.
World language skills are a vital part of 21st Century Skills and global competency for any works, and should be a central part of Virginia's Advanced Diploma. "The ability to communicate with respect and cultural understanding in more than one language is an essential element of global competence.* This competence is developed and demonstrated by investigating the world, recognizing and weighing perspectives, acquiring and applying disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge, communicating ideas, and taking action." ACTFL In the 21st century, language learning meets real world needs: Rewards learners with a resume differentiator – the ability to communicate and collaborate in another language across cultures and time zones Provides access to information and collaboration in any field - including science, technology, engineering, mathematics; business; and health care Develops critical literacies by practicing skills to understand, exchange opinions, and present ideas Develops flexible and adaptable thinking, plus an ability to function in new and unfamiliar situations Prepares learners to think and interact in a global community Language learning develops these 21st century skills as learners: Participate in face-to-face interactions via technology, internships and volunteer opportunities in the community. Apply their competence in a new language to their career and personal goals, broadening their thinking beyond self-serving goals. Become more adept in understanding diverse cultural perspectives and their own identity. I oppose any Advaanced Studies Diploma that excludes world langauges and vehemently oppose the wording of HB340 that seems like a personal vendetta of a particluar sponsor.
HB344 - Public charter schools; applications, review and approval.
HB 1024... OPPOSE... Diverts public funds to private entities ... sounds like vouchers/tax shelter HB 344/356 OPPOSE... Local School Boards already have the authority to review applications for charters, etc.. once again looks like a method of diverting public funds to private entities .. Virginia underfunds it public schools as it is. We need to keep the public funds where it would do the most good and if the Va. Leg had not tied the hands of public education with all the SOQ/SOL requirements and was able to allow the educators more flexibility to implement programs tailored to the needs of their district more freely and would FUND these public programs things would be even better. I noted that all the Ed representatives opposed this at committee hearing. Who is going pay for that regional board mentioned in 356?? that will just siphon more public money for another layer of admin. HB346. I noted in the committee meeting that only the colleges who already have the capability to create lab schools now spoke FOR this bill because it would bring more of the public k-12 funds to their doorstep. Opens door for corporate/for profits to operate as well.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
I am writing in opposition of HB344 and HB346. HB344 - local governing bodies should have the sole discretion to approve or reject charter schools within their jurisdiction. Given that our schools are still underfunded, the emphasis should be improving the educational experience for all students, not passing the buck. HB346 - Our local school boards are best equipped to make recommendations for student needs. We should not be establishing schools outside the purview of the school board and without accountability to the parents and voters. The bill would also allow institutions whose values run counter to the goal of inclusive public schooling to enter our public schools. Underserved communities are already struggling and should not have their vulnerability exploited by schools or private businesses with a political agenda. Keep our money in our schools. A strong public education system benefits every citizen and improves our communities.
Both I, a public school teacher in Fairfax County, and the Virginia Education Association OPPOSE HB 344 & 346. Charter schools (and variations) take essential moneys away from public education. Charters hurt students, schools, and communities.
I SUPPORT HB 1328. I OPPOSE HB 344, 787, and 1009.
I oppose HB344. There are already processes outlined in the Code of Virginia allowing the development of new charter schools. The reason Virginia has not developed new charter schools in recent years is because there was simply no interest in doing so, and so few applicants. This bill will remove local authority of school boards who are most qualified to make these decisions.
Please oppose HB344 and HB356. Our public schools need attention and are the best places for our tax dollars. Charter schools will not lessen the financial burden of education and would compete with funding for existing public schools. Another level of administration, teachers, libraries, and food services, for example, would have a significant impact on funding our public schools. The public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession. Public schools first and foremost.
Dear Members of the Education Committee, I respectfully wish to oppose HR344. I am a retired Virginia K12 teacher and I have seen first hand what lack of funding and support for our public schools has done to the quality of education and the morale of both students and staff. The schools I served and loved have never recovered from the decrease in funding that began in 2008 and has continued on into the present. Public schools are important. They are the place where students of all races, all economic classes, and all abilities mix together to form an inclusive community that promotes acceptance. This community where ALL children have a place is important to the health of our county. Please do not destroy this mission of the public schools by taking needed funds to provide a duplicate and divisive system of schools which will surely support a division of children until there is NO place left for us all to be citizens together. I support full funding of America's public school system.
Remember the Great Recession? The cuts made then to school funding have never been fully restored. That's where our tax dollars should be going, not diverted to schools where taxpayers have no voice. My taxes educate other people's children and I'm fine with that as long as I have a vote on electing the governing school board and the opportunity to speak at that board's public meetings. HB344 takes away my voice as a voter and taxpayer. Please do not pass HB344.
Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
Please oppose all bills which give taxpayer money to charter schools or university lab schools. These schools are not accountable to local parents or voters, and their support takes money away from public schools, which are essential to our democracy.
HB344 (Davis) Public charter schools; applications; review and approval and HB356 (Tata) Authorizes the Board of Education to establish regional charter school divisions Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession. HB346 (Davis) College partnership laboratory schools; application and establishment Local school boards are best positioned to determine what their students need. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. The bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools.
We need to prioritize energies and money for our current schools and their students. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 levels when funds were diverted due to the recession. Charter schools will compete for these limited funds: additional teachers, administrators, educational supplies, maintenance and health, safety and food services. Charter schools do not equitably serve the needs of all students. I oppose any legislation supporting charter schools.
Hello esteemed committee members, I am a parent of a current Chesterfield County Public school child as well as a 2019 graduate of CCPS schools. I am a STRONG supporter of public schools. I oppose any proposed bills, including HB344, HB346, and HB356, that take away control from locally elected school boards and give it to privately operated boards that have the real potential for cronyism, grift, corruption, and fraud. Charter schools also siphon taxpayer money from Virginia's already severely underfunded public schools and fling open doors to businesses/people that profit off of public education. Virginia's current College partnership laboratory schools are public, nonsectarian, nonreligious schools established by a public or private institutions of higher education that operate a teacher education program approved by the Board of Education. The language in HB 346 would allow ANY public or private institution of higher ed OR private business to apply to the BOE to establish a college partnership laboratory school. This would open doors for for-profit schools like EPI, religious schools like Regent, or businesses like Amazon or McDonalds to establish teacher training programs. This is another attempt at education privatization. Please keep in mind that Virginia is currently ranked 4th by Wallet Hub for best schools in the US. This is WITHOUT a proliferation of charter schools and attained during the Covid-19 pandemic. Why do we need charter schools? Who REALLY wants them? https://wallethub.com/edu/e/states-with-the-best-schools/5335 Public education is the foundation of a democratic society. It is open to all students, regardless of color, disability, income level, religious belief (or lack of one), gender identity, or national origin. Please say no to HB 344, HB346, and HB356. Thank you.
I oppose HB1024, HB344, HB356, and HB346. These bills divert funds from public schools, reduce transparency with respect to public interest in the education of its citizens, remove/reduce influence of local school boards, potentially introduce religious bias into instruction, and/or disproportionally benefit the wealthy. We need to invest in our public education system and encourage parents to participate in public education. We do not need to divert funds to private schools from an already underfunded public education system or reduce the tax base for public schools. Our society requires a quality education system for all of its citizens for its continued growth and stability. The public has as much interest in the education of children as parents. Focus on funding and promoting public education not trying to fund private and particularly, private for-profit schools, which are NOT in the best interests of the public.
OPPOSE HB344 Charter schools would compete with our public schools for limited resources and personnel at a time when public schools are struggling. The General Assembly does not fund the SOQ, and our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I oppose HB344, HB346 and HB356. Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
Please do not support house bills 1024, 344,346, or 356. These bills divert resources from public schools. There is not interest in charter schools in Virginia, creating new schools is highly inefficient especially when there is a shortage of teachers and staff.
Oppose HB344 and HB356 Current schools should be the priority.
Oppose HB344 Current schools should be the priority.
Oppose HB344 Current schools should be the priority.
HB344 - Public schools that are open to all students need to be our priority and these public schools need to remain under the control of local school divisions. Funding additional schools outside of local control removes funding from local public schools. This is especially important when more, not less, funding is needed for public schools. HB346 - This bill also removes local control and funding from public schools. Public school divisions have the capability to work with local public institutions of high learning to provide lab schools. This cooperation should be encouraged at the local level - NOT with legislation that encourages private institutions and business to establish schools.
I oppose any of the pending legislation that would divert funds and resources from our public schools. Our public schools are already shamefully underfunded.
Good morning, esteemed members of Virginia's House of Delegates, I’m a parent who lives several hours away from Richmond and DC and I believe it’s imperative that local control in education decision making should remain just that; local. I currently have easy access to the locally elected, public school leaders and school system administrators in my county and am able to see their budgets, provide input on income and expenditures, and ensure our tax dollars are being spent wisely. Please don’t remove citizens’ rights to do this by opening the flood gates to charter school operators, outsiders who aren’t invested in our communities. I’ve chronicled the problems other states have with their charter schools since 2015. Each day in the headlines I see fraud, waste, embezzlement, and mismanagement of funds by charter school operators in those states. We don’t need those problems for Virginia. Charter schools often use selective enrollment tactics, can’t accommodate children with special needs, and don’t provide transportation and meals. These would be very big issues for countless students and their families here in SW Virginia. If communities would like to open charter schools, they may do so now under Virginia’s Constitution, and that’s the way it should remain. Virginia’s public schools are ranked 4th in the nation. They’re valuable, not because they’re money-makers, but because they’re responsible citizen makers. Please don’t undermine them and further under-fund them through unwise charter school legislation. Instead, please better support our neighborhood public schools through full and fair funding. Please look at the Community Schools model as a way to provide services for children in need of supports that will help them succeed in the classroom. Sincerely, Laura Bowman
Respected Committee Members, The push to create charters in Virginia via a variety of methods in HB346, HB356, and HB344 is a deeply flawed idea. Across Virginia we have over 44 International Baccaulareate schools which are the most respected advanced acacemic program in the world. Those districts are all across the Commonwealth, including 2 in Virginia Beach, Danville, York, Hanover, and Fauquier. Most students can access Dual Enrollment classes in virtually any subject at our community colleges while still in high school, and over 640K students have accessed a range of career courses over 17 career categories that encompass many fields. CNBC ranked Virginia 1st in the nation on 85 different metrics aross 10 categories. We have school choice built into our system. To disrupt the system by siphoning money and resources to privately managed or regional schools that many students cannot reach will negatively disrupt what is already highly successful and more readily available buffet of choices. Please vote no on HB346, HB356, and HB344. Thank you.
We oppose the above listed bills
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I am a public school teacher in Fairfax County and I am writing to urge you to vote no on HB 344, HB 346, and HB 356. These bills divert public money out of our existing public schools and into creating new charter and “laboratory” schools. It is the state’s responsibility to ensure that our public schools are fully-funded. Up until this point, the General Assembly has not even funded the Virginia Board of Education’s Standards of Quality for minimum staffing standards in our public schools (relatedly, I ask that you please vote in favor of HB1135/SB490 so that we can finally fund these minimum recommended staffing standards). The argument in past years has been that fully funding our public schools would be too costly, and yet there are over a dozen bills this session seeking to further deplete state public school funding to divert into private and charter schools. Please protect public school funding by voting no on these bills.
My name is Dr. Rachel Levy and I live in Ashland, Virginia (23005), in the 55th House of Delegates District and the 9th State Senate District. I am a mother of three--I have one child in Hanover County Public Schools as well as two who are just graduated in 2021. I am also a teacher who has a PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy from VCU. I was a candidate for the 55th District seat in 2021. I oppose HB344, HB346, and HB356 because I support our public schools, because they are impractical and unnecessary, and because this legislation would disenfranchise local communities. We already have good laws that allow establishing charter and lab schools, in ways that preserve local democratic control and don’t rob funding from our public school students. All of these bills would strip power away from our locally elected school boards and hand it over to un-elected regional boards stocked with gubernatorial appointees. These regional charter school boards could override our locally elected school boards and their constituents (us!), duplicating services and forcing taxpayers to fund schools run by national and global for-profit companies that are focused on profits, not education. Allowing these companies to force their schools on us would be harmful across our Commonwealth, especially in rural areas such as where I live. Our public schools are beloved shared public and community institutions. Even if we don’t agree on what should be taught or on masking policies, we can all agree that the parents and citizens who fund our public schools should get to determine how they’re run and by whom. We want fully funded public schools, fairly compensated teachers and staff, and modernized school buildings. Corporate charter schools would drain the resources needed to achieve these goals. Many public school teachers and staff are of their communities, especially in rural areas, with deep knowledge and relationships. Outside charter school operators will bring in non-professional teaching staff and a “we know better” attitude. They pay reduced wages, salaries, and benefits. I hope you will join me in opposing this legislation that will bypass local communities and defund our education-centered public schools.
I am against these three bills and against any tax payer funds going to anything other than our public schools that are already underfunded in some areas of the Commonwealth. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession. If parents want to send their children to private, religious, or charter schools, fine, but at their own expense. Our public schools offer extremely good educations in Virginia and we should be supporting our educators and facilities with our tax dollars. We do not need another level of administration at a regional level to run a parallel set of schools, many that would have a small number of students.
I oppose HB344 & HB356 - please vote no for the following reasons: Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I am writing in opposition to HB344, HB346, HB356. HB344 - It shows the complete dishonesty of the argument, that you want local governing bodies to have expanded rights, except where it serves your purpose. HB346 - Local school boards are best positioned to determine what their students need. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. The bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools. HB356 - Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries, and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I am writing to oppose any bill that would divert tax dollars from our public schools. Charter schools compete with our existing schools and reduce their ability to meet the needs of the students in their community. Our public schools are underfunded. We need to use our tax dollars to support our existing schools, to pay teachers a living wage, and to provide safe and up to date educational facilities. My sister has taught in Virginia's public schools for 35 years, and her salary is an insult to her professionalism and commitment to her students. Regional charter school divisions and laboratory schools would take control away from local school boards. Private institutions and businesses should not receive tax dollars for education. Thank you.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
I oppose this bill on the grounds that localities should maintain control of public schools. There is no need for the Board of Education to override School Boards, most of whom are elected in Virginia. This bill removes local control of public schools and undermine the authority of a School Board.
Both I, an public school teacher in Fairfax County, and the Virginia Education Association oppose HB 344, 346, and 356. Programs that drain public school budgets, such as vouchers, are a very bad idea. These programs hurt kids, schools, and communities.
I am a wife, mother, educator and resident of the city of Suffolk and I oppose these bills (including HB788, which was not on the list) because k-12 vouchers do not improve student outcomes. They take much needed money from public education. Virginia needs to put more money into public education, not less. We are current ranked 41st for per student spending. Our teacher salaries are nowhere near where they should be and we are currently suffering from a teacher shortage. There are numerous studies (Brookings Institute, National Bureau of Economic Research, University of Virginia) that show vouchers do not improve student outcomes. Investing in public schools improves outcomes, graduation and post secondary enrollment. Vote no on these bills. Thank you. Mrs. D. Waddell
Greetings legislators, I categorically oppose HB344 and any bill that is pushing vouchers, charters, and the privatization of our public schools. Under current law, the power to grant or deny a public charter school application and enter into an agreement for the establishment of a public charter school rests solely with local school boards— this current law must stay the same. We should be pushing to fund all public schools (and public schools only) in all communities to ensure equitable opportunities for all students. Students should be able to attend their neighborhood/community school and their parents/guardians/family adults should expect the same quality public education and public services across their school district/county and throughout this great commonwealth. Championing vouchers is a way to create enrollment and staffing problems already exacerbated by the pandemic. Vouchers are a way to siphon money from our public schools and to charters and private schools. Virginia is already 4th in the nation for public education. Privatization efforts will run this commonwealth into the ground and hurt public education which will ultimately hurt the futures of our students and our families. Look no further than the District of Columbia to see how charter schools have negatively impacted the public schools. I am afraid this will create a new Massive Resistance here in Virginia. This is just another way to segregate our schools. Please oppose this bill. Thank you for taking the time to read my comment.
I ask that you categorically oppose HB113 as it Violates the First Amendment of the US Constitution. It establishes a government preference for some religions over others or none. Our public schools exist to educate ALL students and that means students of all religions and no religion. Please oppose or amend HB344. While extending the agency of instituting charter schools to the state at large MAY be a desirable outcome (I remain unconvinced on this but openminded), the ability of local citizens to appeal the decision of the Board should not be removed. Citizens deserve the opportunity to revisit the determination of the Board and to additional information to strengthen their case for or against. Please oppose HB37. Local school boards should retain the decision power re the necessity of SROs. In general I am against the eroding of local control of schools. And in this specific case locations do exist where the presence of LEO’s in the educational setting will be more disrupting than helpful. I ask that you categorically oppose HB4. Schools should absolutely retain the right to determine when misdemeanors committed while in school should be reported to law enforcement. Crimes rising above the misdemeanor level should be required reporting. Please oppose HB8 Schools need fewer guns not more in them.
Please oppose HB113. Our public schools exist to educate ALL students and that means students of all religions and no religion. Students should not begin or end their day feeling marginalized by the institution that exists to serve them all. Please oppose or amend HB344. While extending the agency of instituting charter schools to the state at large may be a desirable outcome, the opportunity to appeal the decision of the Board should not be removed. Citizens deserve the opportunity to revisit the determination of the Board and to present a strengthened case. Please oppose HB37. Local school boards should retain the purview to determine if school resource officers are installed in their school based on their citizenry, cultural norms, and level of disruption in the school environment. Many environments exist where the presence of law enforcement in the educational setting will be more disrupting than helpful. Please oppose HB4. Schools should retain the purview to determine when misdemeanors committed while in school should be reported to law enforcement. Crimes are committed in many settings that do not result in the involvement of law enforcement. Staff and teachers who are attempting to build relationships of trust and nurturing with students should not be mandated into law enforcement referrals in instances where pursuing such discipline responses as restorative practices could result in positive and meaningful growth without funneling students into an already robust school to prison pipeline.
HB346 - College partnership laboratory schools; application and establishment.
HB 1024... OPPOSE... Diverts public funds to private entities ... sounds like vouchers/tax shelter HB 344/356 OPPOSE... Local School Boards already have the authority to review applications for charters, etc.. once again looks like a method of diverting public funds to private entities .. Virginia underfunds it public schools as it is. We need to keep the public funds where it would do the most good and if the Va. Leg had not tied the hands of public education with all the SOQ/SOL requirements and was able to allow the educators more flexibility to implement programs tailored to the needs of their district more freely and would FUND these public programs things would be even better. I noted that all the Ed representatives opposed this at committee hearing. Who is going pay for that regional board mentioned in 356?? that will just siphon more public money for another layer of admin. HB346. I noted in the committee meeting that only the colleges who already have the capability to create lab schools now spoke FOR this bill because it would bring more of the public k-12 funds to their doorstep. Opens door for corporate/for profits to operate as well.
As a VA taxpayer for over 50 years, I write to oppose the diversion of money from our excellent public schools to new, state sponsored charter schools. Such schools reduce the autonomy of local school districts in favor of "big government" and would require another costly layer of administration, including that needed for transportation, support staff, etc. Virginia's public schools, despite funding deficits, rank high (#4 or 5, as rated by non-partisan agencies World Population Review and Wallet Hub) nationally and make our Commonwealth attractive to businesses. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." What is to be accomplished by this bill? Local school boards are best able to decide what is needed for that district's students. That is where I want my tax dollars spent. HB346 is a non-starter.
I am writing in opposition of HB344 and HB346. HB344 - local governing bodies should have the sole discretion to approve or reject charter schools within their jurisdiction. Given that our schools are still underfunded, the emphasis should be improving the educational experience for all students, not passing the buck. HB346 - Our local school boards are best equipped to make recommendations for student needs. We should not be establishing schools outside the purview of the school board and without accountability to the parents and voters. The bill would also allow institutions whose values run counter to the goal of inclusive public schooling to enter our public schools. Underserved communities are already struggling and should not have their vulnerability exploited by schools or private businesses with a political agenda. Keep our money in our schools. A strong public education system benefits every citizen and improves our communities.
The purpose of my comments are to OPPOSE HB 346.
Both I, a public school teacher in Fairfax County, and the Virginia Education Association OPPOSE HB 344 & 346. Charter schools (and variations) take essential moneys away from public education. Charters hurt students, schools, and communities.
Dear Members of the Education Committee, I respectfully wish to oppose HR356. I am a retired Virginia K12 teacher and I have seen first hand what lack of funding and support for our public schools has done to the quality of education and the morale of both students and staff. The schools I served and loved have never recovered from the decrease in funding that began in 2008 and has continued on into the present. Please do not destroy or dilute our public schools effectiveness by further taking needed funding away and giving it to duplicate and divisive systems. I support all available funding be used to renew America's public school system.
We strongly support HB346! This last election demonstrated that parents want more options for educating their children. They rejected the attempt by school boards and politicians to prevent parents from engaging in their child's public education. It is time for politicians on both sides of isle to start listening to parents.
I am opposed to HB346. This is yet another bill that seeks to stifle my voice as a voter and taxpayer by setting up a complicated governing structure at several removes from the people whose taxes are paying the bills. I urge you to vote against all these bills that dis-empower voters and elected school governance.
I do not support this bill. Local school boards are best positioned to determine what their students need. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. The bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools.
Please oppose all bills which give taxpayer money to charter schools or university lab schools. These schools are not accountable to local parents or voters, and their support takes money away from public schools, which are essential to our democracy.
HB344 (Davis) Public charter schools; applications; review and approval and HB356 (Tata) Authorizes the Board of Education to establish regional charter school divisions Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession. HB346 (Davis) College partnership laboratory schools; application and establishment Local school boards are best positioned to determine what their students need. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. The bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools.
Local school boards are best positioned to determine their students' needs. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. Didn't Gov Youngkin's campaign indicate that parents would be able to determine what their children are taught? How does HB346 meet this promise?
Hello esteemed committee members, I am a parent of a current Chesterfield County Public school child as well as a 2019 graduate of CCPS schools. I am a STRONG supporter of public schools. I oppose any proposed bills, including HB344, HB346, and HB356, that take away control from locally elected school boards and give it to privately operated boards that have the real potential for cronyism, grift, corruption, and fraud. Charter schools also siphon taxpayer money from Virginia's already severely underfunded public schools and fling open doors to businesses/people that profit off of public education. Virginia's current College partnership laboratory schools are public, nonsectarian, nonreligious schools established by a public or private institutions of higher education that operate a teacher education program approved by the Board of Education. The language in HB 346 would allow ANY public or private institution of higher ed OR private business to apply to the BOE to establish a college partnership laboratory school. This would open doors for for-profit schools like EPI, religious schools like Regent, or businesses like Amazon or McDonalds to establish teacher training programs. This is another attempt at education privatization. Please keep in mind that Virginia is currently ranked 4th by Wallet Hub for best schools in the US. This is WITHOUT a proliferation of charter schools and attained during the Covid-19 pandemic. Why do we need charter schools? Who REALLY wants them? https://wallethub.com/edu/e/states-with-the-best-schools/5335 Public education is the foundation of a democratic society. It is open to all students, regardless of color, disability, income level, religious belief (or lack of one), gender identity, or national origin. Please say no to HB 344, HB346, and HB356. Thank you.
I oppose HB1024, HB344, HB356, and HB346. These bills divert funds from public schools, reduce transparency with respect to public interest in the education of its citizens, remove/reduce influence of local school boards, potentially introduce religious bias into instruction, and/or disproportionally benefit the wealthy. We need to invest in our public education system and encourage parents to participate in public education. We do not need to divert funds to private schools from an already underfunded public education system or reduce the tax base for public schools. Our society requires a quality education system for all of its citizens for its continued growth and stability. The public has as much interest in the education of children as parents. Focus on funding and promoting public education not trying to fund private and particularly, private for-profit schools, which are NOT in the best interests of the public.
I oppose HB344, HB346 and HB356. Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
Please do not support house bills 1024, 344,346, or 356. These bills divert resources from public schools. There is not interest in charter schools in Virginia, creating new schools is highly inefficient especially when there is a shortage of teachers and staff.
I oppose House Bills 344 and 356 because they support charter schools. Charter schools take funding away from public schools, and there is no evidence that they produce better educational outcomes. At a time when the funding and staffing of public schools is a problem, the allocation of funds to charter schools is not an educational decision but a political sop to a vocal constituency.
HB344 - Public schools that are open to all students need to be our priority and these public schools need to remain under the control of local school divisions. Funding additional schools outside of local control removes funding from local public schools. This is especially important when more, not less, funding is needed for public schools. HB346 - This bill also removes local control and funding from public schools. Public school divisions have the capability to work with local public institutions of high learning to provide lab schools. This cooperation should be encouraged at the local level - NOT with legislation that encourages private institutions and business to establish schools.
I oppose any of the pending legislation that would divert funds and resources from our public schools. Our public schools are already shamefully underfunded.
Good morning, esteemed members of Virginia's House of Delegates, I’m a parent who lives several hours away from Richmond and DC and I believe it’s imperative that local control in education decision making should remain just that; local. I currently have easy access to the locally elected, public school leaders and school system administrators in my county and am able to see their budgets, provide input on income and expenditures, and ensure our tax dollars are being spent wisely. Please don’t remove citizens’ rights to do this by opening the flood gates to charter school operators, outsiders who aren’t invested in our communities. I’ve chronicled the problems other states have with their charter schools since 2015. Each day in the headlines I see fraud, waste, embezzlement, and mismanagement of funds by charter school operators in those states. We don’t need those problems for Virginia. Charter schools often use selective enrollment tactics, can’t accommodate children with special needs, and don’t provide transportation and meals. These would be very big issues for countless students and their families here in SW Virginia. If communities would like to open charter schools, they may do so now under Virginia’s Constitution, and that’s the way it should remain. Virginia’s public schools are ranked 4th in the nation. They’re valuable, not because they’re money-makers, but because they’re responsible citizen makers. Please don’t undermine them and further under-fund them through unwise charter school legislation. Instead, please better support our neighborhood public schools through full and fair funding. Please look at the Community Schools model as a way to provide services for children in need of supports that will help them succeed in the classroom. Sincerely, Laura Bowman
Respected Committee Members, The push to create charters in Virginia via a variety of methods in HB346, HB356, and HB344 is a deeply flawed idea. Across Virginia we have over 44 International Baccaulareate schools which are the most respected advanced acacemic program in the world. Those districts are all across the Commonwealth, including 2 in Virginia Beach, Danville, York, Hanover, and Fauquier. Most students can access Dual Enrollment classes in virtually any subject at our community colleges while still in high school, and over 640K students have accessed a range of career courses over 17 career categories that encompass many fields. CNBC ranked Virginia 1st in the nation on 85 different metrics aross 10 categories. We have school choice built into our system. To disrupt the system by siphoning money and resources to privately managed or regional schools that many students cannot reach will negatively disrupt what is already highly successful and more readily available buffet of choices. Please vote no on HB346, HB356, and HB344. Thank you.
We oppose the above listed bills
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
Local school boards are best positioned to determine what their students need. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. The bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools.
I am a public school teacher in Fairfax County and I am writing to urge you to vote no on HB 344, HB 346, and HB 356. These bills divert public money out of our existing public schools and into creating new charter and “laboratory” schools. It is the state’s responsibility to ensure that our public schools are fully-funded. Up until this point, the General Assembly has not even funded the Virginia Board of Education’s Standards of Quality for minimum staffing standards in our public schools (relatedly, I ask that you please vote in favor of HB1135/SB490 so that we can finally fund these minimum recommended staffing standards). The argument in past years has been that fully funding our public schools would be too costly, and yet there are over a dozen bills this session seeking to further deplete state public school funding to divert into private and charter schools. Please protect public school funding by voting no on these bills.
My name is Dr. Rachel Levy and I live in Ashland, Virginia (23005), in the 55th House of Delegates District and the 9th State Senate District. I am a mother of three--I have one child in Hanover County Public Schools as well as two who are just graduated in 2021. I am also a teacher who has a PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy from VCU. I was a candidate for the 55th District seat in 2021. I oppose HB344, HB346, and HB356 because I support our public schools, because they are impractical and unnecessary, and because this legislation would disenfranchise local communities. We already have good laws that allow establishing charter and lab schools, in ways that preserve local democratic control and don’t rob funding from our public school students. All of these bills would strip power away from our locally elected school boards and hand it over to un-elected regional boards stocked with gubernatorial appointees. These regional charter school boards could override our locally elected school boards and their constituents (us!), duplicating services and forcing taxpayers to fund schools run by national and global for-profit companies that are focused on profits, not education. Allowing these companies to force their schools on us would be harmful across our Commonwealth, especially in rural areas such as where I live. Our public schools are beloved shared public and community institutions. Even if we don’t agree on what should be taught or on masking policies, we can all agree that the parents and citizens who fund our public schools should get to determine how they’re run and by whom. We want fully funded public schools, fairly compensated teachers and staff, and modernized school buildings. Corporate charter schools would drain the resources needed to achieve these goals. Many public school teachers and staff are of their communities, especially in rural areas, with deep knowledge and relationships. Outside charter school operators will bring in non-professional teaching staff and a “we know better” attitude. They pay reduced wages, salaries, and benefits. I hope you will join me in opposing this legislation that will bypass local communities and defund our education-centered public schools.
I am against these three bills and against any tax payer funds going to anything other than our public schools that are already underfunded in some areas of the Commonwealth. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession. If parents want to send their children to private, religious, or charter schools, fine, but at their own expense. Our public schools offer extremely good educations in Virginia and we should be supporting our educators and facilities with our tax dollars. We do not need another level of administration at a regional level to run a parallel set of schools, many that would have a small number of students.
I oppose HB346 for the following reasons - please vote NO! Local school boards are best positioned to determine what their students need. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. The bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools.
Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I am writing in opposition to HB344, HB346, HB356. HB344 - It shows the complete dishonesty of the argument, that you want local governing bodies to have expanded rights, except where it serves your purpose. HB346 - Local school boards are best positioned to determine what their students need. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. The bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools. HB356 - Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries, and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I am writing to oppose any bill that would divert tax dollars from our public schools. Charter schools compete with our existing schools and reduce their ability to meet the needs of the students in their community. Our public schools are underfunded. We need to use our tax dollars to support our existing schools, to pay teachers a living wage, and to provide safe and up to date educational facilities. My sister has taught in Virginia's public schools for 35 years, and her salary is an insult to her professionalism and commitment to her students. Regional charter school divisions and laboratory schools would take control away from local school boards. Private institutions and businesses should not receive tax dollars for education. Thank you.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
I oppose this legislation and any other legislation that opens the door for private charter schools to move into Virginia. HBCU's Lab Schools should be fully funded via the existing Lab School laws and policy.
Both I, an public school teacher in Fairfax County, and the Virginia Education Association oppose HB 344, 346, and 356. Programs that drain public school budgets, such as vouchers, are a very bad idea. These programs hurt kids, schools, and communities.
Radford University has a proud history of preparing teachers for schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1910. Our existing educator preparation programs, which are fully accredited by CAEP and approved by the Virginia Department of Education, prepares educators for early childhood, special education, elementary education, middle education, and secondary education. The University is committed to growing the teaching workforce and welcomes the opportunity to partner with school divisions to explore an array of innovative education opportunities, including college partnership laboratory schools. We support the provisions in HB 346 that expands eligibility for all public and private institutions of higher education; and investment by the Commonwealth to support the establishment of college partnership laboratory schools.
Dear Education Committee Members: My name is Frank Morgan. I am a retired educator who spent 43 years working in public school districts in Virginia and South Carolina, including 16 years as a superintendent I have a fair amount of experience with charter schools. I was very involved in Albemarle County in the development of one of the first local charter school policies in Virginia around 2000 and in the establishment of one of the first charter schools in the state shortly thereafter. I also worked with a charter school in the district in South Carolina where I served as superintendent. That said, there is no research out there that indicates that charter schools are overall any more or less successful than regular public schools. There are good ones and not-so-good ones, just like with regular public schools. The front-page publicity on January 28 in The Richmond Times-Dispatch about Governor Youngkin’s charter school proposal requires, I believe, some cautionary caveats. Governor Youngkin asserts that his advocacy for charter schools is connected to increased ‘choice”. Consequently, any expansion of charter schools in Virginia must reflect legitimate and realistic “choice” for families. This means that charter schools must be subject to fully open or lottery-based enrollment and be required to serve economically disadvantaged, special needs, and non-English-speaking students. Publicly funded charter schools must also be required to provide no-cost transportation given that transportation is often a barrier to economically disadvantaged students attending “schools of choice”. In the absence of these requirements, charter schools will simply be “choice” for charter schools to cherry-pick the students they want and exclude the ones they don’t. I would hope this is not the vision involved. Further, charter schools must be subject to the same academic accountability and state testing requirements as regular public schools. Otherwise, how will measurable and valid comparisons be drawn? Parent satisfaction and teacher grades should not be the sole accountability barometers for charter schools unless regular public schools can also be judged solely by these measures. Finally, charter schools must be subject to the same due process requirements as regular public schools. Especially given that they would be publicly funded, charter schools must not be permitted to exclude a student because of low achievement or minor behavioral issues. Regular public schools can’t exclude students for these reasons. In addition, charter schools must be subject to the same stringent financial (auditing) oversight as regular public school divisions in Virginia. I googled “charter schools/financial mismanagement/scandal” and got almost 5 million hits, which clearly indicates the nationwide seriousness of this issue. Such oversight is particularly important if corporate interests become involved in managing charter schools. The private sector has some history of financial missteps when involved with charter schools. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this feedback. Dr, Frank E. Morgan 2002 Deep Ridge Court Henrico, VA 23233 (803) 572-2591
Both I (a public school teacher in Fairfax County) and the Virginia Education Association OPPOSE HB346 and HB356. VEA is against the creation of any type of charter schools. Charter schools are bad for students and community, because they are so unregulated, and they take needed dollars away from our public schools.
Virginia Faith and Freedom Coalition supports this bill.
HB356 - Public schools; Board of Education may establish regional charter school divisions.
I oppose HB356 because it would divert resources from our existing public schools, including teachers and funds that would be needed for additional administration, building maintenance, transportation and educational supplies. Funding quality public schools is necessary for the future of our students and for the economy of the state of Virginia.
HB 1024... OPPOSE... Diverts public funds to private entities ... sounds like vouchers/tax shelter HB 344/356 OPPOSE... Local School Boards already have the authority to review applications for charters, etc.. once again looks like a method of diverting public funds to private entities .. Virginia underfunds it public schools as it is. We need to keep the public funds where it would do the most good and if the Va. Leg had not tied the hands of public education with all the SOQ/SOL requirements and was able to allow the educators more flexibility to implement programs tailored to the needs of their district more freely and would FUND these public programs things would be even better. I noted that all the Ed representatives opposed this at committee hearing. Who is going pay for that regional board mentioned in 356?? that will just siphon more public money for another layer of admin. HB346. I noted in the committee meeting that only the colleges who already have the capability to create lab schools now spoke FOR this bill because it would bring more of the public k-12 funds to their doorstep. Opens door for corporate/for profits to operate as well.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
I OPPOSE HB346 because I think local school boards are best positioned to determine what students need. This legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and outside of accountability to local voters. Further, this bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools.
Please oppose HB344 and HB356. Our public schools need attention and are the best places for our tax dollars. Charter schools will not lessen the financial burden of education and would compete with funding for existing public schools. Another level of administration, teachers, libraries, and food services, for example, would have a significant impact on funding our public schools. The public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession. Public schools first and foremost.
Dear Members of the Education Committee, I respectfully wish to oppose HR356. I am a retired Virginia K12 teacher and I have seen first hand what lack of funding and support for our public schools has done to the quality of education and the morale of both students and staff. The schools I served and loved have never recovered from the decrease in funding that began in 2008 and has continued on into the present. Please do not destroy or dilute our public schools effectiveness by further taking needed funding away and giving it to duplicate and divisive systems. I support all available funding be used to renew America's public school system.
Dear Members of the Education Committee, I respectfully wish to oppose HR356. I am a retired Virginia K12 teacher and I have seen first hand what lack of funding and support for our public schools has done to the quality of education and the morale of both students and staff. The schools I served and loved have never recovered from the decrease in funding that began in 2008 and has continued on into the present. Please do not destroy or dilute our public schools effectiveness by further taking needed funding away and giving it to a duplicate and divisive system. I support all available funding be used to renew America's public school system.
HB 356 "Public schools; regional charter school divisions" creates a complicated, additional, expensive layer of bureaucracy, apparently just to thwart oversight by local elected school boards and the voters that elected them. Instead of wasting my tax dollars on this scheme, put the money into our public schools. Funding cuts over a decade ago have not been fully restored. That's where our tax dollars should be going, not diverted to schools where taxpayers have no voice. My taxes educate other people's children and I'm fine with that as long as I have a vote on electing the governing school board and the opportunity to speak at that board's public meetings. HB356 takes away my voice as a voter and taxpayer. Please do not pass HB356.
Please oppose all bills which give taxpayer money to charter schools or university lab schools. These schools are not accountable to local parents or voters, and their support takes money away from public schools, which are essential to our democracy.
HB344 (Davis) Public charter schools; applications; review and approval and HB356 (Tata) Authorizes the Board of Education to establish regional charter school divisions Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession. HB346 (Davis) College partnership laboratory schools; application and establishment Local school boards are best positioned to determine what their students need. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. The bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools.
We need to prioritize energies and money for our current schools and their students. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 levels when funds were diverted due to the recession. Charter schools will compete for these limited funds: additional teachers, administrators, educational supplies, maintenance and health, safety and food services. Charter schools do not equitably serve the needs of all students. I oppose any legislation supporting charter schools.
Hello esteemed committee members, I am a parent of a current Chesterfield County Public school child as well as a 2019 graduate of CCPS schools. I am a STRONG supporter of public schools. I oppose any proposed bills, including HB344, HB346, and HB356, that take away control from locally elected school boards and give it to privately operated boards that have the real potential for cronyism, grift, corruption, and fraud. Charter schools also siphon taxpayer money from Virginia's already severely underfunded public schools and fling open doors to businesses/people that profit off of public education. Virginia's current College partnership laboratory schools are public, nonsectarian, nonreligious schools established by a public or private institutions of higher education that operate a teacher education program approved by the Board of Education. The language in HB 346 would allow ANY public or private institution of higher ed OR private business to apply to the BOE to establish a college partnership laboratory school. This would open doors for for-profit schools like EPI, religious schools like Regent, or businesses like Amazon or McDonalds to establish teacher training programs. This is another attempt at education privatization. Please keep in mind that Virginia is currently ranked 4th by Wallet Hub for best schools in the US. This is WITHOUT a proliferation of charter schools and attained during the Covid-19 pandemic. Why do we need charter schools? Who REALLY wants them? https://wallethub.com/edu/e/states-with-the-best-schools/5335 Public education is the foundation of a democratic society. It is open to all students, regardless of color, disability, income level, religious belief (or lack of one), gender identity, or national origin. Please say no to HB 344, HB346, and HB356. Thank you.
I oppose HB1024, HB344, HB356, and HB346. These bills divert funds from public schools, reduce transparency with respect to public interest in the education of its citizens, remove/reduce influence of local school boards, potentially introduce religious bias into instruction, and/or disproportionally benefit the wealthy. We need to invest in our public education system and encourage parents to participate in public education. We do not need to divert funds to private schools from an already underfunded public education system or reduce the tax base for public schools. Our society requires a quality education system for all of its citizens for its continued growth and stability. The public has as much interest in the education of children as parents. Focus on funding and promoting public education not trying to fund private and particularly, private for-profit schools, which are NOT in the best interests of the public.
OPPOSE HB356 Charter schools would compete with our public schools for limited resources and personnel at a time when public schools are struggling. The General Assembly does not fund the SOQ, and our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I am opposed to the bill and other bills that establish or support public charter schools. They decrease funds available for existing public schools.
I oppose HB344, HB346 and HB356. Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
Please do not support house bills 1024, 344,346, or 356. These bills divert resources from public schools. There is not interest in charter schools in Virginia, creating new schools is highly inefficient especially when there is a shortage of teachers and staff.
Oppose HB344 and HB356 Current schools should be the priority.
HB356 - Our public schools should remain under local control as stated in the Virginia Constitution. This needs to be our priority. Establishing charter schools in a process outside of a local school board is not a solution to improve education. School divisions need more funding - not less funding. Creating charter schools outside of oversight of local school boards reduces funding for public schools and does not ensure equal access for all students.
Good morning, esteemed members of Virginia's House of Delegates, I’m a parent who lives several hours away from Richmond and DC and I believe it’s imperative that local control in education decision making should remain just that; local. I currently have easy access to the locally elected, public school leaders and school system administrators in my county and am able to see their budgets, provide input on income and expenditures, and ensure our tax dollars are being spent wisely. Please don’t remove citizens’ rights to do this by opening the flood gates to charter school operators, outsiders who aren’t invested in our communities. I’ve chronicled the problems other states have with their charter schools since 2015. Each day in the headlines I see fraud, waste, embezzlement, and mismanagement of funds by charter school operators in those states. We don’t need those problems for Virginia. Charter schools often use selective enrollment tactics, can’t accommodate children with special needs, and don’t provide transportation and meals. These would be very big issues for countless students and their families here in SW Virginia. If communities would like to open charter schools, they may do so now under Virginia’s Constitution, and that’s the way it should remain. Virginia’s public schools are ranked 4th in the nation. They’re valuable, not because they’re money-makers, but because they’re responsible citizen makers. Please don’t undermine them and further under-fund them through unwise charter school legislation. Instead, please better support our neighborhood public schools through full and fair funding. Please look at the Community Schools model as a way to provide services for children in need of supports that will help them succeed in the classroom. Sincerely, Laura Bowman
Respected Committee Members, The push to create charters in Virginia via a variety of methods in HB346, HB356, and HB344 is a deeply flawed idea. Across Virginia we have over 44 International Baccaulareate schools which are the most respected advanced acacemic program in the world. Those districts are all across the Commonwealth, including 2 in Virginia Beach, Danville, York, Hanover, and Fauquier. Most students can access Dual Enrollment classes in virtually any subject at our community colleges while still in high school, and over 640K students have accessed a range of career courses over 17 career categories that encompass many fields. CNBC ranked Virginia 1st in the nation on 85 different metrics aross 10 categories. We have school choice built into our system. To disrupt the system by siphoning money and resources to privately managed or regional schools that many students cannot reach will negatively disrupt what is already highly successful and more readily available buffet of choices. Please vote no on HB346, HB356, and HB344. Thank you.
We oppose the above listed bills
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I am a public school teacher in Fairfax County and I am writing to urge you to vote no on HB 344, HB 346, and HB 356. These bills divert public money out of our existing public schools and into creating new charter and “laboratory” schools. It is the state’s responsibility to ensure that our public schools are fully-funded. Up until this point, the General Assembly has not even funded the Virginia Board of Education’s Standards of Quality for minimum staffing standards in our public schools (relatedly, I ask that you please vote in favor of HB1135/SB490 so that we can finally fund these minimum recommended staffing standards). The argument in past years has been that fully funding our public schools would be too costly, and yet there are over a dozen bills this session seeking to further deplete state public school funding to divert into private and charter schools. Please protect public school funding by voting no on these bills.
My name is Dr. Rachel Levy and I live in Ashland, Virginia (23005), in the 55th House of Delegates District and the 9th State Senate District. I am a mother of three--I have one child in Hanover County Public Schools as well as two who are just graduated in 2021. I am also a teacher who has a PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy from VCU. I was a candidate for the 55th District seat in 2021. I oppose HB344, HB346, and HB356 because I support our public schools, because they are impractical and unnecessary, and because this legislation would disenfranchise local communities. We already have good laws that allow establishing charter and lab schools, in ways that preserve local democratic control and don’t rob funding from our public school students. All of these bills would strip power away from our locally elected school boards and hand it over to un-elected regional boards stocked with gubernatorial appointees. These regional charter school boards could override our locally elected school boards and their constituents (us!), duplicating services and forcing taxpayers to fund schools run by national and global for-profit companies that are focused on profits, not education. Allowing these companies to force their schools on us would be harmful across our Commonwealth, especially in rural areas such as where I live. Our public schools are beloved shared public and community institutions. Even if we don’t agree on what should be taught or on masking policies, we can all agree that the parents and citizens who fund our public schools should get to determine how they’re run and by whom. We want fully funded public schools, fairly compensated teachers and staff, and modernized school buildings. Corporate charter schools would drain the resources needed to achieve these goals. Many public school teachers and staff are of their communities, especially in rural areas, with deep knowledge and relationships. Outside charter school operators will bring in non-professional teaching staff and a “we know better” attitude. They pay reduced wages, salaries, and benefits. I hope you will join me in opposing this legislation that will bypass local communities and defund our education-centered public schools.
I am against these three bills and against any tax payer funds going to anything other than our public schools that are already underfunded in some areas of the Commonwealth. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession. If parents want to send their children to private, religious, or charter schools, fine, but at their own expense. Our public schools offer extremely good educations in Virginia and we should be supporting our educators and facilities with our tax dollars. We do not need another level of administration at a regional level to run a parallel set of schools, many that would have a small number of students.
I oppose HB344 & HB356 - please vote no for the following reasons: Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I am writing in opposition to HB344, HB346, HB356. HB344 - It shows the complete dishonesty of the argument, that you want local governing bodies to have expanded rights, except where it serves your purpose. HB346 - Local school boards are best positioned to determine what their students need. The proposed legislation would set up schools that are outside of the local school board purview and therefore outside of accountability to local parents and voters. The bill would allow private institutions and businesses to establish schools. HB356 - Our current schools should be our priority. The charter schools would compete with our public schools for our current tight and limited resources. Another level of administration at a regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health, safety, and food services would be required even if it is a school with a smaller number of students. It is already difficult to staff our public schools. Funds would be needed for transportation, libraries, and books. These standard educational supplies, alone, carry high costs. Our public schools are still not funded at the 2008 level when funds were diverted due to the recession.
I am writing to oppose any bill that would divert tax dollars from our public schools. Charter schools compete with our existing schools and reduce their ability to meet the needs of the students in their community. Our public schools are underfunded. We need to use our tax dollars to support our existing schools, to pay teachers a living wage, and to provide safe and up to date educational facilities. My sister has taught in Virginia's public schools for 35 years, and her salary is an insult to her professionalism and commitment to her students. Regional charter school divisions and laboratory schools would take control away from local school boards. Private institutions and businesses should not receive tax dollars for education. Thank you.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
Both I, an public school teacher in Fairfax County, and the Virginia Education Association oppose HB 344, 346, and 356. Programs that drain public school budgets, such as vouchers, are a very bad idea. These programs hurt kids, schools, and communities.
I am a public school teacher in Fairfax County and I urge you to vote no on HB 356. Public funding should go to supporting public schools and not charters that will only serve a small portion of students. I ask you to please vote against all the bills this session that seek to redirect funds from public schools to build additional charter schools in the commonwealth. Please vote no on this bill.
Please vote "No" on HB356. Increasing Charter Schools whether via a current local school division or expanding to a Regional Division would negatively impact our present schools. There would be competition for our current limited resources. Another level of Administration at a Regional level would have a major fiscal impact. Significant personnel for administration, teachers, maintenance, health care, safety, and food services even if it is a school with a small number of students. Transportation? Library? Books? Computers? Just standard supplies for education have high costs. Funds for those are already scarce today. How could we ADD schools, or even find adequate personnel today? Our current schools need priority. Please vote "No" on HB356.
Dear Education Committee Members: My name is Frank Morgan. I am a retired educator who spent 43 years working in public school districts in Virginia and South Carolina, including 16 years as a superintendent I have a fair amount of experience with charter schools. I was very involved in Albemarle County in the development of one of the first local charter school policies in Virginia around 2000 and in the establishment of one of the first charter schools in the state shortly thereafter. I also worked with a charter school in the district in South Carolina where I served as superintendent. That said, there is no research out there that indicates that charter schools are overall any more or less successful than regular public schools. There are good ones and not-so-good ones, just like with regular public schools. The front-page publicity on January 28 in The Richmond Times-Dispatch about Governor Youngkin’s charter school proposal requires, I believe, some cautionary caveats. Governor Youngkin asserts that his advocacy for charter schools is connected to increased ‘choice”. Consequently, any expansion of charter schools in Virginia must reflect legitimate and realistic “choice” for families. This means that charter schools must be subject to fully open or lottery-based enrollment and be required to serve economically disadvantaged, special needs, and non-English-speaking students. Publicly funded charter schools must also be required to provide no-cost transportation given that transportation is often a barrier to economically disadvantaged students attending “schools of choice”. In the absence of these requirements, charter schools will simply be “choice” for charter schools to cherry-pick the students they want and exclude the ones they don’t. I would hope this is not the vision involved. Further, charter schools must be subject to the same academic accountability and state testing requirements as regular public schools. Otherwise, how will measurable and valid comparisons be drawn? Parent satisfaction and teacher grades should not be the sole accountability barometers for charter schools unless regular public schools can also be judged solely by these measures. Finally, charter schools must be subject to the same due process requirements as regular public schools. Especially given that they would be publicly funded, charter schools must not be permitted to exclude a student because of low achievement or minor behavioral issues. Regular public schools can’t exclude students for these reasons. In addition, charter schools must be subject to the same stringent financial (auditing) oversight as regular public school divisions in Virginia. I googled “charter schools/financial mismanagement/scandal” and got almost 5 million hits, which clearly indicates the nationwide seriousness of this issue. Such oversight is particularly important if corporate interests become involved in managing charter schools. The private sector has some history of financial missteps when involved with charter schools. Thank you for the opportunity to provide this feedback. Dr, Frank E. Morgan 2002 Deep Ridge Court Henrico, VA 23233 (803) 572-2591
Both I (a public school teacher in Fairfax County) and the Virginia Education Association OPPOSE HB346 and HB356. VEA is against the creation of any type of charter schools. Charter schools are bad for students and community, because they are so unregulated, and they take needed dollars away from our public schools.
HB319 | Coyner | Virginia Literacy Act; early student literacy, evidence-based literacy instruction, etc.--YES! YES! YES! Long overdue! Thank you from a Teacher/Reading Interventionist! HB356 | Tata | Public schools; regional charter school divisions.--YES! YES! YES! Long overdue! Thank you from a teacher with experience in a magnet school in Texas and a charter school in Maryland!
Greetings legislators, I categorically oppose HB356 and any bill that is pushing vouchers, charters, and the privatization of our public schools. We should be pushing to fund all public schools (and public schools only) in all communities to ensure equitable opportunities for all students. Students should be able to attend their neighborhood/community school and their parents/guardians/family adults should expect the same quality public education and public services across their school district/county and throughout this great commonwealth. Championing vouchers is a way to create enrollment and staffing problems already exacerbated by the pandemic. Vouchers are a way to siphon money from our public schools and to charters and private schools. Virginia is already 4th in the nation for public education. Privatization efforts will run us into the ground and hurt public education which will ultimately hurt our students and their families futures. Look no further than the District of Columbia to see how charter schools have negatively impacted the public schools. I am afraid this will create a new Massive Resistance here in Virginia. This is just another way to segregate our schools. Please oppose this bill. Thank you for taking the time to read my comment.
I oppose HB8. It appears to be another effort to introduced "armed mentors" into our public schools. This is a terrible idea. Many children are frightened of guns and don't feel safe when they are around. Virginia's schools don't need to be made into a police state.
HB389 - Early childhood care and education; regional entities, Child Care Subsidy Program Overpayment Fund.
HB486 - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology; admissions requirements.
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
No on HB 486: It is inequitable to assign a specific, arbitrary number of admissions to one county. The admissions process should consider a pool of all eligible candidates from the dedicated region and offer admissions blind to race, disability, zip code, etc.
HB486 no more quotas. HB789 pro this. HB844, we already have procedures covering this. HB988 we have requirements on this already, so yes. Pro 1023, we need this especially in VB I know its happening so this might help kids to prevent it. Thank you.
As a resident of Loudoun past few years and as a resident of Fairfax for almost a decade before, I request the House to please consider increasing seat allocation to Loudoun County high-schoolers to be eligible to graduate from a prestigious institution like TJ. A high percentage of these school graduates end up in our state Virginia (Because of in-state tuition) colleges and are very likely to work in Northern Virginia. My point is to keep the brightest students from Loudoun and other suburbs to align with the bright minds of Fairfax and Arlington counties to enhance Virginia’s edge in scientific learning as well as being a part of future tax-paying work force. -Dharma.
NO on HB-486 - Arbitrarily assigning a number of admissions to any one county or group of students is a disservice to any students who would qualify yet be denied acceptance due to a random minimum number suggested by any one school division for itself.
I am a teacher in FCPS, and I personally support all of this bills. All of these bills are also part of Virginia Education Association's list of bills to support.
HB559 - School boards, local; composite index of local ability-to-pay, required local effort.
HB563 - School Construction Fund and Program; created and established.
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
As a member of the Waynesboro City Council and Chair of the Human Development and Education Committee, I am writing to express my enthusiastic support of HB 563. Fiscally stressed communities across Virginia are losing the battle in balancing the cost of providing competitive wages and benefits for quality educators, to the burdensome weight of debt required to maintain and provide high quality facilities to educate the children of Virginia. Communities just like Waynesboro are not looking for a hand out, but for a hand up. HB 563 would accomplish just that. High poverty and low income Virginia communities are desperate to find a partner in the Commonwealth to help modernize public school infrastructure. HB 563 uses existing Commonwealth resources, a matching requirement similar to other State matching grants, and strategically targets those communities that are struggling the most. Thank you for your time, and for all that you do.
HB585 - SOL; work group to revise summative assessments, etc.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
HB789 - Family life education programs; student participation, summaries.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
I am a public school teacher in Fairfax County and I am writing in opposition to HB 789. Parents and guardians already have the right to preview Family Life Education curriculum and materials and have the ability to opt their child out of any and all FLE lessons that they choose. This bill would make it harder for students to access important lessons about their bodies and sexual health. I am also genuinely puzzled by the deletion of the word "guardian". It seems like an unnecessary jab at non-traditional family structures.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
I SUPPORT HB 844, 1023, 1026, and 1184. More comprehensive and accurate FLE curriculum is a positive development for the commonwealth. I SUPPORT HB 1184 both as a private citizen and 2nd generation immigrant as well as on behalf of my employer, Edu-Futuro, an organization that empowers immigrant families through education. Many, if not most, of the community Edu-Futuro serves speaks a language other than English, and HB 1184 would dramatically improve educational and career outcomes for the children of these communities. I OPPOSE HB 789 and 988. Transgender individual lives matter and again, FLE curriculum needs to be accurate and inclusive.
Children have a right to an education about all things that will impact their lives, and science-based (and lgbtq inclusive) sex education is vital for all of our young people to help them to grow into respectful people who understand consent, boundaries, safe sex practices, and their own identities. Parents who deny their children this education are infringing on the children's rights to gain the knowledge that they need to make healthy choices about their lives. If parents wanted to opt their kids out of math or history they would be laughed out of the room and yet when it comes to vital information about bodies and lives suddenly everyone cares more about what parents want than what kids need. There is decades of research and data to support the idea that comprehensive sex education is beneficial to students individually and to society as a whole. Evidence-based sexual health education can improve academic success; prevent dating violence, and bullying; help youth develop healthier relationships; delay sexual initiation; reduce unplanned pregnancy, HIV, and other STIs; and reduce sexual health disparities among LGBTQ youth. To the parents who worry about their kids engaging in early sexual activity, the research shows that the better sex education they have the later they will have their first sexual experience. I've attached a scholarly literature review below to support these claims. - Three Decades of Research: The Case for Comprehensive Sex Education (Eva S. Goldfarb, Ph. D, and Lisa D. Lieberman, Ph. D) The Journal of Adolescent Health Published October 12, 2020 Sincerely, Mom of Two
Yes to HB-789. We deserve full, advance transparency pertaining to any materials offered by any (not just public, private, too) schools to our children, especially topics which may be considered sensitive.
YES on HB789 - I've suggested this for years, that Family Life should be Opt-IN, not Opt-OUT, and that all related materials should be transparently available to all parents (without having to take off work and schedule an in-person appointment with a family life 'specialist' to review materials prior to an Opt-IN selection. With technology as it is, and especially with the ease of technology in posting documents and videos these days, with an assigned password, a parent should be able to review all materials online at a time convenient for them well in advance of any Opt-IN deadline. With the smut some are trying to make available to youth in public school libraries, certainly family life subjects must be fully transparent. Thank you for this bill.
HB486 no more quotas. HB789 pro this. HB844, we already have procedures covering this. HB988 we have requirements on this already, so yes. Pro 1023, we need this especially in VB I know its happening so this might help kids to prevent it. Thank you.
Virginia Faith and Freedom Coalition supports this bill.
HB829 - School counselors; staffing ratios, flexibility.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
The Virginia School Counselor Association opposes HB 829. VSCA believes that all individuals serving in the role of a school counselor should be fully or provisionally licensed by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to ensure appropriate oversight and guidance for school counseling in Virginia. This is what is best for Virginia’s students. We have additional concerns about the undefined licensed counseling professional language that is included in this bill. VSCA attempted to meet with the patron and interested parties to discuss alternative options and address concerns but were not afforded the opportunity and were not given time to provide written input. The Department of Education already allows for individuals with appropriate credentials to apply for provisional licensure to fill the role of School Counseling. We believe that this provides the flexibility requested by the school divisions and HB 829 is not needed. This provision is in line with all other areas deemed as critical shortage areas by the State Board of Education. The VDOE study completed in July 2021, that looked at vacancies statewide in School Counseling indicated that school counselor vacancies were filled within 12 months for all but 1 division and within 6 months for all but 4. These vacancies were also regionalized, not a statewide issue. This bill allows for school systems to hire licensed counseling professionals employed by the school board or provided through contracted services without any provision for licensure or training needed for school counseling. School Counselors are specifically trained to provide academic, career, AND social emotional support to all students. This is achieved through whole school programming, classroom lessons, tiered interventions, small group and individual support, collaboration, and consultation. Licensed Professional Counselors and other licensed mental health professionals do not receive the same specific training or licensure requirements. In addition to providing social/emotional and mental health services, school counselors are uniquely trained to provide K-12 students with academic career planning services and college & career readiness initiatives required by VA state law 8VAC20-131-140; 8VAC20-131-51, 8VAC20-131-60, etc., whereas this is not an area of training or education required for any other licensed counseling professionals in the state of Virginia. Counselors, like doctors, have different education, clinical training, and specialties, and I trust that you would not want to send your child to a family physician for a heart valve replacement. I personally completed the educational requirements for LPC and School Counseling and in order to provide community counseling had to register as a resident with the state and complete the specific requirements for LPC. The two degrees are not interchangeable. In order to practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor, I had to register as a resident with the Board of Counseling, be supervised by a registered LPC supervisor and required to complete licensure requirements to be fully licensed as an LPC. The licensure process is even handled by two different boards, due to the different nature of the focus and skills needed for each position. Please join VSCA in providing the best support for Virginia's students and oppose HB 829.
Dear Members of the House of Delegates. I hope this communication finds you well. I am a School Counselor who has worked with students as a teacher and counselor on the elementary, middle, and high school levels. My 32 years honorably serving as a School Counselor in the state of Virginia, encompasses five school divisions and includes 13 years of School Counseling Leadership. I am asking (begging) that you OPPOSE HB 829 and apologize for contacting you at this hour regarding this matter. I understand the need to increase efforts needed to protect and empower our youth who are experiencing alarming mental health challenges, during one of the most unpredictable times in our society. The addition to school staff of licensed mental health professionals would be great, however, not in lieu of Licensed School Counselors. One’s training to become a School Counselor prepares he or she to contribute to the life of children in many facets. Specific training for School Counselors is captured in the areas of mental health support, social and emotional maturity, academics, and career planning to include practical experiences. The titles of these categories represent a multitude of tasks that must be put into action, by the School Counselor to help ALL STUDENTS experience levels of success. Our School Counseling Programs are comprehensive in scope and guided by the American Association of School Counselors and the Virginia School Counselors Association. It is the Best Practices for our students through these affiliations and strong commitments of our School Counselors and their prospective school divisions have had the ability to afford students outstanding opportunities and personal support in all the areas we address. In addition, I am not sure if you are aware of the additional responsibilities that School Counselors have in their schools, which are non-counseling related. During the most recent exodus of teachers, counselors have also had to hold or teach classes to ensure Virginia’s students are taught and protected. Would this and or other tasks mentioned previously be a responsibility for a licensed mental health professional? The mentioning of these tasks are not complaints, however, the sharing of information that should also be considered when addressing this bill. Again, I ask you to PLEASE OPPOSE HB 829 that would support licensed mental health professionals to be hired to fill school counseling positions (unless they have completed a master’s degree in Counseling Education). Sincerely, Rebertha Pope-Matthews. Ed. D. School Counselor: Dinwiddie County High School, DCPS Petersburg High School, PCPS Highland Springs High School – School Counseling Director, HCPS Meadowbrook High School - School Counseling Director, CCPS Swift Creek Middle School - School Counseling Director, CCPS Hermitage Elementary School, VBCPS Kingsman Academy Public Charter School, DCPS
Dear members of the Education - Early Childhood / Innovation Subcommittee, My name is Oskar Scheikl, and I have served as the superintendent in Rockingham County for the last five years. Two years ago, the General Assembly passed legislation proposed by Delegate Wilt to require the Department of Education to conduct a survey about division preferences in regard to filling school counselor positions. In rural divisions like Rockingham, the preference was clearly for additional flexibility. At that time, the idea of the potential additional flexibility was supported by members of both parties as well as the Governor's Office. I fully support this flexibility and hope you will support HB829. I understand the concerns from some corners that properly endorsed school counselors could potentially be bypassed in favor of a licensed mental health counselor without all of the classes required to be endorsed as a school counselor. However, I would ask what you, as legislators, think about when you continue to discuss lowering the ratio of students to school counselors. Are you picturing the need for additional career and academic counseling, or is the movement in that direction mostly driven by the clear understanding that students have increased significant mental health needs? I would argue that is clearly the latter. As a superintendent, I want to be able to hire the best person for an opening. All things being equal, an endorsed school counselor will be my preference. I am, however, aware of school divisions where counselor positions went unfilled for months because no endorsed school counselor even applied. One of the best counselors in my school division came as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and then acquired the additional career and academic counseling portions while already serving students. I am not asking you to devalue the status of endorsed school counselors. Rather, I am asking for flexibility in a critical area of need. The Department of Education has taken the step to allow for provisional licenses specifically for LPC's, but HB829 extends this flexibility. Our school counselors are incredibly important, and this bill provides for avenues to get some of the best people in the field into our schools with the full expectation that they serve schools in all areas designated for school counselors. I fully support HB829 and ask that you do as well. Sincerely, Oskar Scheikl, Ph.D. Division Superintendent Rockingham County Public Schools
Dear members of the early childhood / innovation subcommittee, I am very pleased with the work that has occurred to support school counselors and do what is best for students by lowering the school counselor to student ratios. This also means that more school counselors will need to be staff in school districts throughout Virginia. Today, I wanted to address the wording in House Bill 829 (Section L). The term “other licensed counseling professionals” appears to be utilized synonymously with the term “school counselors”. Staffing other licensed counseling professionals in the place of school counselors is inappropriate. School counselors are specifically trained to provide academic, career, and social emotional support to all students. This is achieved through whole school programming, classroom lesson, tired interventions, small group and individual support collaboration and consultation. Other licensed professional counselors and mental health professions do not receive the same training or academic requirements. As a current elementary school counselor for 17 years, I know this to be accurate. School counselors should be staffed for school counselor positions! The VDOE study completed in 2021 indicated that school counselor vacancies were filled within 12 months for all but 1 division and within 6 months for all but 4 divisions. Please consider revising the bill to consider only school counselors for school counseling positions in the state of Virginia. Your time and consideration are greatly appreciated! Thank you, Paige Abasolo, M.Ed. VSCA Board of Directors
As a school counselor for 10 years, I recognize the importance of the work that is done each day. School Counselors provide education on social, emotional, learning, responsive services, support to parents and staff and so much more. Having received a dual degree in clinical counseling and school counseling, I recognize that the training needed for a school counselor is different and unique. Hiring mental health counselors who do not have the training to be school counselors is a recipe to hurt children and schools. Mental health professionals have not been trained in classroom management, in providing classroom lessons, in working in the classroom and in doing in the moment crisis response. School counselors are available to fill these positions. Not only do we need to increase the number of school counselors in the schools, we need to ensure they have the proper training. Please vote no.
Dear Delegates Rasoul and Wilt, I am asking that, as a member of the House Education Subcommittee on Early Childhood/Innovation, you OPPOSE HB 829. School Counselors (holding VDOE licensure in School Counseling PreK-12) are specifically trained to provide all students with academic, career, social, emotional, and mental health support within the educational setting (which is significantly different from a clinical setting). All services provided in schools should be appropriate to the learning environment; those that are not risk being ineffective or even counterproductive. Just as children are not simply small adults, schools are not merely private clinics with white boards. Being trained to work within the school setting and learning context is essential to being effective (and cost effective). In addition to providing social/emotional and mental health services, school counselors are uniquely trained to provide K-12 students with academic career planning services and college & career readiness initiatives required by VA state law 8VAC20-131-140; 8VAC20-131-51, 8VAC20-131-60, etc., whereas this is not an area of training or education required for any other licensed counseling professionals in the state of Virginia. Counselors, like doctors, have different education, clinical training, and specialties, and I trust that you would not want to send your child to a family physician for a heart valve replacement. I also appreciate your ongoing support to increase student access to critical school counseling services. While I understand that the rationale for this bill is to combat "staffing shortages" in the area of school counseling, a VDOE study completed in 2021 indicated that school counselor vacancies were filled within 6 months for all but 4 school divisions (I believe there are 133 school divisions in VA). For those few divisions that are experiencing difficulties, there is already a VA Board of Education provision in licensure allowing for any school board to apply for a provisional license with an endorsement in school counseling for individuals who hold an active Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) license, making this bill confusing and completely unnecessary. In sum, I urge you to continue providing VA's students with access to targeted, data-driven, comprehensive school counseling services provided by school counselors who have the specific education and training to provide these services within the educational setting. Thank you, Dr. Amy Gleason Carroll Director of School Counseling, William Obediah Robey High School Adjunct Professor, George Mason University
Please vote YES on HB-829. Children need accessibility to school counselors more than ever since Covid came about, and parents need to know HOW to obtain counseling for their children in need due to school related struggles and challenges. Transparency. Accessibility. Simply providing as a 'resource' mental health hospitals and facilities is not counseling at all. Waiting for outside mental health resources takes many, many months often, and by then much more damage is done to the child. This is paramount for the health and welfare of students.
Dear subcommittee members, my name is Haden Parrish and I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB829: School counselors; staffing ratios, flexibility. I am currently in my final semester of graduate school, earning my Master's degree in Human Development Counseling in the school counseling track. I take general classes in clinical mental health counseling but the majority of my classes are specialized for the school counseling track. Clinical counselors do incredible work and serve a noble and needed purpose, and yet their work and purpose are not the same as a school counselor's. I can speak first hand as to the life-saving training mental health counselors are receiving, but I can also speak to how what they are learning as mental health counselors will not prepare them to be adequate school counselors. While other mental health professionals work to support the socio-emotional needs of people, school counselors are specifically trained in three domains to support k-12 students: socio-emotional, academic, and college/career. School Counselors are the school's pillar of support to students and work to aid them from all educational angles. K-12 students can, and do, face challenges that overlap with many aspects of their life; a majority of student challenges are not just simply related to mental health, academics, or post-secondary opportunities, but likely interrelated to two or all three domains that school counselors specialize in. As an example, imagine the scenario of a student losing their parent during their junior year of high school. Immediately after the student returns to the school they will need socio-emotional support from the school community and specifically their counselor. But they will need more than that. They will need an advocate to reach out to their teachers, someone to have prepared recommendations for grief resources or tutors if needed, a facilitator to offer a grief support group for students with similar experiences, and, down the road, a reference to explain to job recruiters or college admissions offices why there should be leniency given to any discrepancies on the student's transcript that semester, not to mention to brag about the student's resilience and commitment to growth. "Other licensed counseling professionals" might be trained to support this hypothetical student in one aspect of their experience, but school counselors are trained and experienced in aiding that student in each of those ways and more because they will know the student's story and will be able to support holistically as opposed to just socio-emotionally. It doesn't have to be said that our students are struggling, or that despite the extreme level of resilience and strength they've demonstrated throughout the past few years they have more challenges now than ever before in their lives. As adults, we can support students by keeping (and increasing) school counselors in the schools; students rely on the people and positions they've grown up trusting, the people who have the training to work in the school and serve in the student-focused role, the people who are trained and experienced in supporting them mentally, academically, and with their post-secondary life in mind. However, providing alternative positions to the school counselor is not helping them, it's neglecting them. The number of school counselors needs to be increased, not swapped out. Thank you for your dedication to our students, Haden
Dear Subcommittee Members, my name is Haden Parrish and I am writing to express my strong opposition to HB829: School counselors; staffing ratios, flexibility. I am currently in my final semester of graduate school, earning my Master's degree in Human Development Counseling in the school counseling track. I take general classes in clinical mental health counseling but the majority of my classes are specialized for the school counseling track. Clinical counselors do incredible work and serve a noble and needed purpose, and yet their work and purpose are not the same as a school counselor's. I can speak first hand as to the life-saving training mental health counselors are receiving, but I can also speak to how what they are learning as mental health counselors will not prepare them to be adequate school counselors. While other mental health professionals work to support the socio-emotional needs of people, school counselors are specifically trained in three domains to support k-12 students: socio-emotional, academic, and college/career. School Counselors are the school's pillar of support to students and work to aid them from all educational angles. K-12 students can, and do, face challenges that overlap with many aspects of their life; a majority of student challenges are not just simply related to mental health, academics, or post-secondary opportunities, but likely interrelated to two or all three domains that school counselors specialize in. As an example, imagine the scenario of a student losing their parent during their junior year of high school. Immediately after the student returns to the school they will need socio-emotional support from the school community and specifically their counselor. But they will need more than that. They will need an advocate to reach out to their teachers, someone to have prepared recommendations for grief resources or tutors if needed, a facilitator to offer a grief support group for students with similar experiences, and, down the road, a reference to explain to job recruiters or college admissions offices why there should be leniency given to any discrepancies on the student's transcript that semester, not to mention to brag about the student's resilience and commitment to growth. "Other licensed counseling professionals" might be trained to support this hypothetical student in one aspect of their experience, but school counselors are trained and experienced in aiding that student in each of those ways and more because they will know the student's story and will be able to support holistically as opposed to just socio-emotionally. It doesn't have to be said that our students are struggling, or that despite the extreme level of resilience and strength they've demonstrated throughout the past few years they have more challenges now than ever before in their lives. As adults, we can support students by keeping (and increasing) school counselors in the schools; students rely on the people and positions they've grown up trusting, the people who have the training to work in the school and serve in the student-focused role, the people who are trained and experienced in supporting them mentally, academically, and with their post-secondary life in mind. However, providing alternative positions to the school counselor is not helping them, it's neglecting them. The number of school counselors needs to be increased, not swapped out. Thank you for your dedication to our students, Haden.
I am asking that you OPPOSE HB 829. School Counselors (holding VDOE licensure in School Counseling PreK-12) are specifically trained to provide all students with academic, career, social, emotional, and mental health support within the educational setting (which is significantly different from a clinical setting). All services provided in schools should be appropriate to the learning environment; those that are not risk being ineffective or even counterproductive. Just as children are not simply small adults, schools are not merely private clinics with white boards. Being trained to work within the school setting and learning context is essential to being effective (and cost effective). In addition to providing social/emotional and mental health services, school counselors are uniquely trained to provide K-12 students with academic career planning services and college & career readiness initiatives required by VA state law 8VAC20-131-140; 8VAC20-131-51, 8VAC20-131-60, etc., whereas this is not an area of training or education required for any other licensed counseling professionals in the state of Virginia. Counselors, like doctors, have different education, clinical training, and specialties, and I trust that you would not want to send your child to a family physician for a heart valve replacement. I also appreciate the House's ongoing support to increase student access to critical school counseling services, as was demonstrated when members voted in favor for HB1508 in the 2020 session to set the very same staffing ratios that we are now discussing. While I understand that the rationale for this bill is to combat "staffing shortages" in the area of school counseling, a VDOE study completed in 2021 indicated that school counselor vacancies were filled within 6 months for all but 4 school divisions (I believe there are 133 school divisions in VA). For those few divisions that are experiencing difficulties, there is already a VA Board of Education provision in licensure allowing for any school board to apply for a provisional license with an endorsement in school counseling for individuals who hold an active Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) license, making this bill confusing and completely unnecessary. In sum, I urge you to continue providing VA's students with access to targeted, data-driven, comprehensive school counseling services provided by school counselors who have the specific education and training to provide these services within the educational setting.
HB938 - Public schools; evaluation & recommendations for certain current and proposed policies, revisions.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
I am a public school teacher in Fairfax County and I am writing to share my concerns about HB 938. This bill would remove the Virginia Mathematics Pathways initiative that was recently introduced by the Virginia Department of Education. Math Pathways was designed to bring more equity to the way students are placed in math classes and so I am concerned about this being eliminated.
HB988 - Transgender students; model policies.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
I urge you to support HB 1036 and give parents the right to choose whether their child wears a mask at school. This bill gives parents choice rather than blankly mandating all students be forced to wear a mask. I also urge you to support HB988 and remove the mandate that all school boards adopt transgender policies which are harmful to children and unconstitutional. The needs of transgender students can be satisfied with a reasonable accommodation that does not infringe in the privacy and dignity rights of all students to not have to use the restroom or change clothing in front of the opposite sex. Single occupant facilities can be provided for all students requiring an accommodation. It is also unconstitutional to compel teachers to use a students preferred name and pronouns if doing so violates their personal, moral or religious beliefs. Teachers have free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amemdment to the U.S. Constitution. The Tanner Cross case is a perfect example. It is also noteworthy that children struggling with gender confusion like we have a mental disorder known as gender dysphoria. This mental health is treatable but not by unqualified school employee s acting as medical professionals facilitating the social transition of children to a gender identity which ones not match their biological sex. Schools need to be in the business of educating children on subjects like math, English science, not meddling with mental health issues which could have serious consequences.
The ACLU of Virginia opposes HB988. HB988 seeks to repeal the requirement that school districts adopt VDOE’s model policy protecting trans and nonbinary students. Such a repeal would place school districts at risk of costly litigation for violating state and federal laws. Moreover, transgender youth have the right to be supported and thrive in schools as their authentic selves, no matter where they live in Virginia. To ensure this, all school boards must adopt clear and comprehensive non-discrimination policies, like those provided by VDOE. It is for these reasons we urge you to vote “no” on this bill.
Good morning members of the committee, Equality Virginia strongly opposes HB 988. Students, educators, parents, grandparents, people of faith, and healthcare professionals from all over the Commonwealth have urged you to oppose this bill because they know that the VDOE model policies help create a safe and supportive environment for all youth. This bill would not only harmful to transgender students, but it would also make the jobs of Virginia’s public school teacher and administrators more difficult, as the model policies were designed to help school staff effectively implement Title IX. This is especially true pertaining to the use of school facilities. Transgender students use restrooms and locker rooms for the same reasons everyone does. And when they do, they value safety, privacy, and modesty just like everyone else. Transgender students have the right to use the facilities that align with their gender identity – just like everyone else. This is not only the law, but it was also recently affirmed in the 4th circuit court, here in our own backyard. Keeping the VDOE model policies is place is not only the right thing to do, it’s also the law. And we strongly urge you to vote no on HB 988. Thank you.
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
I am writing in firm OPPOSITION to the passing of bill HB988 which “eliminates the requirement that each school board adopt policies that are consistent with the model policies developed by the Department of Education concerning the treatment of transgender students in public elementary and secondary schools” and “also removes the requirement for such model policies to include information, guidance, procedures, and standards relating to the use of school facilities, requires the Department to amend its model policies to remove any such information, guidance, procedures, or standards, and requires the Department to make such amended model policies available to each school board no later than the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year.” Schools have a duty to create a safe environment for all students, and that includes our transgender youth. They have every right to exercise the same freedoms that cisgender students are granted. No school should have the ability to take those freedoms away from any transgender student. We have already learned from previous experience with racial segregation in schools that allowing smaller jurisdictions to choose whether or not they want to uphold a standard of equality leads to inequality overall. It was only when desegregation became a universal standard that racial equality was brought about in schools. In this same way, we must uphold a universal standard of treatment in the state for transgender students. Our state motto is “Virginia is for lovers.” Let’s keep in line with what we say our values are and show love to our transgender students by ensuring they are treated with the same level of dignity and respect that our cisgender students receive.
Virginia’s model policies for transgender students are an essential tool for educators and administrators who are working towards creating school environments that affirm and protect all students. Removing the requirement for school boards to adopt trans-inclusive policy based on this model is a step in the wrong direction for our state. Transgender youth need the support of a positive, welcoming school system in order to meet their educational and emotional needs, and this support should not be dependent on the county or municipality in which they happen to reside. All delegates should oppose this harmful effort to roll back protections for Virginia’s transgender youth.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
I oppose this bill. All students in Virginia's schools should be treated with fairness and dignity.
This bill is supremely disrespectful to vulnerable students who only want to live their lives in safety. Either transgender students have inherent worth and dignity or you deny that they do. There is no moral middle ground that makes these standards acceptable in some places and not acceptable in other places. The bill ensures continued protracted hate speech which has already traumatized children and their families throughout our Commonwealth.
Again, I (a FCPS teacher and VEA member) write in opposition to HB 988. Do not allow individual school districts to defy the Department of Education's policies that exist to protect transgender students in Virginia. Doing so will have disastrous consequences.
Testimony in opposition to HB 988.
I support HB 988. The VDOE Model Policies for Transgender Students in School forced on districts obstruct the rights of biological girls to privacy and fair athletic competition. After disregarding overwhelming public opposition to these "Model Policies", dismantling the VDOE mandate is one small step toward a full and transparent and fair consideration at the most local level of how school boards in conjunction with parents can best identify the obstacles at school students struggling due to their gender identity face, and address these obstacles without eliminating completely privacy rights for biological/natal females and athletic competition exclusive to biological/natal female students that school boards should all be protecting.
Both the Virginia Education Association, and I (a public school teacher in Fairfax County) OPPOSE HB 988. This bill is transphobic and would create an unsafe and unwelcoming environment for my beloved LGBTQ+ students at school. Additionally, this bill is a slap in the face to those individuals and organizations that worked so hard to ensure these rights in Virginia in the first place. Individual school districts should not be allowed to discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, or sexual identity.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. Transgender individuals have existed across all known cultures, civilizations and can identify themselves as such from an early age. The only way forward with anything is education, and the biggest irony would be to support an educational bill that support erasure and prevents schools from assisting their students. Before anything else, when it comes to schooling, a transgender student is a student. Allowing for or creating a hostile environment because of fear and ignorance is contradictory to the purpose of education. Vote NO on HB988. Allow our students, all of the regardless of gender identity and expression, to find school a place of learning and acceptance. The world will not always accept them or treat them kindly, this is true. But we have the opportunity to make sure their place of education can accept and treat them kindly. Is that not then what we should do, regardless of gender? Of expression of gender? Children of virginia deserve that at least. This bill does the opposite, making it harder for schools to support all their students.
Good evening, my name is Michael Olex. I am from Ashland and have two middle schoolers. Please vote no on HB 988. Transgender and nonbinary students are just like their peers, and they deserve the same right to a supportive and unencumbered educational experience. This policy is creating an environment of fear and exclusion when all these kids want to do is be themselves. As someone who occasionally substitute teaches, older kids are already trying to be exclusionary. Please don’t give them another avenue to proceed. We all want schools to be safe places. The argument against this policy is generally based on safety. Only by protecting our trans youth can we make sure that our schools are safe places for all children to grow and thrive. This policy was put into our facts at the behest of educators. The VDOE model policies were formulated in response to educators and administrators across the Commonwealth expressing a direct need for concrete policies on the treatment of transgender and nonbinary students. If the feeling of the Virginia house is that the policy is not perfect, come up with something. However, to throw the baby out with the bathwater is illogical. School personnel needs support and to deny them this opportunity flies in the face of the rhetoric regarding love for teachers. Support them! By eliminating the requirement for school boards to adopt the VDOE model policies would make educators’ and administrators’ jobs infinitely more difficult. The Model policies were designed to help school staff implement Title IX effectively. vote NO on HB 988.
"I want to speak against this bill which would roll back protections for transgender students. As a teacher, I've seen how all kids thrive when their identities are respected and honored, and they know the adults in their lives see them, accept them, and expect great things from them. This is even more important when a student has an identity that has been marginalized or attacked as less - than. Trans students deserve what every student does - to feel safe at school and respected for who they know they are. Please remember that as you vote today.
I want to speak against this bill which would roll back protections for transgender students. As a teacher, I've seen how all kids thrive when their identities are respected and honored, and they know the adults in their lives see them, accept them, and expect great things from them. This is even more important when a student has an identity that has been marginalized or attacked as less - than. Trans students deserve what every student does - to feel safe at school and respected for who they know they are. Please remember that as you vote today.
Allocating the decision on how to handle transgender and LGBTQIA concerns to the school board does not ensure all students and people are treated fairly and consistently across the state. Moving the decision level can cause mistreatment and inconsistency. All schools should be held to the same standard in order to promote an inclusive environment because protecting the students and their rights are of the utmost importance.
I SUPPORT HB 844, 1023, 1026, and 1184. More comprehensive and accurate FLE curriculum is a positive development for the commonwealth. I SUPPORT HB 1184 both as a private citizen and 2nd generation immigrant as well as on behalf of my employer, Edu-Futuro, an organization that empowers immigrant families through education. Many, if not most, of the community Edu-Futuro serves speaks a language other than English, and HB 1184 would dramatically improve educational and career outcomes for the children of these communities. I OPPOSE HB 789 and 988. Transgender individual lives matter and again, FLE curriculum needs to be accurate and inclusive.
My name is Alper D. I am a Virginia Resident, LGBT individual, college student, and healthcare professional at a local community agency. I oppose HB988. Grade school can already be a challenging time for all students, and that can be even more challenging for students who fall outside of the norm. Personally, ever since I came out, I have been fortunate enough to find an accepting community at my school, but I can't imagine how much more scary and stressful my life would be if I did not have this. My heart goes out to all of the young transgender students who experience bullying, treatment, and hate and vitriol from all levels of society on a daily basis. With rates of mental illness, academic struggles, and suicide so high among this population, I think it is not only important, but also life-saving, to help create an environment for these most vulnerable of students. These policies are healthcare. These policies are suicide prevention. This Virginia code doesn't ask much; it asks that we maintain the best evidence-based practices in all of our school districts. it says to our transgender youth: "I see you. I know how much it sucks to be bullied, and we are doing everything we can to stop that from happening. We want to create an environment where you can succeed academically. We want to extend to you the same rights and freedoms, and protections extended to every other American, regardless of how you identify. You matter!!" Today I am asking you to think of our children, and of the academic potential of our great nation's future professionals, when you vote on whether to continue to provide support to these students.
The Anti-trans bill is harmful to the safety and well being of ALL students, including trans Kids.
SUPPORT HB 988. A lot of the comments in opposition to HB 988 use very emotionally loaded language. They talk of empathy, understanding, kindness, free choices. These are all worthy values. However, I would ask them, and you, where is the empathy, understanding, and kindness for girls? Where is the empathy for girls who don’t want to change among members of the opposite sex - the same male classmates who may already be verbally harassing them or touching them inappropriately? To force women and girls to be in a vulnerable state among those who are statistically most likely to assault them sexually is a violation of their human rights. As an aside, I’ve noticed a lot of fear mongering of youth suicide here. When any other group or person threatens suicide to influence another’s actions, that’s considered manipulative and abusive behavior. All HB988 does is make it possible for localities to do as they see fit for their unique situation. Let them make decisions based on what affects them. School board members, teachers, parents and especially students ought to have a say in legislation that will affect them in very personal ways. Let girls, especially, have a voice and make their own decisions about who sees their bodies
Yes to 988 - Our school division won't even accommodate children with disabilities they were born with, or acquired and CAN'T change, but everyone else has to give up their privacies for a very few who choose to be transgender...Why do these kids have an issue with using a private restroom when they're already announcing to the world they choose not, at whatever moment, to be who they were born to be? My daughter is AFRAID to use the restroom at school because there might be boys in there. So are her friends.
Testimony in opposition of HB 988 on behalf of the Human Rights Campaign.
I support HB 988 - Girls, nor Boys, should be subject to someone born (or of) the opposite gender being in their private spaces. It's already costing taxpayers fortunes in modifying restrooms/locker rooms for the needs of a few who have chosen a non-traditional lifestyle. Just give all LGBTQ+++++ students their own space together, like locker rooms and restrooms, and allow the students, who are the very vast majority, to continue to have the personal privacies they also deserve. This way one group doesn't impose their will upon another due to their own choices.
Hello. I've been a resident of Virginia since the 1980s, my own middle school days. As a Christian and Virginia public school graduate and parent, I implore you to vote NO on HB 988. Trans and gender non-conforming children and teens are among the most vulnerable in our school system. The protections provided by the model policies not only ensure they can receive an equal education to their peers, but may very well save lives. Please vote this bill down. Thank you.
I support HB-988: My daughter should not be subject to worry if someone born a boy, with boy parts, being in the same locker-room or restroom. Straight kids have rights and needs for privacy, too.
Yes to HB 988! - Why are we forcefully sacrificing the privacy and safety of a vast majority of students for a few with gender dysphoria? Transgender students are 'different' and deserve fairness and respect of their choices as long as they don't infringe upon the rights of others.
As a lifelong resident of Virginia, I am writing to urge you to oppose House Bill 988. This bill would remove the requirement for school boards to adopt policies that align with the Virginia Department of Education's Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students. The VDOE model policies were created in part because teachers and parents saw the need for concrete guidance on the treatment of transgender and non-binary students. Removing the requirement harms youth, confuses caregivers and makes the job of administration more difficult. Please vote "NO" on HB 988. Only by protecting trans youth can we make sure that our schools are safe places for ALL children to grow and thrive.
As a teacher and as a person in this world, I believe nothing is more important than protecting and providing education to our children. While most students can access a great education and are supported, not all can. Unfortunately in the past, transgender students have not been protected within the public school environment. It is the responsibility of the public education system and beyond to protect ALL students and their education. We must continue to support and respect their identities, because we respect and honor everyone else's. We owe them the respect, honor, and encouragement we offer to each and every student. If we can't protect all of our students, we aren't protecting any of them. Please remember this as you vote today, your vote holds the power to keep transgender students safe and flourish to achieve their goals.
I am strongly against this bill! Why would you ever eliminate a requirement to treat transgender children fairly? Why would VA allow policies that harms the treatment of our children in schools? How could treating all children equally ever be a bad thing? This is a step backwards for VA and must not be allowed to go forward.
Against
I am submitting comments against HB988. Regardless of your beliefs about their gender, trans children are an emotionally vulnerable population in need of support. My own daughter chose to be remote all of last year because she was uncomfortable returning to school without support. The model policies put in place allowed her to thrive this year. No one questions her gender or looks twice when she enters a girls' bathroom. Forcing her to use a bathroom(among other things) that does not match her gender presentation would be humiliating and possibly dangerous. She is not a predator, and does not deserve to be treated like one because of someone else's actions. Please do not strip protection from this vulnerable population.
As much as I deplore having to oppose my own assembly delegate, I must speak out about the horribly detrimental effect of refusing school children their own right to their identities. My spouse and I have seven grandchildren, two of whom are transgender. Those two, one of whom has reached majority, are intelligent, informed, thoughtful and knowledgeable, and their family wholeheartedly accepts and acknowledges their ability to know their own gender. Please do not encourage bigotry, hatred, or harassment of transgender youth. They should use the bathroom of their chosen gender identity and should be accepted as who they say they are, including using their preferred pronouns. Schools should listen to their students and their students' families regarding gender....NO ONE ELSE. Let us teach tolerance, love, and acceptance in our schools. Thank you for listening.
We are two years into a global pandemic and families are still struggling to find a new normal. I ask that you consider this before adding more instability to their lives. Please continue to maintain a safe environment for kids to live. Everyone deserves to feel safe and respected as a fellow human being regardless of their gender identification.
I provide mental health services to trans and non binary students. I have heard their fears about being unsafe in school because of mistreatment from faculty and other students. Their complaints are often dismissed, and they are filled with shame for who they are because of their experiences at school. Research has shown that providing support and care for these kids can literally save their lives. My youngest also falls into this category and has asked to leave school early or not attend at all due to feeling unsafe. They have been teased and bullied with few interventions provided by faculty and staff who have been present during some of these events. They and all students deserve to go to school to learn and grow without being afraid of being verbally or physically assaulted because of who they are.
Trans kids need our support. Attempts to erase them does extensive damage to their sense of self. There will still be trans kids in school, even if this terrible bill passes. Please oppose this attempt to legalize discrimination against vulnerable children.
I'm writing against this book that removes safety from the schools. Queer and trans youth deserve to be respected the same as their straight and cisgender peers. Included in providing them safety at school is accommodating their needs. All students deserve too have a positive school experience, that gets multiplied when they are any kind of minority when it's racial, the orientation and presentation, being neurodivergent, living with physical differences and more. Removing the VDOE protections and requirements will lead to students getting hurt out struggling in school, it would be lack of equity and a disservice. We are a stronger state when we uplift those who need help instead of throwing them away because they're different. Homogeny is death, that happened years ago when a fungus wiped out the then most popular species of bananas. If we raise all of our students respecting what makes them unique they won't just improve Virginia for Virginians, they're improve the country.
I am so proud that Newport News passed protections for trans students. These students are incredibly at risk and the measures passed in the state law help keep them safe and allow them to learn without fear of constant discrimination. When kids tell us who they are, we should listen with open hearts and protect them.
I write to voice my strong opposition to HB 988. I am the father of two elementary school aged children, both assigned female at birth. My older child - my daughter - identifies as female, and my younger child identifies as male - he is my son. While he always identified as male (since the age of 2), it was not until he was in first grade that he transitioned. His school has been extremely supportive of this transition, and has the guidance and tools needed for supporting him -- do not undo these lifelines for students, parents, teachers, and schools! Beside being against federal law, repeal of these policies goes against basic decency. My son uses the boys bathroom at school, he is able to go to the bathroom in peace, and has never encountered any problems since transitioning. Quite the contrary - when he was using the girls bathroom, older girls that did not know him would single him out, tell him he was in the wrong bathroom. He would resist going to the bathroom because of this. Banning transgender children from bathrooms and other facilities is discriminatory and is hurtful to a portion of our population that most desperately is in need of support. Please OPPOSE House Bill 988 to support all our children.
Submitting comments opposed to HB988
Trans youth face staggeringly high rates of bullying, violence / sexual assault, and suicide. Respecting their gender identity / personal pronouns greatly reduces their risk of suicide. Also, discrimination in public schools on the basis of gender identity violates Title IX and the Constitution, as demonstrated in Gavin Grimm’s successful case against the Gloucester School Board.
I am a teacher in Fairfax County and I am writing to urge you to oppose HB988. Every student deserves to feel safe, welcome, and respected in their school. The VDOE model policies outline for educators and school leaders how to ensure that transgender and gender-expansive students are afforded this basic right. A lot of concern has been raised about student mental health and well-being recently. Trans and gender-expansive students are significantly more likely than their peers to report mental health issues such as depression and suicidal ideation. Trans students frequently encounter stressors in school that undermine their identity including bullying, intentional dead-naming and mis-gendering and restricting their ability to use the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity. Mental health issues and suicide risk decrease when trans and gender-expansive students have a supportive trusted adult in their life and when their identity is affirmed by those around them such as using the correct name and pronouns when speaking about them. The model policies help us create a school environment where trans and gender-expansive student are affirmed and feel respected and valued. We must keep the requirement for schools in Virginia to follow these policies. Please vote no on this bill.
Vote YES on HB 988. The organization Gender Critical Women of Virginia, a growing collective of more than twenty women across the state, urges you to vote in support of HB 988. Sex-based rights exist as an acknowledgment that women, because of being female, are uniquely vulnerable to male violence. Males as a group have greater strength and greater stature. Almost all violent crime nationally, especially sexual, is committed by males. Girls go to school to learn and grow. They shouldn't have to worry about whether they will be safe in spaces that involve vulnerable states of undress like locker rooms and bathrooms. The safety, privacy, and dignity of girls and young women is not acceptable collateral damage under any circumstances. We fully believe that individual districts, school boards, parents, and teachers are capable of coming up with nuanced solutions to their specific and unique circumstances that will benefit not only some but all students, and they should be trusted to do so.
All students deserve the right to be respected. I advocate for allowing trans students the recognition that will help provide the necessary representation for their needs in schools. Please grant them the safety, consideration, and policies that will protect them.
HB486 no more quotas. HB789 pro this. HB844, we already have procedures covering this. HB988 we have requirements on this already, so yes. Pro 1023, we need this especially in VB I know its happening so this might help kids to prevent it. Thank you.
I am against this bill because being someone from the trans community debating against my rights when I am unprotected as it is having a bill against me is putting me more in danger
Please vote yes for HB988. It should be up to the schools and parents what they would like their community standards to be. Bills like HB145 do not take in to account the rights privacy and safety of women and girls- like how a "gender fluid" boy was able to sexually assault a female student in the women's bathroom at school in Loudoun County only for the crime to be swept under the rug and the male student transferred where he assaulted ANOTHER young girl. Women and girls have sex segregated spaces for a reason and young women and girls in school do not need another thing to worry about (like their physical safety) when they should be focusing on school. There is nothing wrong with not conforming to sex role stereotypes and no one should ever be bullied for being gender non conforming but schools also shouldn't be promoting gender ideology, telling kids they can be born in to the wrong body or that kids can change biological sex either. This has become a social contagion as can be seen in some of these other comments and the damage control that will need to be done in the future because of bills like HB145 is going to be devastating. Repealing HB145 isn't going to harm anyone, all its going to do is give the power back to parents and teachers to collectively decide for themselves which policies work for them and which ones don't. I think that is fair.
Plainly, the rights of girls in schools - rights to privacy, safety, and fair competition - are in danger. Across the country, we have seen numerous examples of policies designed to protect trans children that have, in reality, done real harm to natal girls, with the Loudon scandal being perhaps the most devastating. Girls are no longer free to change privately in their locker rooms , nor compete in sports, without accommodating trans students born with male sex organs and body structures. This is deeply wrong. Protections for trans students are necessary and valid - but they are not inherently more valuable than the safety and privacy of girls. I am a female, politically homeless academic who, like many women, is fearful of speaking in person today on the controversial topic of transgender accommodations. My job and reputation would be threatened if I dared to publicly state my opinion that the current modus operandi for gender politics in schools is dangerous for women and girls. So I ask you, please, consider how we have gotten to this point, and consider the real, present danger to vulnerable, young girls that poorly-enacted transgender policies pose. If a grown woman such as myself is afraid to speak, how afraid must girls across the country be, when joining in fundamental conversations about their rights? Please pass HB988. Thank you for considering my comment.
I oppose HB 988 as ALL children have a right to safe school environment that protects their identity and allows autonomy on self identity. VOTE NO on HB 988 and respect the Law as established last year to provide equal respect regardless of identity
I want to speak against this bill which would roll back protections for transgender students. As a teacher, I've seen how all kids thrive when their identities are respected and honored, and they know the adults in their lives see them, accept them, and expect great things from them. This is even more important when a student has an identity that has been marginalized or attacked as less - than. Trans students deserve what every student does - to feel safe at school and respected for who they know they are. Please remember that as you vote today.
Please vote NO on HB 988. All children, including transgender and nonbinary children have a right to a safe school environment that affirms and protects their identity. Children can't learn in an environment that doesn't provide safety. Vote NO on HB 988 and keep the model policies on the treatment of transgender children in place!
HB988- Vote NO on this bill. It is a big step backwards in the progress towards protection, empathy and compassion, greatly needed by transgender students, who have the highest rate of suicide of any group. HB1093-Vote NO on this bill. Cultural competency training is needed because teachers and students are citizens of the world. Understanding and embracing the richness of all cultures opens minds and builds empathy, inclusion and acceptance. It cannot be optional.
I want to speak against this bill which would roll back protections for transgender students. As a teacher, I've seen how all kids thrive when their identities are respected and honored, and they know the adults in their lives see them, accept them, and expect great things from them. This is even more important when a student has an identity that has been marginalized or attacked as less - than. Trans students deserve what every student does - to feel safe at school and respected for who they know they are. Please remember that as you vote today.
"Gender identity" is a faith based concept and we shouldn't have changes to policies to protect something faith based over something reality based like biological sex. I support the right of people to have mystical beliefs but I also support the right of people not believe and not participate in the faith based beliefs of others. People, especially children, need to understand the importance of boundaries, truth, and reality and we need to have policies that reflect those values. We need to protect the boundaries of women and children and we can't do that when we uphold the religious belief of gender identity that is based in destroying boundaries- even basic boundaries around basic words like male(s)/ boy(s)/ man/ men and female(s)/ girl(s)/ woman/ women. We need to stop enshrining faith based beliefs into policies that infringe on the rights of non-believers.
Support An entire student body should jot be subject to a few students. Bathrooms should be male or female. Pronouns should be he/him or she/her. If a student doesn't not want to use the changing room/rest room of their gender/sex then arrangements can be made to accommodate the person with a single bathroom for use (single bathroom in the nurses office or even individual faculty restroom). Teaching children the false narrative that there are more than two genders or sexes is morally wrong.
Transgender students are being targeted. It is essential that we continue to require schools to have a model policy in place to protect students. This policy literally saves lives. I ask that you do not support this disgusting attempt to remove essential protections from transgender students.
It is with the strongest possible language that I urge you to vote against this bill overturning previous progress in defense of our transgender and gender-expansive students. Allowing this bill to pass would put Virginia on the wrong side of history on this important issue. Our children are watching to see how the most vulnerable are treated. They will judge us harshly for abandoning students marginalized because of their gender identity.
I have lived in Virginia most of my life and I am writing in support of HB 988 because it is the right thing to do for girls and young women across Virginia. Unfortunately, because of their female sex, women and girls are at risk of male violence throughout their lives. Just as women must have the right as individuals to consent to or say no to sexual contact, so must women as a class have the right to say no to males in female-only spaces. It's a matter of consent and safety. Girls are people too, and the decisions about who enters spaces where they are vulnerable should not be made by the government. I hope you will all vote in support of HB 988 and show girls across Virginia that their rights, privacy, and safety matter.
I 100% support this bill to protect women and girl's safety and privacy. Please end this madness. Protect women's rights.
Bill HB988 states that will take away mandatory trans protections. These protections are important as trans youth are targets of bullying and assault in schools by their peers. People in the trans community face more discrimination and violence compared to others in the LGBT community. In 2021, violence against trans people, mainly trans POC, increased exponentially, their cases being given 0 media attention and not being investigated by police. Trans people deserve protection. That alone shouldn’t be questioned. Trans people are human, just like the rest of the world. And they deserve protection, and their lives matter so much more than we want to believe.
I was proud to be a Virginian when the model policies came into effect. Our trans kids need support and our school staff need to know how to provide the support. Please vote against this bill. It would be a huge step backwards to vote for it. Thank you for hearing my views. -Marianne Vakiener
I am a resident of a Richmond, VA and a proud transgender Virginian who went to school in Fairfax County Public Schools. I know I would have felt safer and more accepted in my teenage years if I had known that my school district had policies actively in place to ensure that all students, including trans and nonbinary students, had the right to an equal education. Right now, trans students are sidelined, ignored, or made to feel like a problem by school administrators who are often trying their best but without the guidance necessary to treat trans and nonbinary students equally. This results in trans students experiencing humiliation, feelings of rejection, and much more that can and does lead to serious mental health issues and puts them at higher risk of bullying by their peers. Since the school district doesn't seem to even support trans youth, why should their peers after all? The policies developed by the Department of Education in 2020 and slated for adoption this past fall will save lives and ensure that trans students are able to navigate their schools on equal footing to their peers. In fact, these policies ensure all students have an even playing ground. Stigmatizing any group of youth inherently leads to a more unsafe environment for everyone, and puts everyone under the microscope if they aren't seen as the "norm." These policies were designed with input from parents, educators, students, and advocates and they are based in scientific understanding. I urge you to vote against HB 998 to keep our current progress and ensure all youth are treated with dignity and compassion in our Commonwealth's public schools.
APC supports HB988. While we were unable to stop the Arlington County school board from adopting the unsafe and unfounded "model policies in support of transgender students" ahead of the Virginia department of Education. we firmly support the rights of all parents and their dually elected school boards, to determine what is best for the individual student and his/her family. We support the right of each school district to decide how best to meet the needs of ALL students. The currently adopted "model policies" in question, do not respect the God-given rights of parents to determine what is best for their child, nor do they protect the rights of girls to have private and safe spaces and to be able to participate in all-girls sports, as defined by biology--which is unchanging. The current "model policy" drives a wedge between parents and the school educators, between parents and their children, and even between children and their own biological bodies. This is unacceptable and we hope that what was unjust, and irrational can and will be undone and restored to the proper balance between parent, child and educators. Thank you.
Good afternoon, chairperson and members of the subcommittee. My name is Emily Hulette, I live in Hanover County, and I am a mother of a transgender child. I am writing today to ask you to oppose HB988. My daughter needs to feel safe and accepted in her school like her cisgender friends. NB988 was written without truly knowing a transgender person or having a transgender person in their family, if they had, I believe this bill never would have been written. Transgender students are everywhere, small towns, big towns, progressive towns and conservative towns. Transgender children having conservative families, liberal families, and even religious families. My daughter should be allowed a respectful, safe, and inclusive educational environment. The staff and teachers at her school have been so supportive of her but need training and education on how to truly support trans youth. Part of accepting trans youth is allowing them to use the restroom they identify with. My daughter uses the clinic restroom which is located on the first floor of her school. She feels different, ashamed and the act of using the bathroom at school is extremely stressful. Not only does she have to be with sick students to use the bathroom, but she is also inadvertently providing to her peers her personal information when they ask why she's going to clinic instead of using the girls room. She does not feel safe using the male restroom because of the bullying and harassment she's endured, even being held against her will. My daughter sees a therapist regularly to help with the bullying and bathroom situation at school, I believe if the VDOE policy would be adopted by all school boards, you would see many mentally healthier children. Allowing the model policies to be optional for school districts puts them in jeopardy of law suits and in violation of federal Title IX precedent set by the Gavin Grim/Glouster County case. Thank you for your time.
Support 988
My Transgender son is loving, caring and a respectful human being. For the past year, we have struggled to keep him afloat. My son has severe depression/anxiety, gender dysphoria and was contemplating suicide. I am relieved to say that we have kept him safe thanks to the help of our amazing community and wonderful therapists. Factors such as the pandemic and mental health have kept my son in virtual school. My son has progressed immensely, he is looking forward to go back to school in person this fall 2022, He will be a Junior in high-school. We have worked so hard to get him well to this point. It is so heartbreaking to read this bill. The bill HB988 is designed to destroy all that hard work us parents of Transgender Kids have accomplished. These are kids that also deserve the respect and human kindness that all other cis kids have. Transgender kids are human beings too. Let's keep our schools a safe and thriving place for all kids. Thank you for your time.
I am writing in opposition to HB 988. • My son is a transgender middle schooler in Hanover County, where they have not yet adopted a full transgender policy. • My son is a rule follower and currently there are NO rules that indicate how he should use the restroom at school; consequently, he avoids using the restroom at all. He reports that he has only been 3 times total this academic year so far. • I am telling you without hyperbole that this experience impacts both his physical and mental health, as you may imagine. The SAFETY and HEALTH of transgender children are MORE important than the comfort of people who do not understand transgender people who are in NO credible danger around transgender people. • Further the lack of a full transgender policy promotes a school environment where bullying against transgender children festers. • REJECTING HB 988 will mean that my school district will be compelled to continue to work toward an inclusive school climate for my child. • Finally, there are dozens of families like mine in Hanover and even more across Virginia, with transgender children. We are stressed and exhausted from fighting for our kids. And many of us fear for our safety in speaking out. Just the IDEA of bills like HB 988 and HB 1126 threaten us. Please allow our children to live with dignity. Thank you very much.
I strongly do not support this bill as it puts trans and nonbinary youth at risk in our education system. Schools should be a safe space for students to learn and passing this bill would ensure that schools are not safe for students.
Targeting ANY child is abhorrent . Educating a child is what educators should be doing, regardless of what equipment is in their underwear. We have gone from shoulder exposure being offensive and/or disruptive to the learning/teaching process to deciding what name to call a child, how they feel about themselves and what they have in their pants. THAT is not part of any education process (teaching OR learning ) that I can wrap my head around. These children are HERE. Let's keep it that way. YOU SEE THEM, I SEE THEM and they see themselves.....quite different than what you read about in a BIBLE, where NO ONE can see anything at all. WHY? BECAUSE NO ONE I KNOW OR YOUR KNOW were there But this is a little different. We are here. The kids are here. And we want to KEEP them here. SHAME on anyone who thinks they are that HOLY to decide what a child should be referred to as.
Please vote yes to these bills. Parents should have school choice. There should be resource officers in all schools. The transgender policies should be repealed as it is a safety issue as seen in Loudoun county.
I am submitting a letter stating my opposition to the bill HB988. Thank you.
I totally support HB988! I am a mother of 3 boys who attended Arlington Public Schools until it became increasingly uncofortable to share bathrooms, hotel rooms, and other facilities designed for privacy with biological girls who chose to think that they are boys for whatever reason. There is also a danger for girls being assaulted by boys wearing skirts like what happened in Loudoun County. And finally, here is a statement from the American College of Pediatricians: Human sexuality is an objective biological binary trait: “XY” and “XX” [speaking of chromosomal identity] are genetic markers of health – not genetic markers of a disorder. Everyone is born with a biological sex. Gender (an awareness and sense of oneself as male or female) is a sociological and psychological concept; not an objective biological one. A person’s belief that he or she is something they are not is, at best, a sign of confused thinking. I refuse to send my children to schools that disregard science and compel them to use names and pronouns that do not correspond to the biological sex of some students. I, therefore, took my youngest son out of APS and placed him in a private Catholic school.
I am writing to ask you to vote "NO" on House Bill 988. Transgender children are first and foremost children. And like all children, they should be able to attend school, get an education, and participate in activities in an affirming, supportive, safe, and respectful environment. The good news is that Virginia has policies that do just that. The current Virginia Department of Education's Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students help create a positive and affirming environment for all students. They enable transgender children to enjoy the same opportunities as other children, allowing them to flourish and achieve their full potential. And I think we can all agree that's something we want for every child in Virginia. Unfortunately, HB 988 would undo these policies. This bill would remove the requirement for school boards to adopt policies that align with the VDOE model policies. It would also ban transgender children from bathrooms and other facilities, which is both contrary to basic decency and established federal law. Transgender and nonbinary students subject to a harsh and unsupportive school environment are more likely to experience mental health struggles, including anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Trans-affirming policies literally save kids’ lives. Transgender children are not a problem to be solved, or a challenge to be addressed. They are children, who simply want to go to school and not have to worry about being marginalized, stigmatized, or isolated. They are certainly worthy of the same respect, safety, and support as all other children. Please OPPOSE House Bill 988 so that we can make sure our schools are safe places for all children to grow and thrive. Thank you for your consideration. - Diana Maurer Alexandria VA
HB 988 is a good bill and should be supported. HB 145 (2020) is a large part of the reason why a "genderfluid" male student in a skirt was able to access the girls' bathrooms at a local high school in Ashburn, where he sodomized his unwilling victim on May 28, 2021. Last week, Senate Democrats argued that passing a law to require parental permission before exposing students to porn was "micromanaging" local schools' libraries, AND YET they had no problem with the top-down mandate of HB 145 on the Virginia Department of Education to create a model policy for transgender-identified students that local school boards would be required to follow . . . to the detriment of the safety and privacy of female students, of course. The hypocrisy is not surprising--Democrats consistently support policies that put students at risk for being victims of sexual grooming, voyeurism, exhibitionism, and sexual assault while claiming it is necessary in the name of tolerance. It's time to undo the damage that previous legislature have wreaked on Virginia's educational system. Do the right thing--support HB 988.
Parents of transgender kids don't have it easy. It's painful to watch your kid not be allowed to be who they are. It's scary knowing how high the suicide rate is among these kids who are rejected - or worse, made to feel invisible. If you're a parent you know it's impossible to ignore someone treating your kid that way. Give them a break. Thank you.
My name is Sarah Huber, and I live in Williamsburg, VA, and I oppose HB 988. I have two children, an 11 year old daughter and a 7 year old transgender son. Since my son was two years old he has pointed to images of boys in picture books and said, “That’s me.” What we thought was a cute tomboy phase, has never stopped. Over the past five years he has consistently, persistently, and insistently identified himself as a boy. When he began in-person school for the first time this year, he started as a girl. I was scared about how he would be treated if entered school as a transgender boy. However, as the months progressed he would sort himself into the boys group, and in November we were informed that he was using the boys restroom. The school asked us how we wanted to proceed regarding our child. I had absolutely no idea what to do. I clearly had a child who identified as a boy, who was determined to live as a boy, but I did not know the first thing to do. Our son is the first child in our elementary school that identified as transgender. His teacher, the administration, and our family were so thankful that the school division had been required by law to adopt the VDOE Model Practices for transgendered students. We had at our fingertips evidence-based, scientifically supported guidelines for how to proceed in the classroom. It was a lifeline for his teachers, for school administrators, and for us. By removing the requirement of schools to adopt the VDOE Model Policies for Transgendered Student, you are not solving a problem, but rather creating one. You will be leaving parents without a crucial resource. You will be leaving teachers and administrators without a guide on how to best support and teach our children. And you will potentially be creating an unjust and unsafe environment for our children. Because my school followed the model practices put forth by the DOE, our child is a happy, thriving first grader. Because my school supported our family, we are thriving. And I ask that our delegates do their best to provide educational policies that supports all of our children.
Mr. Wyatt, Tanner and I are your neighbors, we are conservatives and we voted for you. We moved to Hanover 9 years ago for the great public education our children would receive. We are taxpayers whose children deserve a safe, equitable, and inclusive education. We have two children a son and (AMAB=Assigned male at birth) transgender daughter. William, my first son is all boy. Guns, woods, dirt bikes, race cars. Having my second child AMAB, April got all the hand me down boy clothes and boy toys. We began noticing at the age of two she really didn't play with the boy toys at all. We'd take her to the store, and she always gravitated to the girl-colored toys, girl-colored clothes and always played with girls in preschool...rarely the boys. We thought it was a phase as any parent would. We knew she wasn't the typical boy but knew it wasn't a big deal, because she's our child and as a parent you love them no matter what. As the years went by her interests in girl items and only having girlfriends grew. She entered elementary school with a pink backpack of her choice and pick sneakers. She would have her girl pajamas in the evening, because she was safe to wear them at home. We were fortunate to have very understanding friends. Her 1st grade year she came home and said I want to wear girl clothes to school. I froze, I was terrified for her safety. That night and many nights later she would ask me over and over, "Mommy, when I die can I be a girl?" I crumbled inside. I now have to mourn the death of a son but embrace the girl I now have. I researched online and began to educate myself about children with gender dysphoria. She checked all the boxes. We let her wear girl clothes to school her second-grade year and that child had never been happier. When you see your child in pain for years and not know why, then you come to terms with who she wants to be and the smile and happiness it gave her, you know as a parent you're doing the right thing. We all began seeing a therapist who could help us navigate this with us because this chapter is not in the book "What to Expect, When You're Expecting" We are learning and growing every day with April. She has taught us to be better humans. She didn't ask to live an extremely difficult life, she didn't ask us to battle for human rights every day, she didn't ask to be different, she was born this way. She's done nothing wrong but live her true self. I'm hopeful with the support of family she will continue to live her true self. But that's only one component to making sure she lives a happy life. She is bullied on a weekly basis for being who she is at school. She is made to feel different because her bathroom, is in the clinic. The male bathroom is not safe for her. In first grade she was harassed numerous times, students tried to hold her from leaving just to make fun of her. Most days she holds her pee, so she doesn't have to answer questions from peers on where she's going and why she goes to clinic. Every day our school is told to break the law by the Hanover County School Board by not adopting the model policies for transgender students. If you walked one day in my shoes you would understand how important adopting this policy is and following law. Removing it, you will have blood on your hands. Trans student will continue to kill themselves; you can help stop that! See the attached, only two months of school issues...I have more! Be the change!
Due to legislation passed by the General Assembly, school boards across Virginia adopted evidence-based practices to address many issues that transgender students face, including bullying and harassment, unfair dress code, and limited access to facilities. HB988 would roll back these protections and make discrimination against transgender students easier. We need to make our schools safer and more inclusive of all students, not roll back good progress. Please vote NO on HB988 and it’s senate companion bill, SB20.
I am writing to oppose HB988 and HB1126. Trans kids are among the most vulnerable in our society and in our schools. As a Christian clergyperson and as a citizen, I care about the well-being of every student. The state VDOE policies ensure consistency and ensure that the well being of our trans students does not rest in the hope that every local school board will have members who understand the needs and rights of trans students. Please do not pass HB988 or HB1126.
HB 988 would continue to negatively impact my child's experience in schools. He is in a school district that does not want to adopt full policies for inclusion of transgender children. My child is suffering because of his school's choice. Using the restrooms is a huge stressor for him, and he is regularly outed by a system that has not provided admins and teachers with proper training on how to work with transgender kids. Allowing school districts to decide if they will adopt the policies, would mean that my child's school district will continue to marginalize and harm him. HB 1126 is unreasonable and unconstitutional. It would be traumatizing, not only to transgender people, but also to the people you think you are protecting. Believe me, you DO NOT WANT people using the facilities of their biological gender. It's as if you've never met a transgender person before if you think this is a remotely good idea. Further, HB1126's vague and loose definition of "concerning content" is too broad and can be interpreted as a matter of opinion. I already know that my child's school considers LGBT content to be "concerning" and would get rid of it if they could, and they are already trying. And my child so despirately needs to know that he's a real valid person and there are others like him. And others in his school should also know that who his is is valid. It's okay for people to be different. School is precisely the place where students should be learning about new content.
HB994 - Child Care Subsidy Program; permitting Armed Forces active members to apply for Program.
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
HB1005 - Public school teachers; continuing contract, resignation.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
1. parents should be allowed to make decisions for their own children about masks AND about which school to use to educate their children. give us funds so we can send our children to the school of our choice. 2. parents should be allowed to opt their children out of sex education. 3. quit teaching CRT to our children.
I am a teacher in Fairfax County and I am urging to you to support HB 1005. This bill would allow teachers to resign from a current contract with 2-weeks notice. Currently, any teacher wishing to resign who doesn't turn in the paperwork by June 15th is locked into their contract for the full following school year. I have seen colleagues needing to leave their position for various valid reasons who have asked if it would be possible to resign mid-year and what the consequences would be. The answer is that they would be resigning in bad standing which usually means they are blocked from taking on any education job in our district or neighboring districts for at least 3 years. The school board could even request that the teacher's license be revoked for leaving mid-year. While it's ideal for teachers to see through a full school year, there are many legitimate reasons a teacher would have to leave mid-year. Resigning with 2-weeks notice is the standard in any other field and educators deserve the same courtesy. Please support this bill.
I am a teacher in FCPS, and I personally support all of this bills. All of these bills are also part of Virginia Education Association's list of bills to support.
HB1023 - Family life education curricula, certain; optional instruction on human trafficking of children.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
Please support this bill. We cannot eradicate human trafficking but we can educate to prevent. Anti Trafficking International has created a curriculum for school division inserted in their FLE program. Some school system have benefited. Needs to be used by all school divisions in Virginia. I just recently discovered Fauquier is not utilizing at this time. Working on it. Thank you
I SUPPORT HB 844, 1023, 1026, and 1184. More comprehensive and accurate FLE curriculum is a positive development for the commonwealth. I SUPPORT HB 1184 both as a private citizen and 2nd generation immigrant as well as on behalf of my employer, Edu-Futuro, an organization that empowers immigrant families through education. Many, if not most, of the community Edu-Futuro serves speaks a language other than English, and HB 1184 would dramatically improve educational and career outcomes for the children of these communities. I OPPOSE HB 789 and 988. Transgender individual lives matter and again, FLE curriculum needs to be accurate and inclusive.
Virginia’s children deserve our best and highest response when they talk about their experiences of abuse.. A CAC is a child‐ focused, facility‐based program that utilizes an MDT approach to the investigation of child abuse cases. Representatives from the local CAC, law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, mental health, medical, and victim advocacy work together, conducting child forensic interviews and making joint decisions about the investigation, treatment, management, and prosecution of child abuse cases. With this model, child abuse investigations remain child‐focused, and children are able to get the help they need to heal from the trauma of abuse CACVA supports HB 1023 in its effort to educate children relative to sexual abuse and the human trafficking of children.
HB486 no more quotas. HB789 pro this. HB844, we already have procedures covering this. HB988 we have requirements on this already, so yes. Pro 1023, we need this especially in VB I know its happening so this might help kids to prevent it. Thank you.
Thank you for this bill --- keep up the good work!
HB1026 - Internet Safety Advisory Council; established, sunset date, report.
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
I support this bill and encourage the General Assembly to take measures to protect student data privacy.
I SUPPORT HB 844, 1023, 1026, and 1184. More comprehensive and accurate FLE curriculum is a positive development for the commonwealth. I SUPPORT HB 1184 both as a private citizen and 2nd generation immigrant as well as on behalf of my employer, Edu-Futuro, an organization that empowers immigrant families through education. Many, if not most, of the community Edu-Futuro serves speaks a language other than English, and HB 1184 would dramatically improve educational and career outcomes for the children of these communities. I OPPOSE HB 789 and 988. Transgender individual lives matter and again, FLE curriculum needs to be accurate and inclusive.
HB1047 - Students who need or use augmentative and alternative communication; instruction, eligibility.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
HB1047 VCASE thanks Del. Tran for continuing a dialogue about this bill to assist students who use augmentative and assistive communication devices. VCASE has opposed HB1047 as originally drafted and opposed the substitute was shared this morning. VCASE would support a substitute that would have VDOE review, update, and disseminate AAC procedures that would emphasize compliance with the IEP that addresses assessment, access, supports, training, and least restrictive environment matters. In the original proposed legislation, the requirements that restrict the use of any evaluation tool in considering eligibility or services is contrary to IDEA and Virginia evaluation and eligibility guidance that the team review multiple sources of information about the student. VCASE supports practices that provide students access to general education classes to the maximum extent appropriate and is concerned about any particular claim that a student with an AAC may have a unique right in this consideration. Lastly, the IEP has the force of law. If an IEP includes the specifics of training, support, and least restrictive setting, then that IEP must be followed. If the service is delayed, the the student is qualified for compensatory services and the parents can lodge a state complaint or request a due process hearing if they claim an IEP violation has occurred. We hope to support a version of this bill that has a VDOE study of these services with reemphasis on IEP compliance with AAC procedures.
I am reaching out in support of H.B. 1047, albeit with some concerns that I hope to see addressed through an amendment. As a speech-language pathologist, I am grateful to see legislative support for users of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Communication is a human right, and AAC facilitates communication for people who might otherwise be unable to request their basic wants and needs, make a comment, or tell their loved ones how they feel. School-based support for AAC will open the doors for hundreds, if not thousands of AAC users across the Commonwealth. My only concern regarding this bill is that it opens the door for pseudoscientific forms of communication. In particular, Facilitated Communication and the Rapid Prompting Method are forms of AAC that have been discouraged by numerous organizations over the years, including that American Speech-Language-Hearing Association that issues my credentials as a speech-language pathologist. Whereas "good" AAC allows the users to create spontaneous, novel, unique, and generative messages, Facilitated Communication and the Rapid Prompting Method have no evidence to support their efficacy; based on the lack of evidence, it is generally understood that the facilitators are creating the messages themselves, essentially "speaking for" the individual with a disability. This doesn't empower the communicator, it removes their autonomy. While I 100% support a bill that improves the availability and training of AAC in Virginia's schools, I hope to see this loophole closed before the passage of H.B. 1047. Perhaps wording might be added to stipulate that this bill supports "evidence-based AAC," or "AAC that has been generally deemed best practice," or perhaps wording that specifically excludes Facilitated Communication or the Rapid Prompting Method. For more information, please see the following link, which includes cautions against Facilitated Communication and Rapid Prompting Method from dozens of organizations, including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Association, Association for Behavior Analysis, the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, and more. https://www.asha.org/slp/cautions-against-use-of-fc-and-rpm-widely-shared/
The National Council on Severe Autism (NCSA) enthusiastically supports efforts to increase accessibility to Alternative and Assistive Communication (AAC) for those with minimal or no language. But we have grave concerns that House Bill 1047, as it is written, will be used to support the use of pseudoscientific interventions that fall under what speech pathologists refer to as "facilitated communication," which includes but is not limited to Spelling to Communicate (S2C) and the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM). More than three decades of research has confirmed that the products of FC are controlled (usually unconsciously) by the nondisabled assistant or facilitator -- like a ouija board. That is why virtually every relevant professional organization -- such as the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, the American Psychological Association, the Association for Science in Autism Treatment and over a dozen other national and international organizations oppose all forms of FC. It is critical that the language of the IDEA, which requires that services and supports be evidence-based (meaning supported by peer-reviewed studies), be included in this bill. FC poses significant harm to students, most notably in terms of both financial and opportunity cost. A very recent study (January 2022) published in the journal Exceptional Children calculated that the Rapid Prompting Method costs school districts $32,159 per student the first year alone, and almost $28,000/year in ongoing support "with little evidence of positive outcomes." We thank you for your concern for our population, and urge you to amend this important bill to ensure that our kids receive only evidence-based interventions in Virginia schools. Thank you for the opportunity to submit comment -- Amy Lutz Vice-President, National Council on Severe Autism
We applaud the effort to ensure students who utilize AAC are included in general education. AAC is an evolving form of communication and there are problematic interventions that claim to be AAC that are not. That’s why it is critical that the language in IDEA, the requires services and supports to be based on peer-reviewed research as much as is practicable, be included in the bill. If controversial methods are implemented in general education classrooms, speech-language pathologists and behavior analysts could be in violation of their codes of ethics. Amendments: As used in this section, "augmentative and alternative communication" or "AAC" means any device, tool, support, or service, or any combination thereof, that facilitates any form of communication, other than oral speech, that can be used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas.. In accordance with with U.S.C. Section 1414(d)(1)(A), page 99, Services and supports related to AAC included in an individualized education plan shall be based on research-based methods as much as is practicable. No individualized education program team, member of such team, or school division employee shall solely utilize the results of any intelligence quotient test or any other test to measure intelligence or cognitive ability to determine a student with a disability's eligibility to be provided with and use AAC at school.
I am attaching a narrative in support of HB 1047. Thank you for your time- Crystal Ton
I love the intent of this bill, but I am concerned that the ASHA definition that is used at the top is too broad and does not reflect best practice. I think this bill would better serve children if it used the definition that added the necessity of evidence-base for the communication types. Otherwise, well-meaning school systems could train people on limiting forms of communication, such as facilitated communication because that is the easier and cheaper thing to do rather than what is best for the student. Speech therapists would then need to go against their ethics code to train people on the chosen system. Thank you for your attention.
I am writing in support of HB 1047 which would require timely training needed to use AAC devices. Communication is a basic human need. My friend's child uses an AAC device and her teachers in Fairfax County do not receive adequate timely training in order to allow the device to be used effectively. All students need and deserve basic communication between teachers and peers. Acknowledging that a child needs a device to communicate but failing to provide the training to use the device properly or in a timely manner prevents that child from accessing a free and appropriate public education. Please vote in support of HB 1047. Thank you.
I urge you to support HB 1047 for my daughter and students like her. I sent an email to the subcommittee earlier this week describing the difficulties we had getting our daughter identified for speech services in the first place, as well as the difficulties in implementing the methods needed to support her AAC device with fidelity once she was assigned one. We have continuously worked collaboratively with our daughter's IEP team, and we have had a very supportive administration of which we are very appreciative - but that collaboration has not been enough to overcome the barriers to effective implementation of AAC that result from a lack of timely access to necessary training. We have had years where our child's teachers weren't able to access training on our daughter's device until mid-October or mid-November. Months of learning opportunities are missed because teachers cannot effectively communicate in the students' AAC language. This bill will address that, within the bounds of IDEA's existing regulations, to ensure that appropriate training happens before a child enters the classroom. This is critical so that, from the first day of school, AAC users have access to the same social and academic opportunities as their non-disabled peers. I have worked to remedy this at a local level for some time, in coordination with other local families, and it has become clear that the state must require these changes in order for systemic change to occur for all preK-12 AAC users. This bill also brings to the forefront what IDEA already requires - that students not be denied access to a general education classroom due to their AAC status, and that IQ tests not be used to deny a child AAC supports. Communication is the key to accessing education and unveiling a student's capabilities. Please support Virginia's AAC user population and pass HB 1047 today. Thank you.
I strongly urge you to vote in favor of HB 1047. This bill is the right thing to do to support our most marginalized students. Some nonspeaking students in Virginia, like my 10 year old son, Nico, who has Angelman Syndrome, are fortunate to be born into families with the resources to seek out and provide them with augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) privately, and to fight for their right to be supported in regular classrooms. Unfortunately, the vast majority of students in Virginia who are unable to be understood using speech are never given the right supports to learn to communicate effectively using language. When a nonspeaking student isn’t given the supports and training necessary for them to “prove” they can understand and communicate with language, educators all too often give up and assume they simply are too disabled to use language. They are given IQ tests that are not designed for people who cannot either speak or do not have reliable fine motor control to point or use a pencil. When they get a low IQ score, that is used against them. Those low IQ scores are used to essentially “blame” the student for their failure to learn to use AAC, when all that is needed is better training and supports. Even students with significant disabilities, like those with Angelman Syndrome, are capable of understanding and using language. This bill is also important because, currently, if a student needs AAC but hasn’t been given access to it, they are nearly always placed in a fully segregated setting. I am aware of fewer than a dozen nonspeaking students in the entire state of Virginia who are fully included, and my son is one of them, thanks to the significant advocacy my wife and I have had to devote to fighting for him to be included with his non-disabled peers. Even with all of our advocacy, knowledge and resources, we have never had staff who are properly trained to support our son's communication needs on the first day they work with him. This is the equivalent of hiring someone to teach French who does not themselves speak the language, and simply expecting them to pick it up as they go along. Why is it acceptable to assign untrained staff to support students like my son, when this would never be acceptable in any other part of our education system? In my current role as the chair of my local Special Education Advisory Committee, I see how students of color and those from families with far less privilege than my own are more frequently segregated and never given the opportunities to live up to their potential. This bill would begin to address those inequities by ensuring that educators are provided the training they need to support ALL AAC users, not just the most privileged. Finally, because I understand that some are arguing that this bill would create an “unfunded mandate,” I want to conclude by pointing out that this bill does not, in fact, create any additional obligations on school districts other than to ensure that training is provided to staff when they need it, rather than after the fact. No additional spending requirements will be imposed on school districts as they are already supposed to be training staff to support students’ use of AAC, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. HB 1047 is the right thing to do to support our most marginalized students, most of whom continue to lack access to the AAC they need to communicate, learn, and be members of their school community.
HB 1047 is supported by nearly three dozen state, local and national organizations, including major autism organizations (e.g., the Virginia Autism Project, Autism Society of Central Virginia, Autism Society of Northern Virginia, Autism Society Tidewater Virginia, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, and NeuroClastic), Down syndrome and cerebral palsy organizations, and AAC-focused and disability-led organizations that are experts on AAC (e.g., the United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication, the Association for Assistive Technology Act Programs, the Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America, CommunicationFIRST, and TASH). Virginia’s teachers unions support it, including the Virginia Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers Virginia. It’s supported by speech-language pathologists, teachers of students who need and use AAC, the Virginia PTA, and families of the most disadvantaged and marginalized students in Virginia. The Arc of Virginia and the Virginia Board of People with Disabilities support it. It’s supported by AAC users and other people with disabilities, who really should be the main stakeholders you listen to on this topic. And it is supported by allies of AAC users who believe that communication is a basic human right. This is an incredibly modest bill. To oppose it would send the message that the General Assembly and the people of Virginia believe the most marginalized and vulnerable students don’t have the same right to communicate as other students. It would send the message that the Subcommittee believes that people who can’t speak don’t have the potential to learn and succeed in life. It would convey that you don’t care whether people who can’t speak are ever given the tools and supports they need to communicate, to be educated, to be employed, and to live productive, meaningful lives. It would convey that you believe that people who cannot speak aren’t worthy of being seen or educated alongside nondisabled students. And if you oppose it because you buy into the lobbyist talking point that this would create an unfunded mandate, you’d be conveying that you aren’t aware that nearly all of the bill’s requirements – including the requirement to provide training to support educators who teach AAC users – are already embedded in existing federal law under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s assistive technology provisions. This bill would simply ensure that the AAC and training are provided when teachers and the student actually need it, to avoid situations like Calvin’s, where school staff and students are set up to fail. As the House budget office has already determined, this bill would in fact have zero budgetary impact. Calling HB 1047 an unfunded mandate, as some lobbyists are doing, is both disingenuous and patently false. Read the bill. And support our most marginalized students in Virginia, the vast majority of whom are never provided access to robust, language-based AAC, are never given the opportunity to learn alongside and make friends with their nondisabled peers, are given IQ tests that simply are not evidence-based for them, and have low IQ scores weaponized against them to try to justify the denial of AAC and forced segregation. Students who need AAC in Virginia need this bill, and I encourage you to do the right thing for these most marginalized students and vote in favor of HB 1047. – Tauna Szymanski, JD, MPA
HB 1047 must pass. Access to appropriate communication modalities is both a human right and a safety issue. Access isn't just handing a device to a child just as inclusion isn't just placing a disabled child in a GenEd setting with no supports. Inclusion is a verb, not a noun. Inclusion is action that makes learning accessible to an array of diverse learners. Inclusion is not where a child is sitting, but how a child is able to access learning. It is not possible for a nonspeaker with a device to learn in a classroom with a teacher who does not understand the child's language. One of the objections we hear relentlessly at NDLC is that when neurodivergent children are included in general ed classrooms, they distract abled students, as though classrooms are the providence of abled people that disabled children are invading. The reason disabled children sometimes distract abled children is the segregation paradigm pervasive in education. Neurodivergent children aren't inherently distracting, unless neurotypical children have no exposure to them. Anything one has not seen or experienced can be distracting. The answer to that is more exposure to nonspeakers in classrooms, not less. One of the arguments oft repeated by those who opposed racial integration in schools was concern White students would be distracted by Black students. We've hear this trope resurrected with every group society seeks to exclude. Nonspeakers are a group with some of the highest rates of restraint and seclusion. When a child isn't able to communicate, often they will the only way they are able, through behavior. Then, rather than seeing the adult failure to appropriately accommodate the child, the child is punished. Far too often, inability to use words to communicate is the impetus for excluding nonspeaking children from general ed. The choice to remove a child from the rest of us isn't determined on the child's needs, but adult decisions. My 15 year old son is autistic and was nonspeaking. He wasn't offered an AAC until 4th grade, and then when we sent him in with a device, nobody in his classroom understood his language. So he was hurt, then angry, then segregated, then locked alone in a seclusion cell hundreds of times. No problems were solved through that locked door. He wasn't seen or heard because the people around him couldn't understand his language. Then he was locked alone, without his device, in a void, punished for his teachers' inability to interact with him. These weren't bad people; they simply weren't trained. So he moved from one restrictive environment to more restrictive environments. He was alone, inside and outside of his seclusion cell. He was invisible. This is a common experience for this population. Communication is a fundamental human right, so is inclusion. We can't continue excluding nonspeaking children from education and life. They need us to see them, to hear them, to know them. Thurgood Marshall opined in the Brown v Board decision, "separate is inherently unequal." Nonspeaking children have a right to a fully supported inclusion education. That's not just handing them an AAC and sliding a desk into a room. Inclusion is helping them be wherever they are capable of being with whatever supports are needed. They shouldn't have to leave us to be supported. We need to keep nonspeakers with us, because they belong with us. They have a right to be seen and understood. Pass HB 1047. We stand with nonspeakers.
Please vote YES to HB 1047! I'm a former elementary school teacher and a mother of a child who uses AAC. I know all too well that students who cannot access communication are more likely to be segregated from their non-disabled peers. The inability to speak is often falsely equated to low intelligence. This bill will help guard against placing AAC users in more restricted environments. It will also ensure that our educators have the training they need (and often request), so they are able to appropriately include and support their students who use AAC to communicate. Thank you for making this happen!
Please support HB 1047 and students like Calvin. Earlier this week, Lindsay and I sent the subcommittee personal emails describing our son’s experience in classrooms where his team was untimely and inadequately trained in how to support his use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). We have been advocating for change in AAC training at the local level for more than three years, and we come to this body for a resolution that we couldn’t obtain through repeated attempts at collaboration with Virginia’s largest school district. Through our advocacy with and for our son, we have learned that students in other districts often go without teachers and staff who are trained in a timely manner. In addition, we have learned that AAC users are often deprived meaningful educational opportunities because of unnecessary segregation and the use of intelligence-based testing to determine who needs and gets to use AAC. Passing HB 1047 would ensure that students who need and use AAC don’t experience these unnecessary barriers, and enjoy the benefits of a well-trained classroom team. As parents of a child who—based on his specific brain malformation—shouldn’t be able to communicate with language, we know that there is value in testing limits and changing expectations. Despite his diagnosis, Lindsay and I spent months learning and using American Sign Language to communicate with Calvin, with hopes that he would someday pick it up. And we remember the first time he used ASL spontaneously to comment that he saw a dog. From that point forward, we continued to push limits and change our own expectations, and Calvin accelerated in his expressive language skills at home via an AAC device and meaningful AAC experiences. But when he entered the public school system full time, he plateaued, and in some respects regressed, because he lacked access to well-trained teachers and staff who could provide meaningful language modeling. Lindsay and I enjoy collaborating with Calvin’s IEP team. But we don’t have access to staff training records. We don’t have access to a list of the training modules the school district provides its employees. And even if we had access to that information, we usually learn who is assigned to Calvin’s classroom only about a week before school begins. To expect us and other parents to be able to advocate for timely training for our children by using the IEP process—as some opponents to this bill have suggested—isn’t a fix and shows that some people don’t know how long the IEP process takes. By contrast, based on their knowledge of the school district’s training opportunities and the skill level of their teachers and staff, school administrators can ensure that appropriate AAC training is identified and scheduled when they make classroom assignments. There is no law or regulation that prevents school administrators from doing this and setting up their teachers, staff, and students for success. Finally, nothing in this bill requires school districts to spend additional funds to comply with its requirements—that is, unless a school division currently is shirking its existing obligations to train its teachers and staff to teach and support AAC users. HB 1047 simply requires school divisions to shift when they provide such training to a time that will ensure that teachers, staff, and students who use AAC benefit from our public school system, just like other students. We look forward to you voting in support of this bill.
My name is Elizabeth Altieri and I am a professor of special education at Radford University in southwest Virginia. I have decades of experience training teachers how to teach ALL students, regardless of their support needs. I also co-direct the VDOE-funded Virginia Inclusive Practices Center, which provides training to teachers around the Commonwealth. In 2018, I was elected to and continue to serve on my local School Board. I strongly urge you to pass HB 1047. In my work with schools locally and around the Commonwealth, I have found that teachers are desperate to know how to better support students who need AAC, both with their communication and with their academic and social inclusion. I have also found time and time again that many educators automatically and incorrectly assume that people who cannot speak with their mouths can’t understand and learn to use language to communicate. IQ tests aren’t evidence-based for this population, and yet they are routinely given to nonspeakers, and the resulting low scores are used to deny both AAC and inclusion. Even though HB 1047 is a modest bill (I believe more is truly necessary to begin to level the playing field for the most vulnerable students in Virginia), I do believe it’s an important first step to supporting teachers. The bill is not onerous, is easily achievable, is NOT in fact an unfunded mandate (AAC training is currently required under the IDEA but often does not happen in a timely fashion, or at all), and is supported by families and teachers alike. This is the first bill in Virginia that will begin to address the significant unmet needs of students who need and use AAC. Please keep in mind that these students aren’t represented by expensive lobbyists. I strongly encourage you to support this very modest piece of legislation.
I am an elementary school special education teacher who supports HB 1047, because school divisions need to know that they can’t send teachers and staff into a classroom with an AAC user and expect everyone to just figure it out (like they did me). In addition, as someone who currently teaches an AAC user in the general education setting, I support this bill’s goal to ensure that AAC users are not unnecessarily segregated from their peers, and I support clarifying that intelligence-based exam results cannot be used in assessing whether students need or use AAC, as such results lack any evidentiary basis for use in students. In 2019, I was excited to teach an AAC user for the first time. What a fun and exciting challenge and a new way for me to learn to interact with people. I knew to request training in AAC because his parents told me I should request it. I got a few hours of training 4 days before school began on what core vocabulary was and a little bit of the philosophy behind AAC devices in general. I did not receive training on the specific device my student was using until November, nearly 3 full months into the school year. Further, the training I received was not at the level needed to provide a quality education to my AAC user from day one in the classroom. I had to figure a lot out as I went along. I was supposed to be educating this child, but instead I was experimenting on him to figure out what worked and what did not work in my attempts to understand and communicate with him. As an educator one of my top priorities is ensuring that my students feel welcome and have fun and meaningful experiences at school. How am I supposed to make a student feel welcome when I am not effectively communicating with them? It was hard and frustrating, and I felt like I wasted a good portion of the kid’s kindergarten year trying to learn what I needed to do to provide the high-quality education that other students were getting. I have gotten the opportunity to support this child again this year in 2nd grade. I think I have gotten a little better at it, after a year and a half of working with this AAC user, but, admittedly, it is his parents that provide me much of my useful training, not the school district. I cannot image what parents who do not have the means to advocate for their children with the school district or have the ability to provide on the job training to the teachers supporting their child must be going through. For them we need to make sure effective AAC training happens before school begins. What I want, more than anything else (including a raise) is to get the support I need to effectively do my job. It is hard and demoralizing to constantly tread water and to feel like you are wasting a child’s primary education. Educators want your help and support to teach all their students. That support must include effective training for AAC users. I ask that you support HB 1047 and its commonsense approach to ensuring that teachers and staff are ready to teach and support AAC users in our schools.
Please support HB 1047 by voting YES! It is critically important that ALL students have access to communication and education. Those who require augmentative and alternative communication devices should not be prevented from education and access merely because they use a device to communicate. All students deserve an equitable education and all humans deserve to speak and be heard. Thank you, Diane Cooper-Gould
Dear Members of the House Education- Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee, Please VOTE YES on HB1047. My three children are able to communicate without supports, and they struggle to get their needs met in school. I can only imagine how much harder the children who communicate in alternative ways have to fight to access their education and communicate meaningfully with their teachers and classmates. Every child, no matter how they communicate, has the right to access the school curriculum and communicate using their augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This issue is important to me because our obligation is to provide FAPE to every child, and every teacher deserves the training and supports they need to best meet the needs of their students. Students who need AAC are often denied the supports they need based on unwarranted assumptions about their potential. This bill is a modest but important first step to ensuring that teachers get the resources and training they need to support all their students, including those who need AAC. It would help ensure that students who cannot speak have the same opportunities to reach their potential as all other students. I want all my children's classmates to receive true access to education, and having the ability to communicate back and forth with their teachers is crucial. Please Vote YES on HB1047. Sincerely, Lauren McCaughey, parent
Minimally or non-verbal students must be given access to communication from DAY 1. My son suffered a brain tumor surgery and chemotherapy, limiting his communication. AAC was an equitable way to demonstrate skills he could not through typing or writing. Of 54 teachers and staff members, 7 had experience or training on any AAC option. Even though included in the IEP, my son did not receive a device for 4 months after identification and purchasing individually is incredibly cost prohibitive. Despite many forms of therapy and accommodation, AAC was the essential to progressing. Virtual school was not possible without adaptive technology. Please vote in favor.
My name is Janna Dressel and I live in Arlington. As a former special education teacher and a parent of a 6th grader who relies on multiple forms of AAC and has extensive support needs, I am writing to encourage you to vote in support of HB 1047. In both my professional and personal experience, including as past-president of the district-wide Arlington Special Education PTA, teachers receive insufficient training and resources to support and teach students who need and use AAC. I have had to learn a great deal about AAC as a parent, and my family is fortunate enough to have the resources to allow me to take time off from teaching so I can support my son's own education and inclusion in school. I spend a lot of unpaid time training and supporting the teachers and other educators who have my son in their classes. Students who need AAC who come from families who don't have the resources like mine to be able to learn about and provide their child with AAC and to train and support their child's school teams are often left behind. My son is currently enrolled in general education classes for all subject areas, but that unfortunately is still the exception rather than the norm for AAC users, even in Arlington. Most AAC users in Virginia that are fully included in regular classes are those from privileged families who have the resources to advocate and support the school teams teaching their children. AAC and inclusion opportunities for students who cannot speak should not be reserved only for the most privileged. This bill would begin to level the playing field for nonspeakers, and would begin to address teachers’ calls for the need for more training to support AAC users. I urge you to pass HB 1047. Thank you.
Good morning. My name is Dr. Yoosun Chung. I apologize that I cannot present this testimony live this morning. I am an associate professor of assistive technology program in the College of Education and Human Development at George Mason University. I am also the past president of the United States Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication. I live in Fairfax with my husband and two children. I came to America to study abroad after I graduated high school in South Korea. I was the first person in Korea at that time, who earned a doctoral degree, as a person with cerebral palsy. Without my AAC, I would not have been able to earn my doctoral degree, and, nor, teach students at a university. As both an AAC user, and, as a professional who focuses on researching and supporting the use of AAC for students who need it, I strongly urge, you to pass HB 1047. This bill is a very modest and achievable first step, for thousands of students in Virginia, who don’t yet have meaningful access to robust, language-based AAC, due to misguided assumptions about their capacity to learn and use language, and, due to lack of teacher training. This bill will ensure that, both educators and students receive the supports they need to communicate effectively, and, have the same opportunities at school as students without speech difficulties. HB 1047 is the right thing to do, and it’s achievable. Thank you very much for listening to my earnest testimony.
Dear Members of the House Education- Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee Please VOTE YES on HB1047. Every child, no matter how they communicate, has the right to access the school curriculum and communicate using their augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This issue is important to me because 1) Says that a student who needs or uses AAC cannot be denied access to regular classrooms or age-appropriate academic instruction on the basis that the student needs support with AAC; 2) Says IQ scores cannot be used to decide whether the student can be provided with AAC at school; and 3) Says that school staff will be provided timely training in how to support a student’s use of AAC, and in how to design instruction to accommodate their unique communication access needs. 4) As defined in the bill, "augmentative and alternative communication" or "AAC" means any device, tool, support, or service, or any combination thereof, that facilitates any form of communication, other than oral speech, that can be used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. 5) We believe any way that a student communicates should be supported. Students who need AAC are often denied the supports they need based on unwarranted assumptions about their potential. This bill is a modest but important first step to ensuring that teachers get the resources and training they need to support students who need AAC. It would help ensure that students who cannot speak have the same opportunities to reach their potential as all other students. Please Vote YES on HB1047. signed g-rod and arc of nrv advocates! \
Dear Members of the House Education- Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee Please VOTE YES on HB1047. Every child, no matter how they communicate, has the right to access the school curriculum and communicate using their augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). This issue is important to me because,_____________(insert anything you want to add)_ Students who need AAC are often denied the supports they need based on unwarranted assumptions about their potential. This bill is a modest but important first step to ensuring that teachers get the resources and training they need to support students who need AAC. It would help ensure that students who cannot speak have the same opportunities to reach their potential as all other students. Please Vote YES on HB1047. signed, g-rod and arc of nrv aodvcates!
Washington Speech-Language Pathology Group supports both HB1047 and HB1246 because we believe both bills would provide benefits necessary to the health, safety and welfare of the Virginia disabilities community. HB 1246 would greatly benefit students by providing them with essential tools to further their learning. Our speech-language pathology practice treats many children and adults who would benefit from the passage of HB1047. AAC devices are an essential communication tool for those who are non-verbal and those whose ability to verbalize is significantly impaired. It is our experience that the use of AAC devices can motivate speech acquisition. This is well documented in the literature, On behalf of our patients, their parents or caregivers, we lend our support to both bills and encourage swift passage. Thank you for the opportunity to be heard.
We support HB1047 ! HB1047 Provides that no student who needs or uses augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), shall be denied the opportunity for inclusion in regular classrooms or the provision of age-appropriate instruction on the basis that such student may require support with AAC. 1) Says that a student who needs or uses AAC cannot be denied access to regular classrooms or age-appropriate academic instruction on the basis that the student needs support with AAC; 2) Says IQ scores cannot be used to decide whether the student can be provided with AAC at school; and 3) Says that school staff will be provided timely training in how to support a student’s use of AAC, and in how to design instruction to accommodate their unique communication access needs. 4) As defined in the bill, "augmentative and alternative communication" or "AAC" means any device, tool, support, or service, or any combination thereof, that facilitates any form of communication, other than oral speech, that can be used to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. 5) We believe any way that a student communicates should be supported.
Despite the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), kids without spoken language are often not given access to alternative means of communication. HB 1047 will help assure that students, in accordance with IDEA, will be provided access to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC); that teachers/staff will receive the necessary training; that students will not be denied access to AAC based on IQ tests; and that these students will not be denied the opportunity for inclusion in regular classrooms or the provision of age-appropriate instruction because they may need support with AAC. Please vote yes on this bill. It is good for students and families and it is good for our communities! We need to hear the "voices" of all students, including those who communicate in ways other than the spoken word. You can "hear" some of these voices in this 5 minute video made by and with non-speaking autistic people. https://youtu.be/H7dca7U7GI8
Dear Members of the House Education- Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee Please VOTE YES on HB1047. Every child, no matter how they communicate, has the right to access the school curriculum and communicate using their augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Students who need AAC are often denied the supports they need based on unwarranted assumptions about their potential. This bill is a modest but important first step to ensuring that teachers get the resources and training they need to support students who need AAC. It would help ensure that students who cannot speak have the same opportunities to reach their potential as all other students. Please Vote YES on HB1047. Sincerely, Erin Whitt
I feel it is long past time to consider the needs of students who need assistive devices in order to access a Free Appropriate Public Education. It is my understanding the Delegate's Tran's legislation would be instrumental in making sure that these students are fully considered throughout the Commonwealth's public schools. For too long, solutions for students with these needs have been determined by relying on voluntary efforts by educators and families alike. While the percentage of such students may seem small, the individual impact is what truly matters. I urge you all to move for passage of this bill and make sure it gets passed by both branches of the General Assembly and is then signed into law by the Governor.
I support HB1047, HB319, HB418, and HB419.
Please pass this bill! Many students need augmentative and alternative communication if they are to learn. A little investment will have a big impact!
HB1064 - Public School Trades Incentive Fund and Program; created and established, rules and procedures.
HB1093 - Public elementary and secondary education; cultural competency training.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
Both I (a public school teacher in Fairfax County) and the Virginia Education Association OPPOSE HB 1093. This bill is proposing that several amendments are made to 22.1-253.13:5 and 22.1-298.7 of the Code of Virginia, such that the cultural competency training part of teacher, principal, and superintendent evaluations is OPTIONAL rather than required. As I teacher, I know to hold the highest expectations of all my students and to NEVER lower the rigor. Removing the requirement of cultural competency training is the antithesis of the movement to employ highly effective educators. How can I and others be effective with lower standards?
As a public school teacher I support this bill to end such a horrendous law against students and teachers. Thank you.
I support this bill to make Culturally Responsive Training optional for teachers. Our teachers have varying opinions and backgrounds - forcing them to not only attend this training but to adhere to and agree to this training - is not appropriate for any one this day and age. If we want diversity in our schools - it begins with diversity in learning and teaching from different backgrounds and beliefs. I strongly support this bill and hope you will too. Allow our teachers their opinion and varying beliefs so we can promote critical thinking skills rather than group think in our schools.
Please pass this bill to make this training optional. Keep politics and controversial topics out of schools.
Please vote NO on HB1093 Absolutely NO on CRI!!!! Everything about this is wrong and will hurt our children. If you care about them no is the only way. CRI will devastate these kids.
I am in support of HB1093. Schools are meant to teach reading, writing, math, history, etc. I do not support indoctrinating our youth by teaching that one culture or race is better than the other, and that one is oppressed and one is the oppressor. Culturally responsive training is 100% Critical Race theory and should NOT be taught in schools.
I am a teacher in Fairfax County and I am writing to urge you to vote no on HB 1093. This bill removes the requirement that school boards train their staff in cultural competency. As educators, it is our duty to seek to better understand our students and how to serve them. Cultural competency training is one of the many strategies we have in place to help us achieve this. We cannot undo the equity progress we have made in the Commonwealth by making this training optional. Please oppose this bill.
I’m a Loudoun county mother of two students in the public school system. I do NOT support HB1093 as it gives the school board the ability to take away cultural competency training and evaluation. Cultural competency is currently required, as it should be. It is critical that we have educators and school board members who support equity and understand cultural differences. Our children deserve to be seen and supported. We need educators who value diversity and respect cultural differences. Please do not vote in favor of this bill; please put our children (and yours) in mind and vote to keep cultural competency as a statewide requirement so that each of child has a safe learning environment where they are embraced for being themselves.
HB988- Vote NO on this bill. It is a big step backwards in the progress towards protection, empathy and compassion, greatly needed by transgender students, who have the highest rate of suicide of any group. HB1093-Vote NO on this bill. Cultural competency training is needed because teachers and students are citizens of the world. Understanding and embracing the richness of all cultures opens minds and builds empathy, inclusion and acceptance. It cannot be optional.
Support. There is only one culture in this country. People need.to assimilate to this country, people just didn't change geography, they changed countries. Teachers should be there to help children assimilate, of course, and offer ENGLISH language classes to parents and students.
I choose to support optional training cultural competency. Parents choice should follow this bill just like what Governor Youngkin signed to allow parent choice of wearing masks at school. Schools are meant to teach reading writing math history etc. I feel cultural competency teaches things that are not equal to all race or ethnicities. We are a Christian based family that we teach how to treat others without dramatizing differences. I don’t want my child taught your criteria without my religious aspects attached. Since you have taken religion from the schools, this does makes your teachings acceptable in my household. We have gotten too worried about offending someone instead of standing up for what is right in Gods eyes. This is what our country was founded on. Slowly you are removing everything religion from the American people, you are removing patriotism, and infringing on my right as a parent to teach my child culture as I see fit! Thank you
I am writing in support of HB 1093,which is to remove the requirement for culturally responsive training for educators. This requirement as it stands now is that the training must be completed every two years. As an educator for over 30 years who has taught in Title 1 schools with students who are not predominately not Causasian, i do not support the indoctrination of our youth by teaching one culture is better than the other and other cultures are repressed. My students have been successful no matter the color of their skin. Students need to be taught to work hard and do their best to be successful. This culturally responsive training is another way to say critical race theory. Our job as educators is to donjust that educate the kids. Teach them how to read, write, become proficient in mathematics and learn about and from history. My job is not to teach them to hate each other. In all my over 30 years race has not been made an issue in any of my classrooms. I foster acceptance. Let us keep it that way.
I oppose this bill. Teachers need more training in mathematics instead of cultural competency.
Cultural competency training is compelled speech. It is a political theory that is masquerading as accepted public policy. It is not accepted public policy. Cultural competency, or culturally responsive education, is a bankrupt set of ideas that were laundered through the academy. Culturally responsive education is 100% grounded critical race theory. This is beyond dispute as affirmed on multiple occasions by its creator, Gloria Ladson-Billings herself. Here you can watch Ms. Ladson-Billings admit this in her own words that culturally responsive education is grounded in CRT: https://youtu.be/katwPTn-nhE Ms. Ladson-Billings was also a large player in establishing the Northam administration's Ed Equity initiative, which is also steeped in critical race, gender, and queer theories. Teachers should not be required to attend training that requires them to teach from these controversial and easily falsifiable political theories. Nor should these theories be used as the basis for any pedagogical approach here in the Commonwealth.
Dear Sirs, First, I appreciate the requirement that School Boards planning on implementing this training and accredidation do so only "but only after providing 30 days' advanced written notice of and holding a public hearing regarding the adoption and implementation of such policies." The nature of this training if done IAW the previous VDOE guidance would be to require teachers to demonstrate their fealty to a ideology developed by a series of avowed Marxists including Professor Gloria Ladson-Billings (See: https://youtu.be/katwPTn-nhE). One of the CRT advocates who provided instruction on the design of the CRT/Instruction program is Ms. Maria Burgos who recently admitted on a video that CRTeaching is based at least in part on Maxsim. Parents need a chance to have a discussion before this is implemented. The advocates of this program are all hard left progressives, and the designers are Critical Theory Adherents(neo-Marxists) (see: https://youtu.be/NuQgO667P6k) If I could improve this bill, it would be to require School Boards to have a hearing and or a Townhall to present the proposal to the public and to allow for a Q&A to explain the assumption and science that supports the proposal. The assumption that this is required is that Virginia and the SB jurisdictions are systemically racist. That is not true based on the facts from the Census and VDOE. There is about a 3% graduation rate difference between black and Caucasian children. In almost all cases n VA where black children do poorly, so do Caucasian children. This whole program is based on a lie that deserves to be exposed to parents.
HB1100 - Public elementary and secondary school buildings; standards for maintenance, operations, etc.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Please move to report HB221, 340, 533, 873, 1032, 1100, 1125, 1347. Thank you.
HB1125 - School boards; parental notification of certain incidents, Alyssa's law-silent panic alarms.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
Please move to report HB221, 340, 533, 873, 1032, 1100, 1125, 1347. Thank you.
HB1129 - School safety audits; law-enforcement officers.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Both I (a public school teacher) and the Virginia Education Association OPPOSE HB 1129. The proposed amendments give too much power to the Chief Law-Enforcement Officer. Why should one individual (who is not even employed by the school district) have final say over approving school safety audits?
Our youth - and those who have dedicated their lives toward our childrens' education, development, and enrichment - are treasures in any community. They deserve thoughtful, collaborative, and interdependent coordination of protective resources to mitigate any foreseen risks they may encounter within their learning environment. Unfortunately, these populations are particularly vulnerable – due to societal trends to remove protective services (specifically police) from these environments and the high concentration of students and faculty in designated locations during predictable times. A fundamental tenant of leadership involves ensuring those charged with making critical performance decisions are granted both the authority and the responsibility to address challenges within their purview. When law enforcement executives are left out of the decision-making processes for risk mitigation and yet are expected to perform flawlessly in the face of a sudden threat / mass-casualty incident, the interests of those most impacted – our students and facility – are subordinated to unproductive and often baseless rhetoric. I see this bill as a solid starting point to compel interdependent cooperation between schools and public safety. This legislation shouldn't represent the end goal, but this starting point is essential in some jurisdictions within the Commonwealth. As such, I support the measure and encourage additional language for the inclusion of fire / life-safety and emergency management leadership. Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback and for your consideration of this perspective.
HB1135 - Standards of Quality; DOE to oversee work-based learning, teacher leaders and mentors.
Why now is the time to reach our Standards of Quality State aid for public education is still down from 2009 levels. This means local divisions are left paying more than what is required by localities in the state’s primary funding formula. High poverty divisions and divisions with the most students of color struggle to make up these funds, resulting in vast inequities in educational opportunity across the state. Schools are struggling to provide adequate staffing, resulting in insufficient counselors, social workers, instructional aides, and administrative and custodial staff. The pandemic has only widened these gaps, and students need full and fair school funding more than ever before. Solution In the fall of 2021, the Virginia Board of Education issued a set of Standards of Quality (SOQs) recommendations which, if funded, would go far to increase educational opportunity for Virginia’s children. This is just the minimum the state Board says is necessary to meet the state’s constitutional duty to ensure a high quality education for Virginia’s students. It is now up to the General Assembly to adopt these SOQs, and fully fund it. The act would: Increase funding for school counselors to ensure there is one counselor for every 250 students. Increase funding for English learner students based on proficiency. Increase a host of other critical support positions in schools and programing. Why Funding the SOQs Matters The Education Law Center finds that K-12 funding per student is basically flat in Virginia between the highest and lowest poverty school divisions. Experts note it can cost as much as 40% more to educate a student in poverty than a student not in poverty. For students to receive the full benefits of a comprehensive school counseling program, school counselors’ caseloads should not exceed 250 students. Students have the right to a high-quality education. Our underinvestment of our students today will have damaging implications for their future.I’m
My name is Emily VanDerhoff. I am a 1st grade teacher in Fairfax County Public Schools and am a proud member of my union, the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, AFT 2401. On behalf of my union, I am asking you to support Delegate Bourne's bill, HB 1135. It is time for the General Assembly to fully-fund the Virginia Board of Education's Standards of Quality so that we can fully-staff our schools with the recommended rations for critical positions such has school counselors and teachers of English Learners. We strongly encourage you to pass this bill. We also want to thank Delegate Bourne for sponsoring this important legislation. Thank you.
Please vote in SUPPORT of HB1135. With the strain on public schools from covid related issues and loss of teachers and staff, we need to step up the establishment of teacher leader and teacher mentor programs and improving the ratios of students to teachers especially where schools have high numbers of low-income students. Also, we should have a way to provide extra compensation to teachers in those schools that are particularly challenging as an incentive to help recruit and retain teachers in those schools. We need to ensure there are experienced teachers in those particularly challenging schools and have more appropriate teacher leaders and mentors to help less experienced teachers grow into valuable and experienced teachers. We also need to have funds to support low income, at-risk and English language learner students, employing reading specialists and other full-time staff in each school. These could include specialized student support positions, including school social workers, school psychologists, depending on the need at each school.
Virginia schools desperately need adequate funding to meet the needs of all students. This bill would take us much closer to achieving that goal. We need our youth to be competitive with their peers in other states and that requires fully funding the support needed to get there. I wholeheartedly support this bill.
I believe that education is a fundamental human right, and that all students should have the same high-quality education regardless of their income level or their zip code. Virginia needs to fully fund the Standards of Quality to close the gaps between schools in rich and poor districts and ensure that all students have equal access to teachers, counselors, and other support staff. I urge members of the committee to support HB 1135 and fully invest in the future of Virginia’s students.
The Standards of Quality have never been fully funded by the General Assembly, that means the state is failing to meet its constitutional obligation to provide all students in Virginia with a quality public education. With schools continuing to struggle due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now is a crucial time for Virginia to take this important step towards supporting our students and school personnel. Students in our state deserve better. Support HB1135 to take a step in the right direction!
HB1188 - Student Advisory Board; established.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
Students are essential stakeholders in education policy. I support HB1188.
HB1215 - Public middle schools; physical education to include personal safety training.
Please move to report HB344, HB346, HB356, HB789, HB1188, HB221, HB340, HB1125, HB1215, HB988, HB1023, HB1093. Please gently PBI HB486 so that academic merits ONLY decide who gets in.
HB1246 - School divisions, local; work group to recommend ways to procure accessible digital tools.
Very import
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Students with disabilities use the same education technology as their peers. While there is a robust market for education technology, accessibility for students with disabilities is not a factor in the product selection process by Virginia school boards, despite the existence of widespread accessibility standards for over twenty years. As a result, school boards are purchasing technology that cannot be used by students with disabilities. Since much of a student’s academic experience is tied to technology deployed by schools (including classroom materials, testing, portals for grades, and homework), it is critical for these products to be accessible to students with disabilities. With the recent shift to virtual learning during the pandemic, this access challenge for students with disabilities has increased. Currently, teachers are forced to develop one-off solutions to address systemic challenges with technology acquisitions made at the district level. HB 1247 proposes that the Department of Education convene a work group that would provide input and recommendations on the provision of accessible digital tools in the classroom. The study group will examine the problem and propose solutions to the procurement of accessible technology. Many organizations support this bill, including the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia, the Parents of Blind Children, the Disability Law Center and many others. We would appreciate favorable consideration.
VCASE appreciates Del. Tran connecting with us on this HB1246. VCASE supports the substitute for HB1246 that has a stakeholder workgroup study and recommend policy changes ensuring the accessibility of learning and management educational platforms obtained by local divisions through the procurement process. All platforms used by school divisions for instruction should be accessible in compliance with the Rehabilitation Act, section 508. This has been required federal law with required compliance effective for several years. Amendments to the Virginia Procurement Act could also strengthen statewide accessibility requirements. Thank you!
I’m Ally Kelso, a high school student from Burke. I’m a blind student who uses a screen reader to access online class work during school. Often times, the website or Digital materials I need to access in class are very difficult to navigate or incompatible with my screen reader. One example of this issue is when I had to take the online economics and personal finance class that all Virginia high school students are required to take. The website was quite inaccessible and I ended up needing my mom to read and fill in my dictated answers for quizzes and tests so that I could complete the course. This situation would’ve been avoidable if my county had ensured that the virtual Virginia website, which I used for the class, met all of the website accessibility guidelines. Last year, when my county was doing virtual school, I faced difficulties navigating blackboard collaborate ultra, the county’s virtual meeting platform of choice, because of the platform’s inaccessibility. I couldn’t hear what my classmates were typing in the chat box when I was typing things in the chat box simultaneously and I was not able to navigate to the links that teachers placed inside the chat box either which made it difficult for me to participate in class discussions and obtain class work at the same time as my peers. Once again, these situations would not have occurred in my county if The current website accessibility guidelines and standards we’re implemented. When I am not able to access materials and school just like my classmates, I lose my independence and my drive to work extremely hard. The passage of HB 1246 would fix these challenges for me and other visually impaired Virginia students. All disabled students in Virginia would benefit from this legislation and would be able to thrive in school and beyond. Thank you for your time.
I am writing in strong support of HB1246 and why it's passage is so very important to me and to Virginia students. This legislation is vital to the education of children who are blind or have other disabilities. These students use the same education technology as their peers to access their classes, materials, information and grades. While there is a vast market for educational portals, platforms, websites and digital apps, accessibility for students with disabilities is often overlooked or not a factor in the product selection process by Virginia school boards. As a result school boards are purchasing technology that cannot be used by students with disabilities. Since the majority of a student's assignments are done online using digital methods for testing, classwork and homework, portals for accessing those materials, grades and school information, it is critical for these products to be accessible to all students, including those with disabilities. The pandemic has simply exacerbated the accessibility challenges and will compound as education and society continues to advance in technology uses in all areas of school, work and life. Sharing a story about my own daughter, who is blind and identifies as a person with Autism who will graduate this year with a 4.0 GPA. Prior to taking legal action seven years ago, she would sit in classes confused and lost due to inaccessible digital platforms & materials (even experienced computer users and trainers for the blind could not access them). We had to retain legal assist., eventually settling with the school district (different district than we currently live) who ended up employing extra staff specifically to make all digital materials accessible to her. We still have staff in place to insure accessibility. Once she had accessible materials she is able to complete work independently in classes with a 4.0 GPA and going to college in the fall. Currently, the responsibility of adapting materials are often being pushed onto classroom teachers and teachers for the visually impaired are spending a considerable amount of time adapting digital materials, coming at a hefty price tag to divisions, let alone the stress and burnout. Other times parents and divisions are spending immeasurable hours through the dispute res. processes, at a hefty price tag and enormous stress to parents, school divisions and staff. Going through dispute resolution and due process is not only financially and emotionally devastating to everyone involved but is costing valuable time and undue and extreme distress to the student. Why HB 1246? It shifts accountability to education technology vendors! First, the bill will require local school boards to include accessibility requirements in the procurement process. Second, the bill will require that vendors indemnify the purchaser for costs arising from any lack of product accessibility. Third, the bill will require school boards to prioritize the purchase of education technology that best meets accessibility standards while taking into consideration costs and lack of alternatives. Fourth, the bill will require vendors to remediate inaccessibility issues within 180 days’ notice. Finally, the bill will require that school boards and the Dept. of Ed. track accessibility and remediation efforts and make such information publicly available to all school boards. Your support is vital to the education of blind and disabled children. Thank you.
As a parent and volunteer advocate for other parents, I am writing in SUPPORT OF HB 1246, a bill which promotes accessible design of educational technology. This bill is much needed to provide access for students and adults with disabilities; however, in reality, accessible design benefits everyone. A concrete ramp benefits people in wheelchairs, but parents with strollers rely on the same ramps. Likewise, accessible design of educational technology not only provides access to people with disabilities, but it also provides greater ease of access for nondisabled people who suffer from eye fatigue after reading screen after screen or need a little magnification to see clearly or audio to multitask. Unlike the ADA, IDEA, and 504 which were all passed long before the computer age, this HB 1246 incorporates specific Web Content Accessibility Guidelines that provide much needed direction which helps districts meet the broad goals of established disability rights legislation; while other legislation provides the What, HB 1246 provides the much needed How. Unlike other legislation which requires costly lawsuits, this legislation proactively utilizes the crucial relationship between buyer and vendor, and relies on the natural implications of economics to motivate edtech vendors to create products according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). This bill will also help reduce staffing shortages (a need identified by the JLARC Study) by enabling direct, independent access rather than wasting precious staffing hours on teacher-created/facilitated retrofits which are neither efficient nor effective. While pre-digital era legislation proposes that separate can be equal, this legislation acknowledges the field-leveling potential of technology and establishes the need for accessible design as the default state of educational technology. Please support this important bill. Thank you.
I support HB 1246 Kimberly Drudge I believe that accessible technology is important as a blind high school student. I need access to all materials, whether on the internet or on my computer. When I was in middle school, particularly sixth and seventh grade, materials were almost always given to me in an inaccessible format, particularly on the computer. I have a teacher for the blind and visually impaired, or a TVI for short, who adapts things for me in Braille or accessible documents if the assignments are not on an accessible website, which is a lot of things. When I was in middle school, I had no idea how to access my work. I would sit in class, confused and not able to understand what was going on. The teachers would go at a very fast pace and I would get so frustrated and I always felt behind. Currently I use a website called Schoology to get to my digital assignments once they have been adapted by my TVI or teacher and posted on there. Schoology is somewhat accessible but not completely. When it's time to take a test, however, if the test is on Schoology it is inaccessible. When using the testing on Schoology when I click on the answer I want according to what, a different answer would actually get selected and I would not know until after the test was submitted. This is just one of many examples of why accessible technology is important. There are so many programs that are used in school that are not accessible and it makes it so hard to try and keep up and stay positive in school. Luckily, I have a science teacher and a Spanish teacher who understand my needs and take the time to make tests and assignments accessible for me but I know that my teachers are overwhelmed and so busy. All technology that is used in schools should already be accessible so we all can learn and so the teachers don't have to do so much extra work. Your support to HB 1246 is extremely important to me and the disability community. I believe accessible technology needs to improve not just for blind or visually-impaired people, but for people of all types of disabilities.
Dear Delegates, I am writing in support of HB 1246, which promotes accessibility of educational technology. I am a parent, a volunteer parent advocate, and constituent of Delegate Tran who has graciously allowed me to help write this bill. I have directly witnessed ways in which district-procured digital content, when not designed to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, prevents access for students who could otherwise independently access apps, websites, and other digital content if that content was designed according to standards set forth in Section 508. I have also been contacted directly by fellow parents and educators who have witnessed and experienced similar barriers for students and parents. These barriers existed pre-pandemic, were only exacerbated by distance learning, and continue today in both virtual and in-person settings. Forced to choose between pouring time, money, and energy into a lawsuit or investing those resources directly into my own children, I chose my children, and as a result, my children are fabulous readers and avid learners who have advanced academic and technology skills. Many others are not so lucky. Fortunately, my family, unlike most others, is able to privately provide an appropriate education without the help of the public schools. However, though I thank God for the unexpected route our lives have taken, I know that my child and all students with disabilities have the civil right to a free and appropriate public education alongside friends and neighbors. So I am here. To ask you to pass the first disability rights legislation which is founded on principles of capitalism: simple direction which acknowledges that our economy depends on private owners, including educational technology vendors, who create products for profit according to the specifications of the buyer. Until that buyer specifies the need for accessibility in the procurement process, vendors have little natural motivation to create accessible products. Unfortunately, as evidenced by the stance of the School Board Association, even well-intentioned educators need direction and accountability to do what is right for students with disabilities. Please support this important bill which will communicate and promote our country’s values, not only of capitalism, education, and a system of checks and balances, but of bipartisan collaboration in support of people with disabilities, a population which makes up roughly 25% of our great nation. Thank you. Donna Genelin
Please pass HB 1246. Virtual learning was a mixed bag in our house. In some ways, the lack of distractions and one-on-one support to model our daughter's AAC device really improved her ability to access the curriculum, and she made significant progress. In other ways, virtual learning showcased how utterly inaccessible educational technology is to a student with complex communication and motor needs. Our daughter has a global motor planning disorder, which means her body often does not move the way she wants it to, and it can take years of practice to learn new motor plans. She did not walk until she was 3.5 years old, after years of physical therapy. Her fine motor skills are also impacted significantly, along with her oral speech. Our district has relied heavily on educational programs like ST Math and Imagine Learning - both of which are inaccessible to someone with fine motor deficits. We spent much of virtual learning having to figure out supports on our own, as school staff didn't know how to make these programs accessible either. That onus shouldn't be on school staff or families. It must be on the companies who create the programs. Please support HB 1246 to ensure this responsibility lies with the creators, and not the consumers. Thank you
The Commonwealth of Virginia and the US Federal government have for 15+ years had a commitment to procure accessible information and communication technology to ensure a diverse and inclusive environment. However, this has not been the case of school systems in Virginia. School systems still treat access to technology by students with disabilities as a one-off accommodation. In practical terms this means that students don’t have timely access to the same digital materials as their peers and adaption is costly and time intensive for teachers of the blind and visually impaired. Digital accessibility is readily achievable and there are many applications that are born accessible to people with disabilities. However, there is no process in place to require accessibility be considered during the procurement process and there is no incentive for education tech companies to make their products and services accessible because no one has held them accountable. This bill would increase access and inclusion to children with disabilities and parents with disabilities. I support the bill which does not cost the commonwealth money but will hold vendors accountable for inaccessible and exclusionary software – yet allowing flexibility for purchase of not fully accessible technology based on lack of market availability.
The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia is Virginia’s largest and most active membership organization for people who are blind or low vision. Students (and their parents) from across Virginia are struggling because the technology used for their academic experience does not work with the assistive technology deployed by their schools. These students use the same education technology as their peers. While there is a robust market for education technology, accessibility for students with disabilities is not a factor in the product selection process by Virginia school boards, despite the existence of widespread accessibility standards for over twenty years. As a result, school boards are purchasing technology that cannot be used by students with disabilities. Since much of a student’s academic experience is tied to technology deployed by schools (including classroom materials, testing, portals for grades, and homework), it is critical for these products to be accessible to students with disabilities. With the recent shift to virtual learning during the pandemic, this access challenge for students with disabilities has increased. Currently, teachers are forced to develop one-off solutions to address systemic challenges with technology acquisitions made at the district level. HB 1246 shifts accountability to education technology vendors. First, the bill will require local school boards to include accessibility requirements in the procurement process. Second, the bill will require that vendors indemnify the purchaser for costs arising from any lack of product accessibility. Third, the bill will require school boards to prioritize the purchase of education technology that best meets accessibility standards while taking into consideration costs and lack of alternatives. Fourth, the bill will require vendors to remediate inaccessibility issues within 180 days’ notice. Finally, the bill will require that school boards and the Department of Education track accessibility and remediation efforts and make such information publicly available to all school boards. The National Federation of the Blind of Virginia fully supports HB1246 and urge its passage.
The Arc of Northern Virginia strongly supports Delegate Tran's bill, HB1246. This bill is critical to ensuring technologies used in public school settings are accessible to students with disabilities. The IDEA passed more than 40 years ago but the need for this bill is further proof of how we continue to struggle to adequately include and support students with disabilities. We heard from families during the pandemic where their blind children were only provided written (non-Braille material) and from people whose children had fine motor deficits who couldn't manipulate the apps needed for virtual classrooms. As a result, those students began losing hard won skills and couldn't move forward. We must pass this bill to ensure the eye of equity and inclusion is provided as schools develop and roll out new student technologies.
I am in support of bill HB1246. It must be passed. Thank you.
Washington Speech-Language Pathology Group supports both HB1047 and HB1246 because we believe both bills would provide benefits necessary to the health, safety and welfare of the Virginia disabilities community. HB 1246 would greatly benefit students by providing them with essential tools to further their learning. Our speech-language pathology practice treats many children and adults who would benefit from the passage of HB1047. AAC devices are an essential communication tool for those who are non-verbal and those whose ability to verbalize is significantly impaired. It is our experience that the use of AAC devices can motivate speech acquisition. This is well documented in the literature, On behalf of our patients, their parents or caregivers, we lend our support to both bills and encourage swift passage. Thank you for the opportunity to be heard.
Hello. I want to offer my support for HB 1246. Part of my job is to make sure our resources, publications, and course content is accessible for all users. Due to my job, I have learned that accessibility is and SHOULD be part of all aspects of design and course implementation. Accessibility is not an afterthought or - it can be universally beneficial for all users and should be at the forefront of anyone being a steward of the funds they receive. It is possible to create rich and inclusive content and when bills like BH1246 pass, they show vendors and content designers that accessibility matters. That all users matter. I 100% support for this bill because it extends beyond blind individuals to the greater community of individuals with disabilities. -Jan Shea, North Chesterfield, VA Proud parent of a special needs daughter, accessibility content creator, and advocate.
Thank you for your consideration of this bill. I am the parent of two blind children and a sighted child. My oldest daughter is 14 years old and blind with an orthopedic impairment. She is working in the general education curriculum with nondisabled peers and wants to be a teacher when she grows up. She accesses her curriculum with a variety of assistive technology. She uses a 32 cell braille display with a screen reader called JAWS to access the same work as her nondisabled peers. Because of her orthopedic impairment, which affects her wrists and hands, it is very difficult for her to read braille on paper. Electronic braille on a braille display is much more accessible for her. But she is unable to take the state standardized tests using the same technology that she uses to complete her school work every day. These tests are not accessible using a screen reader and must be read to her by a human reader. Research shows that students do best taking tests in the same format that they learn, but this is not an option for my daughter because the tests are not available in a format accessible to her. Because of this, my child who has been on the A/B honor roll for her entire middle school career, has not yet passed an SOL test. From time to time in class, her teachers will assign online activities, games, and programs that are also not accessible. This forces her to be singled out and given alternate assignments, which must be created by her TVI. She is often embarrassed and feels left out when this happens, and is looking forward to the day when all educational activities will be accessible for students who are blind or who have any type of disability. HB 1246 addresses my daughter's concerns and will help many students with disabilities in schools across the commonwealth. I appreciate your consideration.
HB1284 - School boards; method of selection, election required.
HB1299 - High school students; instruction concerning post-graduate opportunities.
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB 1034. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. I have worked in two different public school systems in Virginia over 13 years, and I have seen first hand how beneficial counseling services can be to a wide variety of students. If parents are allowed to prohibit their students from accessing counseling services in the school, these students may be cut off from not only critical mental health support, but but also the academic, career, and community support that school counselors and mental health team members provide. All members of a school mental health team must undergo rigorous education before obtaining their licenses, and as such they should be trusted as the professionals they are to provide only services that they deem necessary for students well-being. I strongly urge you to let the trained mental health professionals do their jobs. Don't make students get tied in the mire of adult squibbles. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
To Whom It May Concern, Thank you for the opportunity to comment on HB HB1032. As a public high school school teacher and parent of two young children (ages 5 and 2) in Virginia, I have serious concerns that this bill will wind up doing more harm than good for the children of our state. As VA Senator Peterson said on January 27 of this year, regarding a similar bill, "I don't think we should be involved in micromanaging school libraries...The problem is that you’re going to sweep up books that you don’t intend to sweep up" (Matthew Barakat, abcnews.go.com). I strongly urge you to leave the books in the libraries for the kids. They deserve to have the opportunity to decide with their own parents and personal support systems what books to read. Thank you, Sara Watkins Mother Teacher Concerned Virginia Citizen
Please pass HB217. Moe can be done to encourage and educate students about opportunities in STEM-C fields and to make sure that educational opportunities in our schools are adequately supporting students pursuing these goals. Identifying the full range of employment opportunities in these areas and the education needed to succeed in them can only be a benefit. Please pass HB221. Please oppose HB344. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Members of the State Board of Education are appointed and consequently are accountable only to those who appointed them. Also, this bill provides that there is no longer the opportunity to revisit the decisions of this State or local boards in granting or continuing such charter. The public should not lose a mechanism of redress already in place. Please oppose HB346. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Extending the establishment of charter and lab schools to private institutions of higher ed and private businesses further removes the oversight of such schools to boards that have no accountability to the public that they serve. Please oppose HB356. The establishment of charter schools should remain with local school boards who are accountable to their constituents. Please oppose HB486. Governor's School admissions should not be constricted by an arbitrary quota of students from one district. Please oppose HB563. While assisting local districts in funding construction where school buildings are in disrepair is a desirable goal, the diversion of funds allocated for instruction should not be institutionalized as a regular mechanism to accomplish this. Please pass HB585. Standardized testing has become the tail that wags the dog in education. Increasing amounts of time are dedicated to teaching towards the test and administering tests to the detriment of education tailored to the needs of students and localities. Reducing such testing the minimum required for federal accountability would free time and resources to more fully meet the needs of students. Please oppose 789. Family life education should remain an opt out program instead of an opt in program. The latter puts an onerous burden on schools for the delivery of this important curriculum. Please oppose HB988. Transgender students deserve equal protection in schools across the Commonwealth. All school districts should maintain certain expectations in this regard. Please pass HB994 Please pass HB1005. This bill stipulates that teachers under continuing contract can resign within the school year but must do so providing 2 weeks of notice. Such a provision provides more time for local school districts to make arrangements for staffing adjustments. Please pass HB1023. Human trafficking is increasingly a problem in the Commonwealth and beyond. Our students should be alert to its threats and educated as to how to protect themselves from it. Please pass HB1026. With technology and the internet playing an increasing role in every aspect of our lives, expanding our understanding of this role and improving education surrounding it can only be a good thing. Please pass HB1299. Our students need as much information as possible about their opportunities after graduating from our public school system.
Please VOTE YES and support this critically important bill! Explicit, systematic, cumulative literacy instruction based on the science of reading is critical for teaching our VA students how to read. Decades of research supports this methodology. As an education advocate I have dedicated many years to helping our students thrive. Literacy education based on the science of reading is best practice for ALL students regardless of ability. It is long past time, that our VA schools teach reading effectively. Thank you!
HB18 - School boards; appointed members, salaries.
We oppose the above listed bills
Please oppose HB18. Any legislation that pushes for increased compensation for a public service position is highly questionable, but when that legislation is ONLY directed towards appointed boards it should definitely be a cause for concern.
My name is Dr. Rachel Levy and I live in Ashland, Virginia, in the 55th House of Delegates District and the 9th State Senate District. I am a mother of three--I have one child in Hanover County Public Schools as well as two who are just graduated in 2021. I am also a teacher who has a PhD in Educational Leadership & Policy from VCU. I was a candidate for the 55th District seat in 2021. I am asking you to oppose HB18. This bill would change the state code to lift the caps on salaries for appointed school board members. Our school district in Hanover County is one of a handful still governed by an elected school board. In fact, Hanover Schools is the largest school district in the state to still have an appointed school board. Our school board members are appointed by the Board of Supervisors member representing their district. Unfortunately, this means that they are not responsive to constituents as they don't feel accountable to them. In addition, this legislation is being submitted, not because the people of Hanover County want it (not even the citizens who want to keep an appointed school board support this legislation) but as a favor to a few of the Hanover School Board members. This same legislation was proposed two years ago, and it was defeated after advocacy from the people of Hanover County. If members of the Hanover School Board want to receive higher salaries, they should become an elected body, and then enact their raises, and then face the voters of Hanover County in the next election, and leave the General Assembly out of it. Please vote AGAINST HB18. Thank you for your time, consideration, and service.
• I write in opposition to HB18. • HB18 references appointed school boards in Virginia— NOT elected school boards. • In addition to discouraging appointing school boards in Virginia, the General Assembly enforces salary limits to serve as a check to ensure appointed boards aren’t being used to discriminate against populations or enrich themselves inappropriately. • There are only 15 appointed school boards in Virginia out of over 200 localities. • The patron of HB18 is a delegate from Hanover County. He introduced HB18 in response to the Hanover County School Board voting to give themselves a 50% raise. https://vpm.org/news/articles/10421/hanover-school-board-wants-a-raise-state-lawmakers-have-to-sign-off • A raise of that magnitude would mean Hanover’s appointed school board members would make $2000 more a year than neighboring Richmond City’s elected members who are dealing with a school population 50% larger than Hanover County Schools and with socioeconomic issues Hanover County doesn’t have. • Appointed school boards lead to a lack of diversity on school boards. Currently, 6 white men and 1 black woman compose the Hanover County School Board. Only one member has previous experience in education. • Parents and community groups wish to elect their school board members in Hanover County and across the state. https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-parents-pushing-for-elected-not-appointed-school-board/ • Appointed school boards were utilized throughout Virginia’s history to keep minorities off school boards. https://acluva.org/en/press-releases/why-we-have-and-should-have-elected-school-boards-virginia