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

Comments Document

Dear House Education Committee, My name is Tyvon Bates, and on behalf of American Federation of Teachers Virginia, I am writing to urge you to support HB 230 chief patroned by Delegate Coyner. I hope you will join me in support of HB 230. Thank you, Tyvon Bates American Federation of Teachers Virginia

Please vote for HB230 as a spouse of a active duty military man. I hear how hard it is get a license for each state that you move to. Sometimes you can be moving every two years. Thanks

Please ensure that students identified as dyslexic are provided for BUT please do not impose the programs recommended for them ( typically intense interventions) for all students. We have the resources to id students with dyslexia and staff trained to deliver instruction tailored to meet their needs. One size does not fit all . Choice and engagement are important factors in literacy growth for students. Many of the programs endorsed by the Science of Reading ignore what we know about the Science of Learning, Diverse options for instruction should be made available. Thank you.

The VMA supports this bill. OVERVIEW Virginia’s Total Number of Sub-Baccalaureate Occupational Credentials in Manufacturing slipped to #26 in the nation. Virginia’s Sub-Baccalaureate Occupational Credentials in Manufacturing as % of Total Credentials now ranks #36 . Smaller schools and school districts often have limited demand for specialized industry credential programs. Regardless, to close the skills gap in the workforce, Virginia must remove barriers and increase industry credential attainment (credit and non-credit). A significant barrier to address is the lack of qualified instructors. This bill is intended to remove instructor barriers by empowering shared adjunct faculty among school districts and community colleges as well as allow for differential wage rates for these instructors. RATIONALE FOR LEGISLATION • Intended to increase flexibility and number of qualified instructors in manufacturing industry credentials and other high-demand occupations • Encourages K-12 to engage adjunct faculty and share adjunct faculty among school districts and community colleges • Allows flexibility in instructor compensation design for credit and non-credit courses leading to an industry credential