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

HB-440. PLEASE VOTE NO AND/OR AMEND ACCORDINGLY, HB-440. As an educator, I support this bill as teachers desperately need their planning time, and to be compensated accordingly. However, the bill 'permits' not 'requires' a compensation agreement for loss of planning time. The school divisions will not act on this effort with the existing language. I'm surprised at colleagues around the Commonwealth blindly citing support of the VEA for this bill without actually reading and understanding that how this bill is currently written will not result in the improvements/changes intended for them. Frankly, our students deserve better from their educators than for them to blindly support a bill someone else told them to support without taking the time to note and respond that, as written, this bill will result in no positive impact.

I am a first grade teacher with Fairfax County Public Schools and a proud member of my union, Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, AFT 2401. I urge you to vote in support of HB 440. As a first grade teacher, I teach whole group lessons in 5 different subjects per day and meet with 5 differentiated small groups. The amount of planning time we have in the day is nowhere near the amount of time needed to prepare for quality instruction, not to mention the other necessary duties of the job. And I am one of the lucky ones who works in a district that provides more planning time than is currently required by law. I am typically working in my classroom past 9pm at least once per week. I'm writing to you at 1:20am because I was working on report cards until 1am and switched computers to write this testimony. Teachers cannot sustain this workload with no time to prepare to do the job. I appreciate Delegate VanValkenburg for sponsoring this bill and hope this body will pass it and also consider extending teacher planning time even further in the future.

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.

Comments Document

My name is Meaghan Rymer and I am a teacher for Richmond Public Schools writing in favor of HB440 . As an educator, planning time is the most valuable time during the school day. I would like to provide some examples. Slide shows (Google Slides or PowerPoint) take, on average, about 3-4 hours to build depending on how many class periods it will be used. Finding or creating activities takes another 3-4 hours. If I have to make copies for my 142 students, this takes about 20 minutes, depending on whether the copier is in use and how many pages I have to copy. A restroom break can take between 5-10 minutes depending on if there are other teachers waiting to use it. Team meetings are usually 45 minutes 3-4 times a week. Sanitizing 26 desks between classes takes about 5 minutes. Then there are lesson plans. Lesson planning comes in phases. The first phase is brainstorming and usually happens during team meetings where we look at date and curriculum to decide on how we will teach that topic. Then, we sit down to write out the plans using a template provided by out school or district. I have attached a blank one for reference. This stage can take several hours. I wrote this out so that you may start to understand why planning time is crucial for teachers to be successful. HB440 would help keep planning time sacred. My only suggestion would be for language to be added that would provide enforcement of this policy. Thank you for your time.

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.

Please vote to allow homeschooled students access to interscholastic programs in the public schools once again. Years ago when I attended a VA public high school, there was a family in my neighborhood who homeschooled their children. These students did their academic work at home, but they joined us to participate in programs such as marching band, football, swimming and drama. These students were EXTREMELY talented individuals, and our high school student body wholeheartedly welcomed their participation in these programs. As a result of their participation, the quality of our performances was higher, and these homeschooled students had a greater sense of social integration into the community. For some reason, in the past 20 years the state of VA has decided shut homeschoolers out of participation in public high school sports, and this is ridiculous. Because local high schools disallow their participation, these families often end up travelling long distances and paying THOUSANDS of dollars for their children to participate in travel sports programs, private coaching, etc. This is really unfair, since these families also pay state and local taxes to provide for the local high school sports programs that they are not allowed to participate in. Change the law, and let homeschoolers participate in interscholastic programs again. Effective immediately.

This is an important issue for my family. As tax payers, I would like my kids have access to the interscholastic programs regardless whether they receive home instruction or go to public school.

I'm writing in support of HB 511 to allow local school boards to permit homeschooled students to participate in extracurricular activities at their district schools. We choose to homeschool because that is the environment that our children are best served. Homeschooled students often deal with challenges where on-on-one instruction vastly serves them better than a group class method. However, homeschooling parents are still paying taxes that are used for schools. It is only fair and right that all taxpayers be able to use the services that their taxes are paying for, including sports and extracurricular activities that the public schools provide. Thank you for your consideration.

Yes to HB511, homeschoolers should be allowed to participate in inter scholastic programs offered by public schools. As tax payers, our children should have equal access to interscholastic programs that are offered to public schoolers, which includes sports and extracurricular activities.

My husband and I have been homeschooling our three boys since the pandemic. We originally pulled them out of school because we did not want them all virtual every day of the week. We started homeschooling and use a Educational Co-op to help with teaching and ensure they are in some sort of school environment. After a year of doing this, our children thrived in this new style of learning and have gone and above where they were in the Suffolk School system. For instance, their reading, writing, grammar are more refined and light years ahead of where they were in public schools. We desire to stay with this path, but the one thing we desire is for them to be in school sports. They are all in clubs but we all know that to achieve college scholarships and opportunities in sports, they are not as likely unless in the public school sports. We pay taxes just like every other parent in this district and I would like to stand for this bill to allow our children to try out for team sports just like other children. They should be afforded the same opportunities to excel in these areas and should not be penalized because they are getting a education by a different means that is just as beneficial if not more. I agree they need to still go through the same tryouts and have the skills needed for the team just like all students. Thank you for your consideration.

Good Afternoon, My wife has home schooled our 3 sons for the past several years. Our oldest is in 6th grade and hasn't been able to compete in public school sports as a result of the current rules that are in place. My wife and I both played sports in middle and high schools as well as in college and understand the benefits sports bring to young people. We have been paying taxes to support the public school system for the past 10 years but see no benefits from it due to our decision to home school. Passing this bill would be a great step in allowing all tax paying citizens' children the right to represent their local school and community in public school sports. Thanks for you time

As homeschooling parents, we made the choice to withhold our kids from entering and participating in public school and we should be mindful of that decision. Homeschooling gives our kids an academic freedom that kids in public school will never experience. Our kids finish an entire day of school hours before kids in public school do. Not to mention, many can do their school lessons during any hour of the day on any day. Public school kids have to worry about getting to school on time, being presentable to enter and stay in school, make sure they stay within school rules that they have no say in, attend a certain number of classes and show proof of acceptable grades so they can play school sports. Homeschool kids don’t have to worry about most or or any of those things. To let homeschool students take spots that public school students work so hard for is extremely unfair and a slap in the face to families who can’t afford to keep their kids home. High school students use sports as a gateway to college and much needed college financial assistance. How dare homeschool families take such opportunities away from kids who they purposely make their kids avoid by not letting them attend public school. Homeschool parents often complain about the public school system and how they refuse to let the government teach their kids so why let their kids take space away from kids who actually attend the schools and work hard to stay there? If the schools aren’t good enough for homeschool kids, why should the high school sports teams be? Elementary and middle school sports aren’t anywhere near as popular nor demanding as high school sports. School clubs are about finding like minded peers. Those activities hold no competition so as long as the school has space for extra students, I see no issue of allowing homeschool students to enter in those spaces. High school sports open up a lot of doors for kids in low income families. Allowing homeschool athletes, who have hours beyond hours to practice, take away opportunities from public school athletes who have to fight against the day to get their work load done isn’t fair. If homeschool students want to play on public school teams then they should have to attend a certain number of classes on campus to make the playing fields somewhat even.

Please allow homeschooled children to participate in public school extracurricular activities and sports! It will help children feel like they are part of the community and will help with socialization. Also, I think public school bureaucrats want to keep homeschool children out because they want to protect their power structure and retain their monopoly.

I'm writing in support of HB 511 to instruct/allow local school boards to permit home schooling students to participate in extracurricular activities at their district schools. We home schooled our children for 5 years in between their enrollment as ES and HS students.    We were fortunate to be a part of an incredibly diverse and active group of parents and students who had chosen, for a variety of reasons, to craft their own educational path. These are fantastic kids and extraordinarily committed parents.  They defy any stereotypes that some people have about what "homeschoolers" are like.  They were all religions, races, educational philosophies, and pedagogical styles.  They were united in their desire to help their students succeed and to realize their potential.  They were mostly homeowners who realized that they were supporting the public schools with their tax dollars and would have loved to have been able to participate in some of the amazing offerings of the school system.  They just weren't ready to turn away from the being able to offer their children the individualized instruction and support that homeschooling allows. Obviously, enabling homeschoolers to participate in sports and extracurricular activities provides a benefit to the students.  They would get to experience the camaraderie and challenge, the enrichment and support that are the whole reason that all parents so value the richness of extracurricular activities- athletic, social, and academic .  They would not continue to feel isolated and marginalized because they and their parents have chosen a different path.  They would be able to compete on a more level playing field with public and private school students in terms of developing their athletic, music, and leadership abilities and be able to demonstrate their talent when it comes to college admission, scholarships, and job opportunities. But allowing homeschoolers to participate also would benefit the schools and communities.    Homeschoolers naturally isolate from the school community and the important related legislative issues - whether those are taxes, bonds, boosters, fundraising.  They've been excluded through legislation - why would they support or engage in those efforts?  Engaging parents and students in what frankly is the TRUE UNIFYING INSTITUTIONS of the community - sports teams, music performances, theater - the things that all students regardless of academic prowess, backgrounds, or career track can enjoy and excel in  - would go a long way to realizing the true purpose of public education.   And that purpose is not to say, "My way or the highway", but to ensure that all children have opportunities to engage and realize their potential. My daughter graduated from West Potomac High School in Fairfax  last year and is now at UVA.  She was in student government and active in the theater department.  My son is a freshman and plays football and rugby and is on the debate team.  (For him, West Potomac is a football team with a high school attached.) My daughter considered doing a partial enrollment in her 11th and 12th grade years so that she could have more freedom to pursue her interests in Government and writing.  My son would love to have more freedom to pursue electives outside of school.  I would have loved for them to have been able to make those decisions. My wife and I strongly support passing HB511 to remove the barriers for home schooling/independent learning students.

Homeschoolers should be able to participate as athletes in after-school sports. If passed, this bill would truly make a difference in our family. We are shaping the habits of all children and influencing how they contribute to society as adults. Encouraging all children to be involved in teams, cooperating and working together, and being physically active is beneficial to all children. Please vote to finally pass this bill.

Home schooled and private schooled kids should be able to participate in public school extra curricular activities and sports. Parents of these kids pay taxes for schools and their kids should have access to and be included in the activities offered by the schools.

As citizens who fully pay property taxes and do not use school facilities, it seems the least we could expect is to be able to participate in sports activities within our schools. Denying children an opportunity to socialize and improve their mental and physical health should not be controversial. Thank you.

I wanted to speak on-line but all spots were already taken so I decided to write this. I believe the Tim Tebow bill should be passed. Homeschoolers already pay taxes to support the schools, they just are not allowed to use the schools in the past. Also, students who school at home are part of the community and they can have better relationships with other students in their area by being allowed to participant in extracurricular activities at the local school. I quit my job as a college professor and have homeschooled my children for the past six years. Both of my kids would need an IEP if they went to public school so I feel as if I’m already doing the school system a favor. Many families that homeschool do so for this reason; they have kids with special needs or disabilities and would need help with academic side of things. Many homeschooled students want to share in experiences the clubs and activities/sports offer at public school. Allowing public school and homeschooled students to share in experiences together will help make our communities stronger. I’m sure there are many homeschoolers who wouldn’t want to take part in the activities and sports but there are handful that would love too as well. Please support the Tim Tebow bill and pass it to allow all students access to healthy and enriching programs and sports.

In an effort to integrate children and families from every educational scenario, it is important to allow homeschool students the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities like sports. Many parents desire to expose their children to the merits of team sports but restrictions on income or availability of low pressure sports teams put them at a loss. Many families cannot afford to put multiple children in premier sports (club/travel teams) and not all children are committed or talented enough to play at that level. Allowing homeschooled children access to programs is a great resource for families and for schools, who may benefit from the presence of additional parental support.

This is a great opportunity for all children to be able to participate and would fundamentally build the community in such a positive way.

I am writing in support to HB 511. I am a mother of 3 public school educated children and believe we will continue to use the public school. As a citizen of Virginia, I believe that the rights to a public education, including extracurricular activities are a right of all individuals of our Commonweath. It baffles me that we even have to have a bill that allows for homeschool children the right to participate in sports in the public school setting just because they have a family that has chosen homeschool for whatever their reason. There are 20 states that allow full participation in school sports and 10 more with varied degrees of participation. I see no reason why Virginia cannot get on board with a simple inclusion. Thank you. Deanna Austin

I would like to offer my support for this bill. I have homeschooled my 11 year old in Norfolk for the past 6 years. Homeschooling is a viable alternative to public schooling and has been a choice that my family gladly makes each school year. My son has academically excelled as a homeschooler. We have no plans to ever utilize public schools for learning purposes. Although he still participates in rec sports, he is quickly approaching an age where many children switch make the switch over to school sports. I have no problem with my tax dollars funding schools and I have never desired state sponsored tuition support, but I do believe that it is only fair that my son have the opportunity to participate in school sports teams as he gets older. There are many opportunities available to serious athletes at the high school level through school sponsored sports activities. My son should not be forced to miss out on these opportunities just because he is educated in a different manner. I think it would be in the best interest to all involved. We are happy to continue homeschooling, as we always have, and public school students would also gain the opportunity for exposure to children from different backgrounds. I have no problem paying for his ability to be involved or to show that he is performing well academically. But really, the real question is, why do we NOT allow these students to participate. 30 states currently do allow homeschoolers to participate in school sports. What is the compelling reason why we shouldn’t, as well?

I currently have a high school daughter in public school who plays sports. I’ve seen a HUGE positive impact in her being able to be a part of a team and play for her school in the sport she loves. I also have a 9 year old son who I homeschool. Homeschool is the right decision for him and he is thriving in his education. However, I hate that he looses the opportunity for sports and extra curricular activities with his local friends just because his education looks different. Passing this bill would be huge for kids like him. He is super social and LOVES team activities. I choose to homeschool but strongly believe he should be allowed to participate in other activities. Thank you for considering.

The ability for homeschooled kids to participate in local school sports and activities is beneficial to all parties. Especially upon the coronavirus pandemic, more families are turning to homeschooling as a viable option. While there are a tremendous amount of resources available academically to homeschoolers, activities (particularly sports) that are affordable are harder to come by. We must turn to homeschool-only leagues (which are often undermanned and underparticipated) or travel leagues (which are very expensive, thus often excluding middle/lower earning families from participating at all). We all pay taxes that go to public schools. We would still be subject to the fees associated with participating in said activities. Homeschoolers are an asset to furthering these school programs, not a retraction from them. I urge everyone to consider these points in your voting.

I think homeschool students should be allowed to play sports for their school district.

YES on HB511: Students whose parents choose homeschooling as the best fit for their educational needs should not face discrimination pertaining to social and sports extracurricular activities. Schools currently keep the tax allocations per student even when a parent chooses to homeschool. This must change. When it comes to fees for extracurricular activities, home-school students should pay no more than other students for the same clubs, activities or sports involvement.

Comments Document

Date: January 25th 2022 Document: Public Comment for HB 511 Bill Chief Patron: Delegate Marie March Commentator: Wanda B. Lott, Loudoun County Virginia Position: For the bill Summary of my position: I have supported the attempts throughout the years to pass a bill in Virginia that would allow homeschool students to participate in interscholastic programs in their local school districts and I fully support HB 511 this year. I believe a bill such as this is one of the most important bills that the Virginia General Assembly can pass in regard to education for two main reasons: 1.It will help in correcting the inequalities parents are facing in being able to exercise their fundamental right to make decisions regarding the upbringing and education of their children, as stated in the Virginia code 1-240.1. 2. It will aid in continual educational equality for Black Virginians, as nationwide black families had the largest increase. In April of 2020 3% of black families were homeschooling and by October of 2020 that number had moved to 16% A more detailed explanation of my two reasons is listed in my attachment. Sincerely, Wanda B. Lott .

HB511 will be life-changing for our family. We have 4 children, all athletes, that stand to lose the ability to compete in sports in middle and high school because we are homeschooled. Athletics are a critical component of my children’s lives and allowing them to participate in public school sports would continue to allow them to be well rounded learners with strong connections to our community. This bill is an investment into the community that cannot be replicated by private clubs. Please vote in support of this bill!

I live in Virginia Beach, VA with my husband and our four children whom we currently homeschool and have for the past 4 years. The evolution of learning today and so many current factors led us to the decision to homeschool. We are grateful for the opportunity and elect to invest many of our family’s resources, both time and money, into this endeavor. I would love to see my children get the opportunity to participate in sports and play with members of our community. I grew up here locally and attended public school. Virginia Beach has several magnet schools. In middle school, I distinctly remember attending the school I was zoned for at volleyball tryouts and then these kids showed up to try out who went to the magnet school because the magnet middle did not have a team of their own. There was confusion and I went home to talk to my parents about it. They explained that these kids live in our district and their parents pay the same taxes to support school so they deserved an equal opportunity to try out and earn a spot on the team. To me, that same logic applies to every homeschooler. The opportunity would mean so much to our kids. My husband and I just had the conversation about NOT making a team and even the life lessons learned there. Humility, responsibility, teamwork - all qualities I think we all want in the next generation of Virginians - why deny a section of your children population a chance?

YES on HB511: Students whose parents choose homeschooling as the best fit for their educational needs should not face discrimination pertaining to social and sports extracurricular activities. Schools currently keep the tax allocations per student even when a parent chooses to homeschool. This must change. When it comes to fees for extracurricular activities, home-school students should pay no more than other students for the same clubs, activities or sports involvement.

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.

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 vote for this bill. The training should be optional.

I strongly support HB535 and encourage the Subcommittee to vote "YES."

Comments Document

Dear Education - K-12 Subcommittee, my name is Tyvon Bates, and on behalf of American Federation of Teachers Virginia, I am writing to urge you to support HB 535 chief patroned by Delegate Clark. Pay was already inadequate before COVID-19 and the pandemic has only brought a new host of job responsibilities and risks—new technologies, new instructional settings, and too often, inadequate health and safety protections. This may be the breaking point for teachers. A RAND study released last year found that among teachers who have left the profession due to COVID-19, the most often cited reason was the “insufficient pay to merit the risks or stress.” This is especially true for teachers under 40 who were more than twice as likely to select this factor as their top reason for leaving. While low pay is making it tough for districts to retain teachers, districts also face challenges recruiting teachers. Total enrollment nationwide in teacher preparation programs has declined by more than one-third since 2010 – and this decline occurred as enrollment in bachelor’s degree programs was on the rise. Among high school students, low pay ranks as the top reason for not being interested in a career in teaching. As the Economic Policy Institute has reported, teachers are paid less than other college-educated workers with similar experience and education. This financial penalty discourages college students from entering the teaching profession and makes it difficult for school districts to retain teachers. Based on the most recent reporting, Virginia had the largest teacher pay penalty at 67.3 cents on the dollar earned by similar college-educated workers. Funding inequities across districts exacerbate the problems for districts with lower revenues and higher student poverty. Nationally, the base salary in high-poverty districts is on average $5,600 lower than low-poverty districts, a difference of nearly 10 percent. And these differences in salary have implications for school systems’ ability to recruit and retain staff. A 2021 study of the educator labor market in Washington state examined job openings statewide and found that shortages are nearly two times higher in high-poverty districts. Using compensation to address the staffing crises means making teaching and school staff jobs more competitive with comparable jobs in the private sector. Higher pay attracts high-achieving young people to enter the teaching profession and helps keep teachers from leaving the profession. And that matters for students. Countries that pay teachers more - Ireland, Canada, and Finland for example - are able to attract teachers with stronger cognitive skills and that makes a difference for students. When teachers have higher cognitive skills, their students perform better in math and reading. Other research has found that raising teacher wages by ten percent reduces high school dropout rates by three to four percent. Virginia has the least competitive teacher pay in the country. Virginia lawmakers should take immediate steps to resolve this. Closing the pay gap between Virginia teachers and other college educated workers would mean raising the average teacher salary by 32.7%. As a step toward that goal, Virginia should raise average teacher pay by 10% to bring teacher pay levels up to the U.S. average. I hope you will join me in supporting HB 535. Thank you, Tyvon Bates American Federation of Teachers Virginia

Comments Document

Dear Education - K-12 Subcommittee, my name is Tyvon Bates, and on behalf of American Federation of Teachers Virginia, I am writing to urge you to support HB 353 chief patroned by Delegate Clark. Pay was already inadequate before COVID-19 and the pandemic has only brought a new host of job responsibilities and risks—new technologies, new instructional settings, and too often, inadequate health and safety protections. This may be the breaking point for teachers. A RAND study released last year found that among teachers who have left the profession due to COVID-19, the most often cited reason was the “insufficient pay to merit the risks or stress.” This is especially true for teachers under 40 who were more than twice as likely to select this factor as their top reason for leaving. While low pay is making it tough for districts to retain teachers, districts also face challenges recruiting teachers. Total enrollment nationwide in teacher preparation programs has declined by more than one-third since 2010 – and this decline occurred as enrollment in bachelor’s degree programs was on the rise. Among high school students, low pay ranks as the top reason for not being interested in a career in teaching. As the Economic Policy Institute has reported, teachers are paid less than other college-educated workers with similar experience and education. This financial penalty discourages college students from entering the teaching profession and makes it difficult for school districts to retain teachers. Based on the most recent reporting, Virginia had the largest teacher pay penalty at 67.3 cents on the dollar earned by similar college-educated workers. Funding inequities across districts exacerbate the problems for districts with lower revenues and higher student poverty. Nationally, the base salary in high-poverty districts is on average $5,600 lower than low-poverty districts, a difference of nearly 10 percent. And these differences in salary have implications for school systems’ ability to recruit and retain staff. A 2021 study of the educator labor market in Washington state examined job openings statewide and found that shortages are nearly two times higher in high-poverty districts. Using compensation to address the staffing crises means making teaching and school staff jobs more competitive with comparable jobs in the private sector. Higher pay attracts high-achieving young people to enter the teaching profession and helps keep teachers from leaving the profession. And that matters for students. Countries that pay teachers more - Ireland, Canada, and Finland for example - are able to attract teachers with stronger cognitive skills and that makes a difference for students. When teachers have higher cognitive skills, their students perform better in math and reading. Other research has found that raising teacher wages by ten percent reduces high school dropout rates by three to four percent. Virginia has the least competitive teacher pay in the country. Virginia lawmakers should take immediate steps to resolve this. Closing the pay gap between Virginia teachers and other college educated workers would mean raising the average teacher salary by 32.7%. As a step toward that goal, Virginia should raise average teacher pay by 10% to bring teacher pay levels up to the U.S. average. I hope you will join me in supporting HB 353. Thank you, Tyvon Bates American Federation of Teachers Virginia

As a public school teacher in Virginia, I urge you to vote in support of HB 535. Virginia's teacher pay is 10% below the national average and Virginia has the largest pay penalty in the country, with teachers earning on average only 67% of what our similarly educated peers earn in other fields. If Virginia wants to compete with surrounding states, it is time to bring teacher pay up to at least the national average. I appreciate Delegate Clark for sponsoring this bill and hope that you vote in favor of it.

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.

I applaud Del. Clark and others who have introduced HB535. During the campaign, both parties made raising teacher salaries and investing in education a keystone of their platforms. Now that the campaign is over, it's time to deliver on that promise by passing HB535.

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.

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

Greetings, My name is Chlo'e Edwards with Voices for Virginia's Children where our mission is to improve the laws of Virginia's children, particularly those at the greatest disadvantage. We are supportive of the following bills: HB1184 (Guzman), HB582 (Roem), HB 629 (Roem), HB583 (Roem), HB 587 (Roem), HB649 (Carr). As of 2020, the number of children (0-17) and young adults (18-24) in Virginia is just above 2.6M, and yet, too many children struggle to meet their basic needs. Poverty rates in Virginia remain unchanged in the past decade. Additionally, barriers to access to services and resources still persist for families of diverse identities and that face unique challenges. Voices believes in creating just and fair futures for Virginia's children as we know that children are the future. In creasing access to services and supports for Virginia's children today to ensure they live, thrive, and survive, we are creating a brighter future tomorrow. We hope that it pleases the member of the committees to support these initiatives as there are

Comments Document

Date: January 25th 2022 Document: Public Comment for HB583 Bill Chief Patron: Delegate Danica A. Roem Commentator: Wanda B. Lott, Loudoun County Virginia Position: Against the bill Summary of my position: I am against the passing of HB583 because I am for the passing of HB511. If both bills pass, HB583 will make public education unequal for students who are homeschooled I believe if HB511 is passed and HB583 is also passed, HB583 will make education in Virginia unequal and here is why: Many homeschool students still are enrolled in part time courses within their local school districts. When I first withdrew my son from full time public school attendance to homeschool oversight, he remained enrolled part time in two courses at his local public school. Per code of Virginia 22.1-253.13:2. Standard 2. Instructional, administrative, and support personnel, students who are enrolled on a part time basis at their local public school are counted in that school’s ADM, which means the school still receives funding for them. I am not sure how much funding per child this amounts to in Virginia but historically schools receive half of what they would have received if the child attended full time. This means that a part time homeschooler would still be providing a school with funding above what it takes to provide two courses for them. Having contributed that, it would be unequal to then require that the homeschooler pay for the opportunity to participate in interscholastic sports at that same school if the student desires, but whose parents do not have the ability to pay. Although the narrative is that homeschoolers coming from wealthier families, this is not the case. Many parents of various social economic groups have moved to homeschooling due to Covid issues. Many low-income families are now homeschooling. It would not be equal to allow students who attend public schools on full time the right to participate in sports without cost and not provide the same for homeschool students who attend part time but are still being counted in the schools ADM. Sincerely, Wanda B. Lott

Yes to HB 583 - Extracurricular activities should never be withheld as punishment for school children simply because a family falls on hard times and/or must rely on EBT for food assistance. Virginians feed the incarcerated 3 meals a day, but not our children even 1 meals/day while in school. Makes NO sense. We could fund breakfast and lunch for ALL students, in public AND private schools on school days AND provide children the TIME to eat. Thanks for allowing me to opine on suggested improvements on this bill, and this bill needs a time-frame, soon, in addition. Can we make this effective July 1, 2022?

I am writing to express my support for HB 583. I want to thank Delegate Roem for her commitment to end school lunch debt and the stigma and consequences that come from a student being unable to pay for a school lunch. This bill is another step in the path of ensuring students are not punished just because they can't afford a school meal. I urge you to vote in favor of 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.

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.

I support HB1022. Thank you for this!

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.