Virginia Faith and Freedom would like to express our support for HB 1379. This bill gives parents peace of mind when sending their child to school by making schools catalog their library and gives the parents the option to opt out of certain material. It is a reasonable request that a child should not run into any sexually explicit material while in elementary or secondary school. In 2021, Fairfax County Public Schools and Loudoun County Public Schools both had issues arise at their school board meetings with parents upset at the sexually explicit content found in their child's schools. Stacy Langton is a mother that took a stand against the Fairfax County School Board at a meeting in 2021. The Fairfax County Times reported about that specific meeting “Those books she spoke about that night contain explicit pornographic content. In addition to the graphic language in the books, there are also illustrations including fellatio, sex toys, masturbation and nudity”. HB 1379 will give the power back to the parents in accordance with Virginia Code 18.2-376. This code states that, “It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to prepare, print, publish, or circulate, or cause to be prepared, printed, published or circulated, any notice or advertisement of any obscene item proscribed in § 18.2-373, or of any obscene performance or exhibition proscribed in § 18.2-375, stating or indicating where such obscene item, exhibition, or performance may be purchased, obtained, seen or heard”. Virginia State Leaders such as Former Governor Terry McAuliffe stated in his 2021 election, “I don’t think parents should be telling schools what they should teach”. This is an alarming statement that all parents should be concerned about. We ask that you vote in support of HB 1379 to give Virginia Parents the choice they deserve.

I object to the passage of HB12379 and HB1448.Now we are calling books long recognized as classics "sexually explicit." A book should and has been determined by the courts as judged by its all-over content; before demanding that they be removed why not look at all of them and see how many you have read when you were in school? School librarians are trained professionals of literature and should make the decicions on what goes on the shelves. Certainally any parent can have and currently has the right to determine what books their child reads, but no groups of parents should have the right to make this determination for others. The censorship of well recognized literature does nothing to prepare youth for our critical thinking objectives or preparation for civil discussion.

We need to trust our librarians as the professionals who can best determine appropriateness. Keep government out of this.

I really want to Save Women's Sports for female women and girls. Women have fought to be able to use our skill sets in a male dominated hobby and career, and now it'll be taken away. Women and girls deserve a league of our own. We also deserve opportunities because we've been denied them for much of history! We need to prevent male athletes who claim to have a different 'gender identity' from taking women's and girl's spots (scholarships and otherwise) in/for athletics. Please support athletic fairness, honesty, and material reality of being female.

I support parents being informed of sexually explicit materials being in the school library and/or classroom. I also support removing sexually explicit materials from K-12 buildings. Curating AGE-APPROPRIATE materials for K-12 schools is NOT the same as "book banning." If a book is available for purchase at a bookstore, online, or can be reserved at a public library - then it is certainly not "banned." What can we expect next from the far left? How about 50 Shades of Grey for 10th grade English?

Commenting as a mother of four sons who’ve been schooled in Hanover County K-12, the youngest now at Maggie Walker, addressing these three bills with common sense and zero fear of the “woke” and “cancel” crowds: HB1379: absolutely parents need to have easy access to understand what materials are accessible to children within our schools! There should be no reason our schools would want to hide this information. And parents are right to demand sexually explicit materials be removed. Our children are in school to be nurtured and learn reading, writing, arithmetic, science, technology and the arts. They are not there to be sexualized. HB1387: without a doubt biological sex must determine whether the child is on the boy’s or the girl’s team. As a mother of four boys, all of which played sports - and having previously operated a dance studio with girls from 3-18yrs old - I have years of experience and common sense to know that girls and boys need to be separated for sports due to many reasons including: rate of physical development, general strength, potential strength, and during pre-pubescent and puberty for emotional and hormonal differences. If I had a daughter in high school that was subjected to a male in her team’s locker room or on the court/ field - I’d be livid. No female, especially our youth should be subjected to such a ludicrous situation. Our young ladies (biological females to be specific) need us to provide THEM safe places to learn, grow and develop. If someone wants to “identify” as anything other than their biological sex, they should seek co-ed teams. HB1397: I strongly believe the parents need to be the ones deciding how to manage THEIR children’s health. While I personally support fully-approved, long-standing vaccines such as the polio vaccine, I am against forcing any vaccine simply because the government decides to mandate it. I didn’t have an opinion prior to the COVID-era “emergency approval, skip the longitudinal studies, mandate the vaccine,” followed by areas of the country going down the path of “show your papers” to receive services. Now I have a strong opinion - parents are the ones responsible for their children, not the government.

I strongly oppose this bill

Strongly oppose this bill

"I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote." Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the School Choice fight! Quick Links: Join the Rapid Response Team of Virginia for Educational Freedom School Choice petition to legislators Donate to Virginia for Educational Freedom For Our Children, Natassia Grover Director Virginia for Educational Freedom PS- It is vital that you sign our Petition for School Choice today. The thing politicians fear most is large numbers of angry voters, and your signature on the petition will be added to the thousands that have already signed. This Petition will be delivered to the House Educational Committee, and they will be told they must support full and complete School Choice. So click here to sign! Copyright © 2023 Acton Advocacy Group, All rights reserved. Fighting to restore freedom in education in the Commonwealth Our mailing address is: Acton Advocacy Group 11895 Folly Lane Lovettsville, VA 20180 Add us to your address book

Sexually explicit materials are in VA Public schools. For the vast majority of those schools, the only option for parents who do not want their children having access to what is essentially verbal and visual pornography is to “opt them out” on a book by book basis. This “option” is not an option when parents do not know which books are present and contain porn. Informing parents is the LEAST schools can do on this issue.

Please support this bill as our children are our hope for tomorrow. Parents and those in authority over our children need to know what is happening in the school systems. thank you Debbie Vreeland

Please support this bill as our children are our hope for tomorrow. Parents and those in authority over our children need to know what is happening in the school systems. thank you Debbie Vreeland

I support HB1371: Sexually explicit and violent materials, (not limited to books!) have no place in our School Divisions, accessible to minors whatsoever, libraries or not, especially that all are purchased using taxpayer funds.

I am a very concerned grandparent . I cannot believe these sexually explicit books have entered the library of our children’s schools. This was allowed in the most deceptive manner, without parental knowledge. We are outraged at this evil, that would destroy the mind of innocent children. My child attended a Chesapeake public school, and now my grandchildren are at the age to attend public school. But they will remain in a private Christian school until these library’s are cleaned out. And parents are allowed to have a loud voice concerning all areas of teaching and training in public schools in Chesapeake. Thank you Tim Anderson for working for the citizens of Virginia.

The sexual explicit material does not belong in our schools. It is our responsibility to remove this content and protect little minds. Our children will greatly appreciate and benefit from this. We ought this to them and our future generations.

Edu-Futuro’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty in immigrant communities largely through educational support. Our beneficiaries come from fully 61 different countries of origin. We greatly encourage the students we serve to pursue careers in STEM, especially given how the Hispanic community has historically been underrepresented in that field. To that end, we support Delegate Cia Price’s HB 1657. I also support Delegate Price's bill in my capacity as a private citizen and as a woman who graduated from the famous STEM magnet school, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, knowing that my alma mater would benefit from a more racially diverse student body. Also, in my capacity as a private citizen, I oppose HB 1379.

To Whom It May Concern, I find it hard to believe that in the 21st century a book like Hawthorn's The Scarlet Letter might be banned from schools due to sexual content. In many ways, Hawthorn's masterpiece is a deeply spiritual book about the judgements we cast so unfairly and unwisely upon each other. Law makers should learn a lesson from the classics. The Holy Bible is another classic that contains a lot of sexual content. Take a look at the Song of Solomon! Please consider the road you legislators are paving for our children and just where it may lead. Sincerely, Mary Ellen Campagna

Books or any other materials with sexually explicit content have no place in our schools. If any such materials happen to find their way into the public school libraries and / or classrooms, the parents should be alerted immediately and should be given adequate venues to prevent their children from being exposed to said materials. All students should be opted out by default from sexually explicit materials in school (elementary, middle and high school levels). If parents decide to expose their children to such materials, they should be limited to doing so on their own time and property. Teachers should be prevented from introducing books, video and/or audio products which include sexual content or promote the genderist agenda. Please vote accordingly.

Please support this bill

I adamantly oppose SB 1379. Our school librarians, and librarians in general, are trained and qualified to catalog books. Our school principals are not. The time and effort it would take to create ANOTHER catalog would be astronomical and not allow any time for the principal to do anything else. Each school library has on average 13,000 distinct materials in them. Who is going to go and read all those items? Our school librarians already follow set standards and procedures when purchasing items for collections. Our elementary schools don't have explicit materials in them, upper grades already follow obscenity and other laws along with library standards. Furthermore, our school library catalogs are already available online for parents to look at whenever they want. Parents can look at the books their children check out and make their own judgments. Our school librarians also are available for questions or guidance. This bill just creates busy work that will take away time from our amazing principals doing their already important jobs and take time away from all the instructional and literacy work our librarians already do. This will just cost a lot of budget money schools don't have and take time away from instruction and learning. Let librarians do their jobs. Let students read. Let's not create more road blocks to learning and let's respect our educators!

I strongly oppose the Virginia Board of Education supplying pornography to any school system in the state. Those individuals including county, school, superintendents, librarians, school administrator and teachers.must know they are breaking VA State code(s) on the distribution of child pornography . Clearly, it ‘ is against the law, and they must resign and face criminal prosecution.

As a parent of 4 school age children, I want sexually explicit, age inappropriate material curated out of the libraries. However, this is a great step in the right direction. Next step would be to have an opt in form for parents to send in if the WANT their children exposed to the sexually explicit material rather than an opt out form. But we are grateful and will take what we can get :).

Yes, I support HB1379. Please bring it up for a vote.

Banning books is bad for a democracy, history offers plenty of examples of how this leads a country to authoritarian rule. Parents do have a right to say what their children can read, Parents can opt-out of these books in the classroom and library if they so desire.

SUPPORT

After reading some of the comments left by others, I feel the need to clarify that I am supporting Del. Anderson's Bill 1379 and I hope that the members will note that the vast majority of comments left by people opposing this bill claim that it is somehow "banning" books or allowing some small minority of people to control what others see/do, I was especially struck by the comment opposing Bill 1379 while using the analogy that if that person, as a parent, thought bikes were dangerous then he/she would not allow his child to ride a bike but would oppose banning all bikes. Del Anderson's bill is designed to give parents exactly that level of control over what their OWN child is exposed to, and contains no provision empowering one parent to stop another family's child from viewing anything. I hope our elected representatives will have the intellectual capacity to distinguish between prohibiting books (which frankly should not be so controversial in the context of education) and what this bill actually does, empowering parents.

I support these bills and they deserve a vote!

Please support this bill. There is no reason for elementary school children to be exposed to sexually explicit material in school under any circumstances. The "necessity" of such materials in secondary schools is highly questionable at best. Providing parents with a mechanism for easily knowing the content to which their children might be exposed, and with a mechanism for opting out of such exposure, is not a difficult "ask." There is simply no reason not to give parents this kind of control, and it is not censorship or anything remotely resembling censorship. Please move this bill forward to a full house floor vote without amendment and without delay.

If you vote against this bill and to deny parents more control over what content their children are allowed to access, in this case sexually explicit images in books, you are no better than the next pedofile. Vote Yes to uphold parentental rights and protect children from being exposed to sexual imaging.

There should be no debate about passing Delegate Anderson's HB1379. Parents should have full decision-making authority over their minor children's exposures. Parents entrust their children to the public education system for their children to be educated in a safe environment to help shape them into responsible, productive citizens in the future. Parents do not send their children to school to be indoctrinated by adults who have no business collecting paychecks in an educational setting; nor, do they send their children to school to have inappropriate material at their children's fingertips at the library check out computer. This is a real crisis in the American public education system that should be addressed starting with the passing of Delegate Anderson's HB1379.

I strongly oppose banning books. Who has time to create the database Del. Anderson wants? He has tried to get books banned in Virginia Beach and at Barnes and Noble, and lost those cases. Why does he think it would work for the entire state? Do we not have more pressing needs in Virginia?

HB1379 is well intended, but misses the mark. If this bill passes, at a minimum, it should also include written depictions, not just visual. At a maximum, the bill should be changed so that there should be, by legal and ethical standards, no sexually explicit materials in the K-12 system. The problem isn't identifying it; the problem is it shouldn't be there. The solution isn't to create time consuming bureaucratic methods of tracking it; it shouldn't be there. My school system, WJCC, kept a book in the school libraries that writes about "eating p****" with condiments. Yes, that's what over 21 adults who were told about the book decided to do. That is sick. How about the book about how to have anal sex cleanly? Nope, the administrators ignore it. How about the book that described a step-father raping a child? Nope, WJCC kept it. The superintendent is fully informed, and she won't even state what her position is on having this type of sexually explicit material in her school system. In fact, she refuses to communicate about it anymore with a parent who is trying to inform her of these materials. VA already has obscenity laws and laws about causing the delinquencies of minors. These school (mainly library) materials meet those definitions, and the librarians/administrators should be charged. Except, VA also includes exceptions for these laws for libraries, museums, etc. These exceptions need to be removed and the school materials need to be removed and stopped from entering the schools, or the librarians/administrators need to be criminally charged. Stand up for what should be normal-- adults should not be providing sexually explicit material to k-12 children. Period. Fix the current VA code so this can be enforced.

As a mother who has had children in the Norfolk Public School system since 1995, I expect to know that my children are protected in the same manner that I protect them while away from me and in the care of educators. This includes protecting them from the exposure of sexually explicit content, be it in written form or audii visual content. The system would not allow the exposure in the form of an R rated movie, nor should it be in the form of an R rated book. The technology of today makes it possible to catalogue every single book and publication available in our school libraries and we need to implement the policies that require them to do so. It is the parent's right to determine when their child is ready to learn about sexual dalliance and or deviance.

We support this bill. Parents should have the right to know to what their children are being exposed in the public schools are taxes pay for.

I support this bill. As a parent of 5 children I would like to protect my kids and others from inappropriate content in our schools. Please support this bill for our kids.

Chair Avoli and members of the House K-12 Subcommittee, On behalf of Equality Virginia, the Commonwealth's leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, I submit the following written comment on bills being heard this morning: - Please oppose HB 1379 (Anderson) and HB 1448 (Orrock). - Please support HB 1592 (Davis) and HB 1733 (VanValkenburg). Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Narissa Rahaman (she/her) Executive Director Equality Virginia

Our children are attending school for an education to prepare them to be successful in life. They have access to much filth via social media. Why would any school division think that offering sexually explicit or lewd material to students is part of learning math, English, science, history, etc? Our schools should not be a part of offering such materials to their students.

We support the following bill: HB 1560 High school students; development of Title IX and sexual harassment prevention training modules. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 We oppose the following bills: HB 1379 Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials, etc. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 HB 1434 Student records; name change, court order required. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1434 HB 1448 Public school library materials; DOE to make recommendations, model policies, selection and removal. SIncerely, Sue Sargeant and Ron Smith 1318 William Street, Fredbg 22401; Rachel Sargeant 812 Daniel St, Fredbg VA 22401

I support Anderson’s HB1379 and am shocked to discover this isn’t already being done. I believe the schools are committing an egregious breach of trust and am asking for them to be held accountable for the materials provided to children while also allowing parents the right to approve or deny any sexually explicit material that they deem inappropriate for their child. Thank you.

This bill is critical to parents. It directs school boards to give us inputs on what our children are exposed to. It must be passed.

Why are schools out to denigrate our parents/guardians and indoctrinate our children? HB1379 is needed. How sad to have to type that sentence. School librarians and school staff should have the decency to care about children and know they are dealing with delicate, malleable minds. Our children are being exposed to more and more vulgar, sexually explicit material in schools--schools that are supposed to include adults who protect them and educate them. Instead children learn about sexually explicit topics, along with illustrations. These same books that are in schools cannot be read aloud at school board meetings because of their graphic content. It doesn't make sense. Please support HB1379 and show children how important they are to you. Give parents the ability to know what sexually explicit books are in school libraries and give parents the opportunity to opt out of schools that are loaning said books to their children. Summary is as follows, taken from the Bill Tracking website: Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials; graphic sexual content; parental opt out and request for review. Requires the principal of each public elementary or secondary school or his designee to (i) maintain in an electronic spreadsheet or a substantially similar electronic format a catalog of all printed and audiovisual materials, as defined in the bill, that are contained in the school library; (ii) identify each item in such catalog by title, author, and such other identifying features or information as the principal or his designee deems appropriate; (iii) identify with a prominent notation in such catalog each item that contains graphic sexual content, as defined in the bill; (iv) make such catalog available to any parent of a student enrolled in the school; (v) permit any parent of a student enrolled in the school to restrict his child's access to any item in such catalog that is identified as containing graphic sexual content; and (vi) permit any parent of a student enrolled in the school to request a graphic sexual content notation for any item in such catalog that is not so identified.

Re HB 1379 and HB 1448. I am opposed! It is beyond my comprehension that the views of a few could cause the banning of books in a public library. Like so many things in the raising of children, a parent must be responsible for their own families decisions and can not force those views on others in the community. If I don’t think it is safe for my child to ride a bike, it does not allow me to eliminate bikes in my community. HB 1560- I support. it is critical that we support Title IX and its programming and eliminate sexual harassment in schools. Our schools must have processes in place that clearly identify processes and procedures to support all students.

​There has been a great deal of discussion in the news, and at the board meetings throughout the state, regarding instructional reading and books available to students in the library and in the personal library of teachers. While policy allows parents to review the content of the material available to students, few parents have the time. The majority of parents believe that it is the duty of school personnel to review the content and only give approval if it is appropriate for minors. Reviews and decisions should be made prior to future purchases . The vulgar content of some of the books has been addressed but one must also consider the lasting impression and obsessions that some individuals develop after reading inappropriate material and the long-term psychological issues that become issues for society. Words are powerful and literary works have lasting effect on our most vulnerable and impressionable students. Who are you creating with the books that you are allowing children to have access to in our schools? Let us begin to clean up the books currently available to students and vote in favor of passing HB 1379.

I’m in opposition to 1379 and 1448. I support 1560.

Liberty Lovers VA, demands, YOU, OUR ELECTED SERVANTS to represent THE WILL OF WE THE PEOPLE, by voting “YES” on HB1379. Distributing pornography to minors is illegal. Stop our schools from peddling porn. Over 100 books were found in Virginia Beach alone!! Minors cannot enter businesses where sexually graphic materials are being sold in front of them,, and yet our kids certainly have access while at school! OUR TAX DOLLARS FUND SCHOOLS, AND WE DO NOT CONSENT TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS BEING IN THEM!! Of all things we have to worry about for our children, this shouldn’t be one of them. Parents need to know what their child has access to (at school), and YOU need to know that we don’t consent to them having ANY access to sexually graphic and sexually explicit materials! THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW! Please vote in FAVOR of HB1379 and help us protect our kids from being sexualized at the hands of their schools! Sheé Lee Rock Liberty Lovers- Organizer (on behalf of the 250 members of Liberty Lovers VA).

I strongly support this bill

On behalf of my family and 50 + families I have in my circle we would all ask that you expedite the removal of sexually explicit material in public schools. There is no reason for it! You are opening the doors for kids do explore their curiosity about sex when you put it in front of them unnecessarily. Times may be changing for our youth but let’s keep schools the safe place for learning the core and important topics they need to continue education. Not sexualized books that distract them from what is important. Let their parents take them to the public library on their own time for that.

Please support 1 bill & oppose 3 bills: Bill to support HB 1560 High school students; development of Title IX and sexual harassment prevention training modules. - https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 Bills to Oppose HB 1379 Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials, etc. - https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 HB 1434 Student records; name change, court order required. - https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1434 HB 1448 Public school library materials; DOE to make recommendations, model policies, selection and removal. - https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1448

I urge you to vote NO on these bills. These bills are a dangerous precedent, setting a process by which a small group can restrict access to publications based on their belief systems. It’s best to leave these curriculum and library materials availability to the education and library professionals. Rather, let’s focus energy on more compelling deadly concerns like gun safety and gun violence prevention, and substance abuse. That would go further in protecting our children and youth. Thanks for your consideration. Monique Hanis 30+ year Va. resident, raised family, taught youth at church, currently running coach for young girls.

I urge committee members to vote YES on HB1379. Distributing pornography to minors is illegal. Stop our schools from peddling porn. I need to know what my child has access to and YOU need to know that I don’t consent to him having ANY access to sexually graphic and sexually explicit materials!

As a parent of 3 I strongly support Parental knowledge of the books available in our children's libraries and being able to choose whether it is inappropriate for our kids especially when it's sexually explicit! Thank you for pushing for the safety of our children's minds by pushing to allow parental involvement! We are behind you all the way and we're praying for a Godly outcome. Thank you, The Davis family

HB 1379! To committee, This is a moral, common sense bill! Parents Should always have authority to know about sexually explicit material in libraries or in classroom and be able to opt out their kids!!! This vile kind of material should not be in public schools anyway!!! C. Boyer

Please protect our children. Sexually should not be allowed in our schools. Parents should be the ones teaching our children about sex and sexually.

Please SUPPORT HB 1560. Please OPPOSE HB 1379, HB 1434, and HB 1448.

Please oppose these bills aimed at censoring school libraries. School librarians have extensive training. These bills aim to intimidate school librarians and remove diverse learning materials.

I oppose this bill. It is burdensome for schools and unnecessary.

I oppose HB 1379. Public schools have policies and procedures already in place for individual parents to opt their children out of books and media. There is no reason to create new procedures when they are already in place.

I write to ask that every legislator do the utmost to put the children first and keeps them first. That means keeping them as innocent as possible for as long as possible. It is disturbing to know that pornography is in our libraries and available to children without parental supervision. I’m a grandparent and I care very much that all children are protected from exposure to the smut that some authors have a need to write. Although they have a first amendment, that does not mean children have the right to read and view it without their parents permission. No one should not have to be exposed, let alone children to deviant books. Please take a strong stance in favor of parents who want to do everything in their power to protect their children.

This bill shows no knowledge of how school libraries keep data or catalogs of their books in this state, whether such records can be easily accessed by parents or not, whether such spreadsheets or other digital records can be produced without extra cost for already challenged county school library budgets, and does not allocate any funds for said efforts. Parents should have better things to do than spending hours pouring over records for imaginary obscenities. We should trust our professionally trained librarians to do their jobs, which include selecting age and topic appropriate books for children in our schools. There is no clear language as to with what language or codes or how certain books would be designated, annotated or flagged. This is not the job of principals, who are not trained library catalogers, nor experts on developmental topic appropriateness. There is no indication as to how certain hypothetical books would be kept out of children's hands in the library itself. Children share books, --no we are not going to closed stacks-- so if a book is restricted, what is to stop a child who is not restricted from showing a book to a restricted child at school, on the bus or in the library. But that that would happen is absurd. Our librarians are a resource whose time should not be squandered when a parent wants a particular title they have not read restricted due to a rumor they heard about what it contains. This is another insult to the professionalism of our librarians. Attacks such as this are designed to discredit libraries and librarians and to discredit the judgement of educational professionals who would never knowingly expose a child to obscene material. These people who want laws like this don't want to keep children safe; they want to keep them ignorant.

This bill shows no knowledge of how school libraries keep data or catalogs of their books in this state, whether such records can be easily accessed by parents or not, whether such spreadsheets or other digital records can be produced without extra cost for already challenged county school library budgets, and does not allocate any funds for said efforts. Parents should have better things to do than spending hours pouring over records for imaginary obscenities. We should trust our professionally trained librarians to do their jobs, which include selecting age and topic appropriate books for children in our schools. There is no clear language as to with what language or codes or how certain books would be designated, annotated or flagged. This is not the job of principals, who are not trained library catalogers, nor experts on developmental topic appropriateness. There is no indication as to how certain hypothetical books would be kept out of children's hands in the library itself. Children share books, --no we are not going to closed stacks-- so if a book is restricted, what is to stop a child who is not restricted from showing a book to a restricted child at school, on the bus or in the library. But that that would happen is absurd. Our librarians are a resource whose time should not be squandered when a parent wants a particular title they have not read restricted due to a rumor they heard about what it contains. This is another insult to the professionalism of our librarians. Attacks such as this are designed to discredit libraries and librarians and to discredit the judgement of educational professionals who would never knowingly expose a child to obscene material. These people who want laws like this don't want to keep children safe; they want to keep them ignorant.

Comments Document

I would like to speak via Zoom if possible although I may have signed up to speak in person as well. I have attached a copy of my grievances with Monster by Walter Dean Myers which was assigned to my child to read in English 9 at Godwin High School. January 11, 2023 I met with the Henrico Educational Instructional Review Committee to have this book removed from the school libraries. I found 161 different instances where this book went against R7-05-008 GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION AND REVIEW OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS. To my horror many of my issues with this book are due to the mature sexual nature, which was assigned to 13 and 14 year olds. If the school was required to document explicit books it may not result in parents and staff taking the time to meet and discuss each inappropriate book. A simple opt-out would be my preference to dealing with and meeting a shady, hostile library committee. I am available anytime before 9:25am on 1-17-23.

I strongly support Delegate Anderson’s Bill. Meaningful accountability that enables parents to protect their children from explicit sexual material, in the parents’ or guardian’s judgment, is provided by the referenced bill is a necessity as the baseline of protection. The prescribed documentation given today’s technology does not represent a documentation or compliance burden. John D. Moss

It is key for the future to protect our children's minds, bodies, and souls from innapropriate and pornographic material. These materials should Never be allowed in school. Please support bill 1379.

These bills HB1379 and HB1448 amount to banning books. If parents don't want their children exposed to these books they have means to keep these books out of their children's hands. The books on the proposed ban list that I have read actually have significant value for age appropriate readers. I oppose these bills.

I am sorry we have to ask legislators to pass something that is so common sense, frankly. This should pass without objection from any delegate. I would urge representatives to vote for what is basic parental oversight when a child is in the custody of the state outside the direct visual oversight of their child. The state compels attendance, so the least you can do is allow them to shield their child from sexually explicit if not exploitative material during the hours the state has physical custody of the minor child. Thank you.

I am strongly opposed to these bills!

Parents have both the right and the responsibility to know what their children have access to in the school, Far to many have lost their innocence much too early, and the parents didn't know until it was too late. Please vote to protect the precious minds of our children. Thank you.

I oppose this bill.

I oppose HB 1379.

Please let common sense and free speech prevail in our schools. Keep these divisive, political influences out of public schools. We need to protect all our students and provide the best education we can to each of them. This culture war mentality has to stop. Keep politics out of it and let teachers teach.

I support HB1560 I oppose the following bills: HB1379, HB 1434, and HB 1448 As a public education teacher and parent I urge you to stop making our public education system do the bidding of what certain individuals and groups believe and just let us teach. You should have education professionals advising these bills who actually work in the schools bc they would tell you that due diligence is always taken in the libraries! Schools should be safe places for students. Let’s focus our attention on the real problems, funding, educator retention, and constant testing! Happy to speak with anyone anytime and anyone is always welcome to my classroom for a real experience of what education is like!

Bill to support HB 1560 Bills to Oppose HB 1379 HB 1434 HB 1448

Before we had bills like these parents and school libraries worked together to ensure that children read the books most appropriate for them. These bills do nothing to foster relationships between school libraries and parents, instead they put those who care about children in adversarial positions. School library catalogs are already available on school websites to any member of the public which makes many of the requirements within these bills redundant. Adding requirements to notify parents every time a book is checked out puts an undue burden on already understaffed schools. These bills do nothing to further education, they do everything to stifle access and the love of reading.

I am grateful this bill is being discussed. We need to stop sexualizing our children. Protecting their innocence, and guarding them from these perverse books is wise and good. Giving parents control over what material their children chose to read is a productive step toward restoring sanity back to our education system. Thank you for your time and energy to accomplish these goals.

I support this bill.

Please vote no on HB 1379 “Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials, etc.” This bill would likely inflict an expensive burden on our local school districts, for no benefit. Parents who would like to speak with the librarian or visit the school libraries and see what books their children can choose from are already able to do so. Schools who have the resources to create an online catalog have already done so. But taking time and resources away from education to type a list is inappropriate. Our school librarians are trained professionals with expertise in age-appropriate literature. As a parent I’ve found that the school librarian was a wealth of knowledge and was always willing to assist when I had questions. Librarians encouraged my child’s interest and literacy in constructive ways. Please do not inflict these burdens on our public schools.

Bill to support HB 1560 High school students; development of Title IX and sexual harassment prevention training modules. SUPPORT--Will enhance students' mental health and safety, will empower them with knowledge, and will increase their sense of agency HB 1379 Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials, etc. STRONGLY OPPOSE--Puts an undo burden on educational professionals, advances the cause of censorship. HB 1434 Student records; name change, court order required. STRONGLY OPPOSE--Makes life more difficult for students and puts undo burden on parents. HB 1448 Public school library materials; DOE to make recommendations, model policies, selection and removal. STRONGLY OPPOSE--Just another step towards book bans and censorship.

I OPPOSE this bill. School libraries already have a process for choosing books, a parent can review a book and ask for it to be reviewed already. Local school board already have a process in place.

I oppose this bill. We must let the professionals in charge of these resources be responsible for managing these resources without undue oversight and allow them to use their professional judgement in deciding the age appropriateness of resources.

✅ Bill I SUPPORT ✅ 👍🏼 HB 1560 High school students; development of Title IX and sexual harassment prevention training modules. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 ❌ Bills I Oppose ❌ 👎🏼 HB 1379 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL LIBRARIES; CATALOG OF PRINTED AND AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS, ETC. HTTPS://LIS.VIRGINIA.GOV/CGI-BIN/LEGP604.EXE?231+SUM+HB1379 👎🏼 HB 1434 STUDENT RECORDS; NAME CHANGE, COURT ORDER REQUIRED. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1434 👎🏼 HB 1448 PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY MATERIALS; DOE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, MODEL POLICIES, SELECTION AND REMOVAL. HTTPS://LIS.VIRGINIA.GOV/CGI-BIN/LEGP604.EXE?231+SUM+HB1448 From, Cynthia Mason, retired VBCPS SPED teacher

We must stop promoting or providing access to sexually explicit materials to children in our schools. Additionally, parents must have the option to know what books the children have access to in school libraries and to opt out of materials with sexually explicit content being loaned to their children. Thank you for your consideration.

I would’ve never thought that I would have to support a law to have public schools tell parents about sexually explicit material in the schools. Those materials were never there until certain school boards and administrations took liberties. There is no reason why sexually explicit materials should be in K-12 public schools, they do not have academic merit and are not necessary in order to educate a child in the core subjects of math , reading, science, etc. I support this bill

HB 1379 Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials, etc Hello, I am writing to express my support for the HB 1379 bill . I think it’s vitally important that parents have knowledge to what their children are being presented and taught in school and if they choose to opt their child out of receiving or being taught explicit sexual material, they should have the choice and right to do so. I also think it’s important to protect young minds from access to sexually explicit books and graphic materials in school libraries. Children are curious by nature and I think when exposed to very graphic material, it encourages them to potentially engage in such activity that they may not have , if they were not exposed to it . Books that are explicit in sexual content should always be marked as such to make both parent and child aware of their content. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter. Beth Synowiec Virginia Beach

Libraries are established to provide choice. I oppose any attempts to censor libraries.

I oppose these 2 bills. I oppose any interference with library offerings, interference with access to materials.

I am in full support of Delegate Anderson's bill - the school library is no place for sexually explicit books. I personally have sent back two of three books that my kids have brought home (sophomore in h.s. and 6th grade) in the past 2 months, refusing to allow them to read them. One of the books my sophomore brought home in the first chapter was all about this girl and her sexual promiscuous behavior over the summer. There was absolutely no educational value to this book, and no reason that it should be in the school library. The other two we're just as bad. It's time for people to open their eyes at what our kids are being exposed to, and see what it is creating in our children. The majority of their time is spent in school, therefore that is where the most control should be. If their parents want them to read books like this, there are public libraries, or plenty of online resources for them to obtain them.

I oppose this bill as it is largely redundant. Which school systems in the state don't already have an online catalog of materials for parents to review? My child's school system's libraries uses Destiny for this. Parents already have the ability to email or call their child's teachers and school librarian and have a conversation about which types of books they'd prefer their child not read. This happens every year with books having to do with Halloween, for example. What happened to local control and local conversations between parents and educators? That's where connection and understanding happen versus over-reach by the state into local decision making.

I support HB 1560 and oppose HB 1379, strongly oppose HB 1434 and oppose HB 1448. I am the parent of a 7th and an 8th grader at Marshall Middle School in The Plains, VA.

If you have to ask if something is inappropriate YOU KNOW it is. We have Drug Zones area to protect our children . What happened to the PTA’s in every school? Let’s spend the time and money Protecting our children in the classrooms. Let our children be children a little bit longer. Please VOTE for Bill HB1379.

I oppose this bill.

Dear Delegates, It is a privilege to have the opportunity to address you in support of HB1379. As a 30 year veteran teacher, I can certainly attest that education is not the same as when I began my career. I currently teach 6th grade in a middle school setting and see the innocence of childhood slowly fading year by year as kids are bombarded with subject matter that most are not ready to process with any sense of understanding. I have streetwise kids and kids that still believe in Santa Claus. Parents should feel that their children are in a safe environment when they send them to school. And by safe environment, it becomes more than just physical safety. There are hidden dangers that educators can't protect them from and HB1379 is a beginning to address protecting children from being exposed to inappropriate material without consent from a parent. This is not about any kind of censorship. There are policies in most schools regarding videos teachers can show in a classroom and a parent permission form. It is unfortunate that we need to have similar safeguards regarding library books yet here we are. I'm appalled at titles in my own school library and recently had an eye-opening experience when I took a group of thirty 6th graders to the school library for the Scholastic Book Fair. For sale on shelves were 3 books I noticed as containing highly inappropriate content: child rape, child abuse, excessive profanity, sexual content and language, sexual nudity, and controversial racial commentary. One even had a CONTENT LABEL WARNING-MINOR RESTRICTED. Yet we are selling these books to 11 year old children? I emailed my principal immediately my concerns and inquired if parents were informed that when they sent their kid to school with money for the book fair, that titles such as these ( SHOUT, HEARTSTOPPER, and MONDAYS NOT COMING) were available. My principal got back to me and personally came to my classroom. She explained that she looked further and was told the division had a contract with Scholastic. We can't take books off the shelves. She also stated that she can't know what is in every book in the library. Well, that's a responsibility as principal of a school to know what is being brought into a school. I plead with each of you to not only SUPPORT HB1379, presented by Delegate Anderson, but include protecting children from outside vendors being able to profit from exposing children to inappropriate material. Children are our future and its time we all step up to do the right thing. Support HB1379. Regards, Christy McAnally Distinguished Teacher Virginia Beach

Chair Avoli and members of the K-12 subcommittee, The ACLU of Virginia opposes HB1379 and HB1448. Both bills unnecessarily duplicate the parent notification and review process and/or book removal processes at the school board level. HB1379 would create a substantial burden on school administration and staff to review all print and audio visual materials. It is for these reasons we ask you to oppose HB1379 and HB1448.

Offloading the responsibilities of a parent through legislation is a waste of this body's time. It is the duty of the parent to know or look up media including books and understand their contents to see if they're appropriate according to their values. There has been too much judeo Christian values forced upon the general population. If a certain books make one person uncomfortable doesn't mean that another family will. This is freedom and this comes at a cost of responsibility to uphold your own values and keep them to your family. We cannot offload a parent's responsibility to their children on public servants and educators. The minority of the Christian religion should have no sway on what is taught in public school. If someone takes offense to what is being taught in school you have the option of homeschooling or having a conversation with your kids about your worldview and why it is important to you. Forcing educators and public establishments to bend to an archaic worldview bound by a book full of adultery, nudity, sex and murder. Is your personal choice. We need to keep religion out of legislation and schools as much as possible. To sum up it is your responsibility as a parent to know what media your child is consuming, if as a parent you can't or unwilling to do that responsibility you cannot force your world views through legislation and opinion on everybody else in the population.

Good evening, Providing sexualy explicit materials to children violates many laws, not to mention how disgusting it is. How then is it even a discussion about having it available in school librarys for children, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL children. If the Legislature can't protect our children from this disgrace, then at least provide parents with the information they need to protect them. I ask you to support HB 1379 Thank you, Daniel Ramsey

I support taking books out of school that are not age appropriate. Books about sexual matters are not appropriate for schools to teach, that subject should be discussed between the parents and their children.

I am writing in support of delegate Anderson’s bill. I see no logical reason to block the ability of parents to determine what sexually explicit material is appropriate for their children. The fact that this is a controversial bill is outlandish. We have a rating system for movies that doesn’t allow kids to view inappropriate material. Why would we allow free access to sexually graphic material to underage children without parental consent? Please vote in support of representative Anderson’s bill. Thank you for your consideration Dr. Brad Nadelstein

I urge you to pass HB 1379. Please protect children from pornography. Remove sexually explicit material from schools.

I am disgusted by the content that some library books contain that children are subjected to in our public schools. If the age to see a rated R movie is 17 in theaters, unless accompanied by an adult, why can a child check out a book that contains sexual context in our public school libraries without parental consent? It truly makes no sense. Can a child purchase an adult magazine at a convenient store? I’m not asking to ban any books, just asking that my rights as a parent be respected. There are no reasons why these books that this bill is in reference to should be available in our public schools or a book store without parental consent.

I oppose HB 1379 to require school principals to prepare a catalog of printed and audio visual materials with graphic sexual content for parents to review and opt out if they choose.

Please vote to pass HB 1379. This bill will allow parents to know what is in libraries and will allow parents to opt out of sexually explicit books that are to be loaned out. This is a fundamental right of parents who are providers and sole caregivers to their children! Pass this bill!

From what I've read, this bill will give parents the ability to know what sexually explicit books are in school libraries and to be able to opt out of schools loaning these books to their children. If our lawmakers are representing the will of the people, why would they allow sexually explicit material to be in School libraries at all? Responsible, adult Virginians are trusting you to look out for the well-being of our children. The sole purpose of having these books in school libraries is to promote the sexualization of children, which is generally regarded as a crime. Children under 18 can not purchase adult/pornographic books, movies, etc., so why would these items be allowed in a school library? If a State lawmaker started reading one of these books out loud during a legislative session, they'd be declared "out of order" and forced to stop. So please do the right & responsible thing and tighten up this legislation so that sexually explicit books are not available to minors via their school libraries.

Good day, This bill, though we'll intentioned, does not go far enough! There is absolutely no reason to have any pornographic or sexually explicit books in school libraries. The K-12 students should not be exposed to it at all. There is a difference between traditional Sex Ed and smut materials being available to our children. It also just adds more bureaucratic layers for schools to jump through, they have enough to do. This could even be justification for yet another administrative position hire in each school, where will that funding come from? Sincerely, James Kanta

On HB 1379- Anderson; Sexually Explicit Material. Support the Bill. The smartest folks in the room seem to be lost on child development and the effects sexually explicit materials have on a developing brain. Protect kids. Pass the Bill. On HB 1592 - Davis; a step in the right direction. We can start by notifying parents of any referral to discipline. After so many referrals, parents are required to have meetings. If we can’t get a cooperative agreement, parents and students take classes on boundaries, etc.

This should not even be an issue. Parents are expected to take responsibility for their minor children when they commit a crime, are around a gun, feed, clothe, and house them, yet somehow some people think parents shouldn't have transparency when it comes to how the children are educated. And to what extend. If you are trying to push homeschooling or private schooling, then by all means continue to take parental rights away. If you support public education then everything about public education should be transparent with parents having a say in their minor children.

While I agree, that censorship in almost any form is not good for democracy, I believe this bill is highly appropriate at this time with societies values heading to extremes never seen before. Parents not only have the right, but the obligation to raise children in the manor they feel is best. This bill doesn't forbid materials, but does give the parents the tools and ability to control the items they find objectionable.

I'm not sure why taxpayer money is spent on books with graphic sexual content when a student can gain access from a computer at home. Perhaps this money would be better spent on mathematics, science, and other nonsexual topics while lifting overall test scores in middle and high school populations. Regardless, this bill is a reasonable attempt to address the books which are being snuck into libraries without parental knowledge or consent. I hope every Delegate will consider the important roles that parents and taxpayers pay in education and vote "yes" on this bill.

I would like the ability to opt out of schools that allow books that promote and enable the sexualization of our children. We need to return the values that founded our great nation back to our schools.

I would like parents to have the ability to know what sexually explicit books are in school libraries and to be able to opt out of schools loaning these books to their children.

Please get all sexually explicit books out of the school libraries. So much is becoming normalised, it makes me sick. Children and teenagers should be learning good boundaries right now from their parents. Whether they are or not, these disgusting books are only going to confuse them and result in bad choices. I pray to God for our youth today. The very people meant to teach our children reading, writing and arithmetic are sabotaging their future and setting them up to live lives of dysfunction, confusion and victimhood! God bless our teachers and may they seek God’s guidance when molding young minds.

I am fully in favor of this bill and after reviewing it in full want to ensure that the limitations proposed would not be limited to images/videos but also applicable to the actual text of the books or other materials. In addition, I would like to ensure that these limitations be applied to any materials educators might choose to use and integrate into their lessons regardless of whether or not they derive from the library. To that end, I would also like to mandate that syllabi for the classes be provided at the outset of each course which clearly define the materials to be integrated into the classroom curriculum. Thank you for your efforts to protect our children and respect the role of parents in their holistic development. Respectfully, John Diamantis, LCSW, MDiv, CSOTP

We fully support this bill. I want to know who wouldn’t support this bill.

HB1379 - I urge legislators to pass this bill so parents are aware of what sexually explicit books are available to their children and they can make a decision based on their values whether their children should be allowed to view much less check out these books. As a taxpayer, mother, and grandmother, I am appalled that taxpayer dollars are even being used to purchase such books for our public schools. Let’s return to teaching our children what they need to learn to be productive members of society with high moral character. I expect that the majority of legislators would want the same for their families. Thank you for your service to the great commonwealth of Virginia.

I support Bill 1379 delegate Tim Anderson’s bill, which gives parents the ability to limit sexually explicit material in the library books of our public schools. I think it’s the best outcome for our society to keep our children’s “innocence” for as long as possible. Children should enjoy childhood and they should not be exposed to sexual material. Thank you!

Please support Bill #1396! So important for the children of the Commonwealth of Virginia!

Comments Document

Please vote IN FAVOR of HB1379. I have researched the books available to children in school libraries and have been astonished by the number of very sexually explicit books available to children (as young as 10 years old) in middle and high schools. Parents aren't even aware these books exist. They must be provided notification and the opportunity to opt-out of their children being given these books. To learn more about the books that have been found in my district's school libraries you can find more info at this website: https://studentsfirstva.com/application/files/2216/5737/6542/Book_Challenge_Summary_Details_Public.pdf I've also attached just one example of a book that was challenged in our district but it was found suitable for children as young as 10 years old. Warning: disturbing images at the end of the document

I fully support this long-overdue bill.

support hb1403 please! sounds helpful. thanks

SUPPORT HB1403 vote yes

Good morning members of the General Assembly: The purpose for this comment is for your support in HB 1403. This bill is necessary because every child in the United States deserves love, attention, food and housing. It's bad enough when an adult lack these basic necessities. It's worse when a child has to suffer. No child should ever be placed in a situation which they have choose between their education and where they'll be laying their head at night. For those children who experienced foster care status, they have to overcome tremendous odds to prove themselves as productive citizens. Please support HB 1403 because this bill is their future voice.

This bill provides for those young adults in dire need of housing during intersessions. I am surprised that it is not already law. Please support HB 1403.

"I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote." Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the School Choice fight! Quick Links: Join the Rapid Response Team of Virginia for Educational Freedom School Choice petition to legislators Donate to Virginia for Educational Freedom For Our Children, Natassia Grover Director Virginia for Educational Freedom PS- It is vital that you sign our Petition for School Choice today. The thing politicians fear most is large numbers of angry voters, and your signature on the petition will be added to the thousands that have already signed. This Petition will be delivered to the House Educational Committee, and they will be told they must support full and complete School Choice. So click here to sign! Copyright © 2023 Acton Advocacy Group, All rights reserved. Fighting to restore freedom in education in the Commonwealth Our mailing address is: Acton Advocacy Group 11895 Folly Lane Lovettsville, VA 20180 Add us to your address book

Please support Bill #1396! So important for the children of the Commonwealth of Virginia!

Comments Document

The Problem: In Virginia, between 400-500 youth age out of foster care every year, meaning they are in temporary foster placements at the time they turn 18. This means they become adults without a permanent family to guide them and provide supports during their transition to adulthood and their time in higher education. While nationwide, only 3% of youth who age out of foster care obtain a 4-year degree, those youth who do attend higher education programs do not have permanent families to rely on during school breaks. This means those youth do not have housing options – they may not have a home to return to during the holidays or any other alternatives for housing during those holidays. The Solution: Allowing youth to remain in their school housing during those breaks. This not only prevents them from becoming temporarily homeless but prevents them from becoming temporarily homeless during some of the most sensitive times of the year for youth who do not have families. In addition to reducing homelessness of Virginia’s most vulnerable youth, this may provide opportunities for Virginia to increase the percentage of youth who obtain 4-year degrees.

I object to the passage of HB12379 and HB1448.Now we are calling books long recognized as classics "sexually explicit." A book should and has been determined by the courts as judged by its all-over content; before demanding that they be removed why not look at all of them and see how many you have read when you were in school? School librarians are trained professionals of literature and should make the decicions on what goes on the shelves. Certainally any parent can have and currently has the right to determine what books their child reads, but no groups of parents should have the right to make this determination for others. The censorship of well recognized literature does nothing to prepare youth for our critical thinking objectives or preparation for civil discussion.

I support parents being informed of sexually explicit materials being in the school library and/or classroom. I also support removing sexually explicit materials from K-12 buildings. Curating AGE-APPROPRIATE materials for K-12 schools is NOT the same as "book banning." If a book is available for purchase at a bookstore, online, or can be reserved at a public library - then it is certainly not "banned." What can we expect next from the far left? How about 50 Shades of Grey for 10th grade English?

I strongly oppose this bill

"I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote." Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the School Choice fight! Quick Links: Join the Rapid Response Team of Virginia for Educational Freedom School Choice petition to legislators Donate to Virginia for Educational Freedom For Our Children, Natassia Grover Director Virginia for Educational Freedom PS- It is vital that you sign our Petition for School Choice today. The thing politicians fear most is large numbers of angry voters, and your signature on the petition will be added to the thousands that have already signed. This Petition will be delivered to the House Educational Committee, and they will be told they must support full and complete School Choice. So click here to sign! Copyright © 2023 Acton Advocacy Group, All rights reserved. Fighting to restore freedom in education in the Commonwealth Our mailing address is: Acton Advocacy Group 11895 Folly Lane Lovettsville, VA 20180 Add us to your address book

This bill please vote in favor for it would well benefit our children.

I strongly oppose the Virginia Board of Education supplying pornography to any school system in the state. Those individuals including county, school, superintendents, librarians, school administrator and teachers.must know they are breaking VA State code(s) on the distribution of child pornography . Clearly, it ‘ is against the law, and they must resign and face criminal prosecution.

Yes, I support HB1448. This bill should be brought up for a vote.

SUPPORT

Chair Avoli and members of the House K-12 Subcommittee, On behalf of Equality Virginia, the Commonwealth's leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, I submit the following written comment on bills being heard this morning: - Please oppose HB 1379 (Anderson) and HB 1448 (Orrock). - Please support HB 1592 (Davis) and HB 1733 (VanValkenburg). Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Narissa Rahaman (she/her) Executive Director Equality Virginia

We support the following bill: HB 1560 High school students; development of Title IX and sexual harassment prevention training modules. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 We oppose the following bills: HB 1379 Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials, etc. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 HB 1434 Student records; name change, court order required. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1434 HB 1448 Public school library materials; DOE to make recommendations, model policies, selection and removal. SIncerely, Sue Sargeant and Ron Smith 1318 William Street, Fredbg 22401; Rachel Sargeant 812 Daniel St, Fredbg VA 22401

Re HB 1379 and HB 1448. I am opposed! It is beyond my comprehension that the views of a few could cause the banning of books in a public library. Like so many things in the raising of children, a parent must be responsible for their own families decisions and can not force those views on others in the community. If I don’t think it is safe for my child to ride a bike, it does not allow me to eliminate bikes in my community. HB 1560- I support. it is critical that we support Title IX and its programming and eliminate sexual harassment in schools. Our schools must have processes in place that clearly identify processes and procedures to support all students.

I’m in opposition to 1379 and 1448. I support 1560.

I strongly support this bill.

Please support 1 bill & oppose 3 bills: Bill to support HB 1560 High school students; development of Title IX and sexual harassment prevention training modules. - https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 Bills to Oppose HB 1379 Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials, etc. - https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 HB 1434 Student records; name change, court order required. - https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1434 HB 1448 Public school library materials; DOE to make recommendations, model policies, selection and removal. - https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1448

I urge you to vote NO on these bills. These bills are a dangerous precedent, setting a process by which a small group can restrict access to publications based on their belief systems. It’s best to leave these curriculum and library materials availability to the education and library professionals. Rather, let’s focus energy on more compelling deadly concerns like gun safety and gun violence prevention, and substance abuse. That would go further in protecting our children and youth. Thanks for your consideration. Monique Hanis 30+ year Va. resident, raised family, taught youth at church, currently running coach for young girls.

I oppose this bill.

I oppose HB 1448 jSchool districts already have policies and procedures in place for the aquisition and removal of books. There is no need for DOE oversight of this local school district responsibility.

Please SUPPORT HB 1560. Please OPPOSE HB 1379, HB 1434, and HB 1448.

Please oppose these bills aimed at censoring school libraries. School librarians have extensive training. These bills aim to intimidate school librarians and remove diverse learning materials.

HB 1448 - We need model policies. HB1461 - Equitable: all treated the same. HB 1475 - Parents pay for public schools, kids should get the benefit even if homeschooled, no taxation without representation type of idea. HB1657 - Very workable. HB1903 - Local schools have materials split by schools. Have 3 kids in different schools, parents work, this is impossible to keep up with. This will make things easier for parents.

These bills HB1379 and HB1448 amount to banning books. If parents don't want their children exposed to these books they have means to keep these books out of their children's hands. The books on the proposed ban list that I have read actually have significant value for age appropriate readers. I oppose these bills.

I am strongly opposed to these bills!

I oppose this bill.

I strongly oppose this bill, which does not enhance public education

I oppose HB 1448.

Please let common sense and free speech prevail in our schools. Keep these divisive, political influences out of public schools. We need to protect all our students and provide the best education we can to each of them. This culture war mentality has to stop. Keep politics out of it and let teachers teach.

I support HB1560 I oppose the following bills: HB1379, HB 1434, and HB 1448 As a public education teacher and parent I urge you to stop making our public education system do the bidding of what certain individuals and groups believe and just let us teach. You should have education professionals advising these bills who actually work in the schools bc they would tell you that due diligence is always taken in the libraries! Schools should be safe places for students. Let’s focus our attention on the real problems, funding, educator retention, and constant testing! Happy to speak with anyone anytime and anyone is always welcome to my classroom for a real experience of what education is like!

Bill to support HB 1560 Bills to Oppose HB 1379 HB 1434 HB 1448

Before we had bills like these parents and school libraries worked together to ensure that children read the books most appropriate for them. These bills do nothing to foster relationships between school libraries and parents, instead they put those who care about children in adversarial positions. School library catalogs are already available on school websites to any member of the public which makes many of the requirements within these bills redundant. Adding requirements to notify parents every time a book is checked out puts an undue burden on already understaffed schools. These bills do nothing to further education, they do everything to stifle access and the love of reading.

I OPPOSE this bill. Local school boards ales Ft have a system in place for this. Localities should be able to handle this for their citizens.

I oppose this bill. The professionals in our public school libraries should use their training to make these decisions and they do not need layers of government providing oversight. I trust our professionals.

Bill to support HB 1560 High school students; development of Title IX and sexual harassment prevention training modules. SUPPORT--Will enhance students' mental health and safety, will empower them with knowledge, and will increase their sense of agency HB 1379 Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials, etc. STRONGLY OPPOSE--Puts an undo burden on educational professionals, advances the cause of censorship. HB 1434 Student records; name change, court order required. STRONGLY OPPOSE--Makes life more difficult for students and puts undo burden on parents. HB 1448 Public school library materials; DOE to make recommendations, model policies, selection and removal. STRONGLY OPPOSE--Just another step towards book bans and censorship.

I oppose HB 1448 and HB 1434. Parents can work most effectively by communicating directly with their local schools and do not need these additional restrictions or censorship from Richmond.

✅ Bill I SUPPORT ✅ 👍🏼 HB 1560 High school students; development of Title IX and sexual harassment prevention training modules. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 ❌ Bills I Oppose ❌ 👎🏼 HB 1379 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL LIBRARIES; CATALOG OF PRINTED AND AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS, ETC. HTTPS://LIS.VIRGINIA.GOV/CGI-BIN/LEGP604.EXE?231+SUM+HB1379 👎🏼 HB 1434 STUDENT RECORDS; NAME CHANGE, COURT ORDER REQUIRED. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1434 👎🏼 HB 1448 PUBLIC SCHOOL LIBRARY MATERIALS; DOE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS, MODEL POLICIES, SELECTION AND REMOVAL. HTTPS://LIS.VIRGINIA.GOV/CGI-BIN/LEGP604.EXE?231+SUM+HB1448 From, Cynthia Mason, retired VBCPS SPED teacher

I oppose this bill because it removes local control over school libraries. Libraries celebrate individual choice. There is no need to censor libraries.

I oppose these 2 bills. I oppose any interference with library offerings, interference with access to materials.

This bill is a red herring. Why can't parents send an email or call the school librarian and have a conversation? School librarians are more than happy to work with parents and flag their student's library account to ensure the materials they're viewing are okay with their parents. Let parents decide what is best for THEIR children. Why should other parents be allowed to dictate what's best for MY child? Have the sponsors of these bad bills ever heard of a smart phone and the internet? That is where kids are seeing developmentally appropriate materials, not their school's library.

I support HB 1560 and oppose HB 1379, strongly oppose HB 1434 and oppose HB 1448. I am the parent of a 7th and an 8th grader at Marshall Middle School in The Plains, VA.

I oppose this bill.

Chair Avoli and members of the K-12 subcommittee, The ACLU of Virginia opposes HB1379 and HB1448. Both bills unnecessarily duplicate the parent notification and review process and/or book removal processes at the school board level. HB1379 would create a substantial burden on school administration and staff to review all print and audio visual materials. It is for these reasons we ask you to oppose HB1379 and HB1448.

I oppose HB 1448 to require that the DOE recommend model policies for the selection and removal of books and audio visual materials from public school libraries.

Please support Bill #1396! So important for the children of the Commonwealth of Virginia!

I fully support this long overdue bill.

This is a bill that should be a no brainer. Kids who are homeschooled should have the opportunity to play high school sports. Why deny them this access? The parents of homeschoolers pay county taxes which funds the public school system, by not allowing participation it's unequal treatment. All kids, homeschooled or public schooled will benefit from this bill being passed.

Hi. My name is Jenifer Messer. I am the mother of the 12 year old with Tourette Syndrome whom just left a comment. We were both signed up to speak today but apparently are no longer allowed to. My daughter is currently in 7th grade public school. Like I said, she has Tourette Syndrome. The past school years have been awful for her for the most part. Most people do not understand TS and have no clue how to respectly deal with a child who has it. My daughter is an A & B student, excels in theatre and track & field. She's tries to hide her tics at school but it's getting harder and harder. She has a 504 plan but some of the teachers and staff still punish her for things she can't control so we are now looking at other options for her schooling for 8th - 12th. Being homeschooled via a Virginia University online homeschool program is an option but Virginia doesn't have HB1475 (the Tim Tebow Bill) in place like 31 other states. This is unfortunate because kids like my daughter deserve the right and may need to be homeschooled but will get left out of sports. She needs to run track and field for her mental health. It's a break from Tourette Syndrome. Because she gets left out at school and bullied, her mental health suffers. Please pass this bill and say YES to my daughter being able to be homeschooled and play sports. She deserves this right. If this bill is Not passed, we will most likely leave the Commonwealth and go to Tennessee where she has this option. This is not a red or blue issue. It's a child's mental health issue. VOTE YES for my daughter and others like her. My daughter hopes to get a scholarship to run track in college. She needs this bill to be passed and I know Tim Tebow would approve because he is a champion for kids with disabilities and a champion for homeschooled kids playing sports.

Hi. My name is Laken Thompson and I'm 12 years old. I have Tourette Syndrome and currently attend Auburn Middle School in Montgomery County. I signed up to speak but apparently we aren't allowed to anymore so I'm writing. This bill is very important to me. I run track & field and excel at it, meaning I win. I'm a sprinter and jumper. I plan to leave AMS at the end of the school year because the past 2 years have been terrible. I get bullied and have lost many friends due to my tics. I just feel like my school does not understand my disorder even though I have a 504 plan. My family and I are now looking at other schooling options like homeschooling. Passing the Tim Tebow Bill would allow me to homeschool and still run track. My Tourette Syndrome goes away while I run. So I jerk, scream or do the other tics. Running is freedom for me. Track is incredibly important to me. I hope to get a scholarship for college to run at Liberty University. My tics are currently bad and I deserve the right to be homeschooled if needed but I can't imagine not being able to run track. My question to the Delegates...Why wouldn't you want to help kids like me who need to be homeschooled but want to also play competitive sports? Whether Democrat or Republican, WHY would you say no to this bill? Please think of me and vote YES to the Tim Tebow Bill. I deserve the right to do schooling in a manner I need and to also play sports.

My name is Mike Trost and I live in Loudoun County. So far the excuses I have heard for excluding homeschooled athletes from participating in interscholastic sports programs are pathetic. The idea that public school athletes are held to higher academic standards than homeschooled ones is not only an unproven claim but a false one. As we know, public schools have a long history of padding the grades of athletes so that they could still compete, and we've seen over recent years how academic standards and grading standards have been significantly lowered in the public schools. And yet the Virginia High School League is telling parents that they can't trust them to hold their children to the same academic standards as the public schools do. It's outrageous on its face. Do the right thing--stop excluding homeschooled athletes from competing with their public school peers. Their parents pay local and state taxes that go straight into the public schools' coffers, and yet their children can't even participate in the sports programs that they are helping to fund.

As a public school student in the State of Virginia, I firmly support this bill. Homeschooled students deserve the same opportunities as those in public school, especially VHSL Sports & Academics. Most homeschooled students don't have a choice to go to public school, mainly because their parents won't let them. This bill will allow for students and parents to reach a middle ground and allow the parent to keep their child home, and allow the student to be just like other high schoolers. I applaud Delegate March for introducing this bill and encourage all members of the House K-12 Subcommittee, Education Committee, and full Floor to support this bill.

"I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote." Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the School Choice fight! Quick Links: Join the Rapid Response Team of Virginia for Educational Freedom School Choice petition to legislators Donate to Virginia for Educational Freedom For Our Children, Natassia Grover Director Virginia for Educational Freedom PS- It is vital that you sign our Petition for School Choice today. The thing politicians fear most is large numbers of angry voters, and your signature on the petition will be added to the thousands that have already signed. This Petition will be delivered to the House Educational Committee, and they will be told they must support full and complete School Choice. So click here to sign! Copyright © 2023 Acton Advocacy Group, All rights reserved. Fighting to restore freedom in education in the Commonwealth Our mailing address is: Acton Advocacy Group 11895 Folly Lane Lovettsville, VA 20180 Add us to your address book

I strongly oppose the Virginia Board of Education supplying pornography to any school system in the state. Those individuals including county, school, superintendents, librarians, school administrator and teachers.must know they are breaking VA State code(s) on the distribution of child pornography . Clearly, it ‘ is against the law, and they must resign and face criminal prosecution.

Please give this bill full consideration. Children who are home-schooled deserve an opportunity to participate in interscholastic programs.

Comments Document

HB1475- While we would love to see homeschool students participate in activities, Career & Technical Student Organizations, such as SkillsUSA and the Technology Student Association, require specialized training not necessarily available through homeschool instruction. HB 1508- Education Success Accounts seem to take funding from public schools. Comprehensive schools around the state provide students access to career and technical instruction not available through home school means. HB 1695- Students absolutely need the extra support to access career pathways however the language should be inclusive enough to allow for flexibility of position title. As a current district-level work-based learning specialist, the manpower need is great but the positions will look different across districts and possibly even schools as a result of student career interest and labor market data. I have attached the Virginia ACTE Advocacy card for more information on ways to support Career & Technical Education.

HB 1448 - We need model policies. HB1461 - Equitable: all treated the same. HB 1475 - Parents pay for public schools, kids should get the benefit even if homeschooled, no taxation without representation type of idea. HB1657 - Very workable. HB1903 - Local schools have materials split by schools. Have 3 kids in different schools, parents work, this is impossible to keep up with. This will make things easier for parents.

I oppose HB1475. This bill comes along every year and every year it is rejected for the same reasons: it is unfair to make students who attend public school every day to have to compete against students who don't.

Homeschooled students should be allowed to participate in public school activities provided they meet reasonable criteria. Taxpayer dollars fund public schools whether we have children attending school or not. If we are promoting inclusion, this is one step towards that goal.

Please support Bill #1396! So important for the children of the Commonwealth of Virginia!

"I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote." Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the School Choice fight! Quick Links: Join the Rapid Response Team of Virginia for Educational Freedom School Choice petition to legislators Donate to Virginia for Educational Freedom For Our Children, Natassia Grover Director Virginia for Educational Freedom PS- It is vital that you sign our Petition for School Choice today. The thing politicians fear most is large numbers of angry voters, and your signature on the petition will be added to the thousands that have already signed. This Petition will be delivered to the House Educational Committee, and they will be told they must support full and complete School Choice. So click here to sign! Copyright © 2023 Acton Advocacy Group, All rights reserved. Fighting to restore freedom in education in the Commonwealth Our mailing address is: Acton Advocacy Group 11895 Folly Lane Lovettsville, VA 20180 Add us to your address book

I strongly oppose the Virginia Board of Education supplying pornography to any school system in the state. Those individuals including county, school, superintendents, librarians, school administrator and teachers.must know they are breaking VA State code(s) on the distribution of child pornography . Clearly, it ‘ is against the law, and they must resign and face criminal prosecution.

HB: 1556 k-9 detection team setting dogs loos on children, studies show that dogs can attack when they sense fear (walking dog behavior.com) (BCA animal hospital) . $50,000.00+ price tag! And this doesn’t include housing food. Not included in the cost is the direct cost of the trainer and law enforce t personal. Where will the funding come from?! The children will become scapegoats, unwarranted CPS cases, what schools will be targeted. Canines can be trained to be anti black (the Marshall project june 23, 2021. This brings an uncomfortable sense of Birmingham, Alabama. A VAST amount of students would benefit from mentors rather than a K-9 unit. As Chesterfield county has the MEGA MENTORS PROGRAM which has been successful. thus will be helpful to allow parents into schools rather than K-9 units HB 1695: Public high school Career Coach the following amendments should be implemented to this Bill. there should be no less than 3 staffed job coaches, collaboration with parents , school counselors, SPED COORDINATORS , apart of the IEP team, expanded to 7th grade, HB1696: teacher lunch : in order for myself to support this bill these are the questions I have. where will the additional staff be obtained while the teachers take their breaks? Has the teacher shown that they have provided direct substantive support to their students/families , attended and provided support during iep meetings. HB 1733 I do not support this bill the student shall be allowed to speak by simply providing their first and last name, grade and school name. Either verbally and or writing their name on the sign up sheet. (Assistance shall be provided by parent or caregiver) ( if needed.) the student may not have access to signing up online.

I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote.

I am wholly opposed to HB1556, a reckless bill that would do nothing actually to secure school buildings. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to allow for K-9 detection teams in schools and their very presence would create a climate of fear instead of an atmosphere of learning and imagination. Overpolicing of schools also has disproportionate impacts on Black and Brown students and students with disabilities. If leaders in Richmond were serious about improving school safety, they would do something about gun storage in homes where a minor is present, to address the rising tide of gun violence in Virginia. That would be a real solution to a real problem. But instead, this subcommittee is taking up half-thought-out measures that would merely put the fox in the henhouse instead of solving the real issue.

Please support Bill #1396! So important for the children of the Commonwealth of Virginia!

Teachers and parents need clear guidance as to how disruptive students are addressed. Teachers have enough to deal with considering the huge class sizes, wide range of learning loss, and behavioral issues. Public school leadership must adequately address this issue and not put this on the shoulders of teachers - who are already stretched too thin. BTW, I support having Resource Officers and metal detectors in all schools. Schools should be as secure as Federal Buildings and politicians' offices.

"I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote." Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the School Choice fight! Quick Links: Join the Rapid Response Team of Virginia for Educational Freedom School Choice petition to legislators Donate to Virginia for Educational Freedom For Our Children, Natassia Grover Director Virginia for Educational Freedom PS- It is vital that you sign our Petition for School Choice today. The thing politicians fear most is large numbers of angry voters, and your signature on the petition will be added to the thousands that have already signed. This Petition will be delivered to the House Educational Committee, and they will be told they must support full and complete School Choice. So click here to sign! Copyright © 2023 Acton Advocacy Group, All rights reserved. Fighting to restore freedom in education in the Commonwealth Our mailing address is: Acton Advocacy Group 11895 Folly Lane Lovettsville, VA 20180 Add us to your address book

Bill HB 1492 is frankly, useless. A school board already has the right to perform evaluations and produce results to parents prior to the 65 day deadline, but they never will, certainly not with the language in this bill as presented, because everything Special Education is always about deny and delay everything possible, especially when actually providing any services or supports, if parents can even obtain them. Also, the 30-Day implementation minimum, of services is addressed in IDEA, which is Federal Law, and State Law cannot supercede Federal Law. State Laws can be more restrictive, but never less. Let's work more towards requiring the School Divisions and the VDOE to be accountable for services which are SUPPOSED to be provided, transparency for parents about actual services provided/not provided, and require that School Divisions are not practicing medicine or mental health without licenses, and promote full accountability and penalties and financial rewards to parents/students of disabilities when school divisions fail to provide a FAPE under IDEA and State Education Laws.

I strongly oppose the Virginia Board of Education supplying pornography to any school system in the state. Those individuals including county, school, superintendents, librarians, school administrator and teachers.must know they are breaking VA State code(s) on the distribution of child pornography . Clearly, it ‘ is against the law, and they must resign and face criminal prosecution.

This bill needs to be passed so all children have equal education

Chair Avoli and members of the House K-12 Subcommittee, On behalf of Equality Virginia, the Commonwealth's leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, I submit the following written comment on bills being heard this morning: - Please oppose HB 1379 (Anderson) and HB 1448 (Orrock). - Please support HB 1592 (Davis) and HB 1733 (VanValkenburg). Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Narissa Rahaman (she/her) Executive Director Equality Virginia

HB 1592 - Public Schools, Bullying Policy Support the bill. Victims deserve protection. Notifying parents immediately is essential. Parents being able to address poor behavioral and involvement in bullying is equally important. Amend the bill for both notifications to be given within 24 hours. Pass HB 1592.

I am appreciative of Del. Davis' effort to improve communication to families where there has been an alleged incident of bullying in school.  For the larger part of my 38 years in public education I was a middle school assistant principal and principal, working together with students and parents through challenging incidents, many involved with bullying. In special education I know that students with disabilities are disproportionately affected by bullying, so I am a strong advocate for student safety, well-being and responsive communication with parents. I respectfully suggest two revisions that can still ensure prompt, reasonable communication to parents: 1. I suggest "one school day" instead of 24 hours. A bullying incident at a Friday night football game could make it very difficult for school staff to contact family within 24 hours.  Monday morning could be more realistic both for administrators and families. 2. I suggest "principal or designee" instead of mandating the principal as the sole communicator.  This would be a great challenge, especially in larger schools with over 1000 students Thank you for helping promote strong communication between school staff and families with incidents of alleged bullying.  I believe my suggestions for language changes would not diminish your emphasis in keeping students safe and engaging promptly with parents.  Regards, Mike Asip

HB1592 is well-intentioned but misses the mark. Principals and administrators should be enabled with their own discretion to involve parents in cases of bullying where appropriate, but a one-size-fits-all approach simply won't cut it. There are many cases where a student who is a victim of bullying would not want their parents to know because the reason they were being bullied was the result of home life trauma. Principals should be allowed to make these decisions themselves.

This is a much needed bill. Bullying , be it through social media, in-person, or by other means of contact, is a huge factor in young people committing suicide. Parents need to know immediately and all parties should take part in defusing the situation. I would suggest that the recommended time frame of contact be within 24 hrs of such knowledge to parents/custodians in both parties, the aggressor and the victim.

On HB 1379- Anderson; Sexually Explicit Material. Support the Bill. The smartest folks in the room seem to be lost on child development and the effects sexually explicit materials have on a developing brain. Protect kids. Pass the Bill. On HB 1592 - Davis; a step in the right direction. We can start by notifying parents of any referral to discipline. After so many referrals, parents are required to have meetings. If we can’t get a cooperative agreement, parents and students take classes on boundaries, etc.

Please support Bill #1396! So important for the children of the Commonwealth of Virginia!

HB1423, HB1424, HB1514, HB1526, HB1554, HB1593*, HB1629, HB1700, HB1701, HB1713, HB1820, HB1821, HB1823, HB1824, and HB2124 because our students are having problems in public schools. More parents are removing their kids and sending them elsewhere. Previous attempts at helping only wasted tax dollars and we're not seeing anything but kids who don't know facts and can think critically. Time for a change. Lets move to report these bills and push our Virginia students to a better, more educated and equipped future! Please move to report these bills. Thank you.

As a student I support this bill.

"I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote." Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the School Choice fight! Quick Links: Join the Rapid Response Team of Virginia for Educational Freedom School Choice petition to legislators Donate to Virginia for Educational Freedom For Our Children, Natassia Grover Director Virginia for Educational Freedom PS- It is vital that you sign our Petition for School Choice today. The thing politicians fear most is large numbers of angry voters, and your signature on the petition will be added to the thousands that have already signed. This Petition will be delivered to the House Educational Committee, and they will be told they must support full and complete School Choice. So click here to sign! Copyright © 2023 Acton Advocacy Group, All rights reserved. Fighting to restore freedom in education in the Commonwealth Our mailing address is: Acton Advocacy Group 11895 Folly Lane Lovettsville, VA 20180 Add us to your address book

Edu-Futuro’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty in immigrant communities largely through educational support. Our beneficiaries come from fully 61 different countries of origin. We greatly encourage the students we serve to pursue careers in STEM, especially given how the Hispanic community has historically been underrepresented in that field. To that end, we support Delegate Cia Price’s HB 1657. I also support Delegate Price's bill in my capacity as a private citizen and as a woman who graduated from the famous STEM magnet school, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, knowing that my alma mater would benefit from a more racially diverse student body. Also, in my capacity as a private citizen, I oppose HB 1379.

I strongly oppose the Virginia Board of Education supplying pornography to any school system in the state. Those individuals including county, school, superintendents, librarians, school administrator and teachers.must know they are breaking VA State code(s) on the distribution of child pornography . Clearly, it ‘ is against the law, and they must resign and face criminal prosecution.

Comments Document

The Pride Liberation Project is a student-led LGBTQIA+ advocacy group based in Virginia. We strongly encourage the K-12 subcommittee to vote for HB 1560, HB 1657, and HB 1733. Sourcing for all claims is included in the attatched PDFs. HB 1657 would expand the purpose of the STEM Education Advisory Board to include identifying strategies to promote the participation of historically underrepresented students in STEM, defined as racial and ethnic minorities, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+, women, and individuals who are disabled. Strategies to promote participation include expanding hands-on STEM opportunities, exploring new STEM electives, and collaborating with institutions of higher education and private sector employees. Several communities, including racial minorities, women, LGBTQIA+ students, and the disabled community, are underrepresented in STEM. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, just 37 percent of STEM bachelor degrees are awarded to women, compared to 63 percent of men earning STEM bachelor degrees. Similarly, Pew Research indicates that Black and Latino individuals compose just 7 percent and 12 percent of bachelor degree holders in STEM fields, respectively. The problem is compounded among women of color: only 5.3%, 4.3%, 2.3%, and 0.1% of STEM degree holders are Asian women, Latinas, Black women, or Indigenous women, respectively. Disabled and Queer students are also underrepresented in STEM. Though disabled students compose 12 percent of the student population in middle and high school, they make up just 1 percent of Advanced Placement students and earn significantly fewer credits in math and science compared to English. Meanwhile, Queer male undergraduate students at 78 universities are more likely to leave their STEM majors for a non-STEM major compared to their non-Queer peers, even when controlling for other factors, such as GPA. Underrepresentation in STEM has drastic consequences for our Commonwealth. According to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a diverse team is more likely to perform better than a homogeneous team, as a more diverse group will be able to interpret problems in different ways, leading to innovative solutions. Moreover, underrepresentation in STEM contributes to high rates of discrimination and harassment in STEM fields: 43 percent of women report misogynistic experiences at work, while 32.9 percent and 24 percent of Queer and people of color in STEM fields reported experiencing discrimination, respectively. This discrimination and harassment makes it increasingly difficult to retain and train talented STEM professionals from underrepresented backgrounds, as a sense of acceptance and community leads to longer retention in STEM.

Letting students be aware of the opportunities they are given to become involved in the school board meetings will empower students not only this generation but the next generation about the impact they have to change and speak about decisions that will change the school experience for this generation and each that follow it. Additionally, it would allow more students to get involved and become educated about what happens in the school board meetings. Hopefully this would bring more power to students instead of letting people who are not currently in high school, govern what changes occurs for those in high school. The sexual harassment prevention training module will warn the predators, teachers, administrators, and principals who are allowing sexual-harassment to continue among the student body of what they are allowing to continue and the justice that will come. With this module, students can be aware of the rights that protect them and what they can do to prevent sexual harassment.

As a student, I support these bills. HB1560 - It is very important that all students know how to handle these situations. I know that having this information would have benefitted many students in the past years. HB1657 - As a student of color, I think diversity in these STEM schools needs to be encouraged. It would help positively impact me and many other students. HB1733 - With so many bills affecting students these days, it is so important that the people being affected get to have their voices heard. As a student, I should be allowed to speak on behalf of my education.

I am a Fairfax County high school student who supports this bill. Careers in STEM are the future of the country; not only do they serve as critical pillars to the nation, but these jobs are also high in demand and usually offer greater salaries than other industries. However, certain groups have been historically barred from education and technological resources, decreasing their chances of pursing booming industries in STEM. By giving underrepresented minorities the resources to follow careers in STEM, it creates systemic change that will help increase the generational wealth of minorities, a major step towards income equality. Also, this bill will not only help minorities. As the world grows more technologically advanced, our future relies on getting more people to become doctors, scientists, engineers, and computer programmers. Increasing the number of minorities in STEM feilds will boost the overall population of these critical workers, which in the long run will help our economy while making the workforce a more equitable place.

HB 1448 - We need model policies. HB1461 - Equitable: all treated the same. HB 1475 - Parents pay for public schools, kids should get the benefit even if homeschooled, no taxation without representation type of idea. HB1657 - Very workable. HB1903 - Local schools have materials split by schools. Have 3 kids in different schools, parents work, this is impossible to keep up with. This will make things easier for parents.

I, as a student, support these bills. These are much needed bills, and I fully support the implementation.

As a highschool student, I agree with these bills. I believe it is important for other students and school staff to fully understand sexual harassment and for oppressed communities to be anle to see themselves in the STEM board. I also believe it is important for students to be able to have say in what they think is fair during school board meetings. Without these three bills being passed there's more room for discrimination, bullying, and harassment. There is no reason to not pass any of these bills. Sincerely, Mr. Fowler.

Hello, I am a high school student from a background underrepresented in STEM, and I support HB 1657. For years, I have felt scared by STEM; classmates would assume that I am not any good at it or had no interest in it because of my background. Coming from an art and business-oriented family, STEM was once again pushed beyond my reach. However, I want to become a public health worker, and possibly even a doctor one day. Had it not been for the adults at my school, I would have felt extremely nervous about majoring in STEM, much less entering a STEM field. This exact scenario is replicated by thousands of Virginia students just like me, many of who will never get the opportunity to pursue a STEM degree or career because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, or ethnicity -- factors beyond their control. I want every student in the Commonwealth to be able to experience wonder, curiosity, and discovery in STEM in the same way that I was so privileged to do. HB 1657 would change so many student's lives, and break down the barriers that exist between many students and not just STEM, but higher education. With a STEM Education Advisory Board, people can begin to focus on the underrepresented students, giving them the opportunity to follow their dreams. For me, and for the many marginalized students to come, I urge you to pass HB 1657, because it will ensure brighter futures and successes for so many Virginia children.

As a student, I support these bills and think they would help all students at my school.

As a student, I support these bills! The well being and safety of students is incredibly important, which these bills will support! Please take into account student safety, as bill HB1560 promotes this. Also please listen to student voices!!!

"I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote." Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the School Choice fight! Quick Links: Join the Rapid Response Team of Virginia for Educational Freedom School Choice petition to legislators Donate to Virginia for Educational Freedom For Our Children, Natassia Grover Director Virginia for Educational Freedom PS- It is vital that you sign our Petition for School Choice today. The thing politicians fear most is large numbers of angry voters, and your signature on the petition will be added to the thousands that have already signed. This Petition will be delivered to the House Educational Committee, and they will be told they must support full and complete School Choice. So click here to sign! Copyright © 2023 Acton Advocacy Group, All rights reserved. Fighting to restore freedom in education in the Commonwealth Our mailing address is: Acton Advocacy Group 11895 Folly Lane Lovettsville, VA 20180 Add us to your address book

I strongly oppose the Virginia Board of Education supplying pornography to any school system in the state. Those individuals including county, school, superintendents, librarians, school administrator and teachers.must know they are breaking VA State code(s) on the distribution of child pornography . Clearly, it ‘ is against the law, and they must resign and face criminal prosecution.

I support parents being informed of sexually explicit materials being in the school library and/or classroom. I also support removing sexually explicit materials from K-12 buildings. Curating AGE-APPROPRIATE materials for K-12 schools is NOT the same as "book banning." If a book is available for purchase at a bookstore, online, or can be reserved at a public library - then it is certainly not "banned." What can we expect next from the far left? How about 50 Shades of Grey for 10th grade English?

"I support HB 1396 as introduced, and it deserves a vote." Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the School Choice fight! Quick Links: Join the Rapid Response Team of Virginia for Educational Freedom School Choice petition to legislators Donate to Virginia for Educational Freedom For Our Children, Natassia Grover Director Virginia for Educational Freedom PS- It is vital that you sign our Petition for School Choice today. The thing politicians fear most is large numbers of angry voters, and your signature on the petition will be added to the thousands that have already signed. This Petition will be delivered to the House Educational Committee, and they will be told they must support full and complete School Choice. So click here to sign! Copyright © 2023 Acton Advocacy Group, All rights reserved. Fighting to restore freedom in education in the Commonwealth Our mailing address is: Acton Advocacy Group 11895 Folly Lane Lovettsville, VA 20180 Add us to your address book

I strongly oppose the Virginia Board of Education supplying pornography to any school system in the state. Those individuals including county, school, superintendents, librarians, school administrator and teachers.must know they are breaking VA State code(s) on the distribution of child pornography . Clearly, it ‘ is against the law, and they must resign and face criminal prosecution.

We support the following bill: HB 1560 High school students; development of Title IX and sexual harassment prevention training modules. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 We oppose the following bills: HB 1379 Public elementary and secondary school libraries; catalog of printed and audiovisual materials, etc. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1379 HB 1434 Student records; name change, court order required. https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB1434 HB 1448 Public school library materials; DOE to make recommendations, model policies, selection and removal. SIncerely, Sue Sargeant and Ron Smith 1318 William Street, Fredbg 22401; Rachel Sargeant 812 Daniel St, Fredbg VA 22401

HB 1448 - We need model policies. HB1461 - Equitable: all treated the same. HB 1475 - Parents pay for public schools, kids should get the benefit even if homeschooled, no taxation without representation type of idea. HB1657 - Very workable. HB1903 - Local schools have materials split by schools. Have 3 kids in different schools, parents work, this is impossible to keep up with. This will make things easier for parents.

Before we had bills like these parents and school libraries worked together to ensure that children read the books most appropriate for them. These bills do nothing to foster relationships between school libraries and parents, instead they put those who care about children in adversarial positions. School library catalogs are already available on school websites to any member of the public which makes many of the requirements within these bills redundant. Adding requirements to notify parents every time a book is checked out puts an undue burden on already understaffed schools. These bills do nothing to further education, they do everything to stifle access and the love of reading.