Public Comments for 01/23/2023 Education
HB1424 - National Teacher Certification Incentive Reward Program & Fund; eligibility, incentive grant awards.
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.
"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!
HB1514 - Deceased high school seniors; waiver of graduation requirements and award of posthumous programs.
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.
"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!
HB1526 - Student literacy measures; scope, students in grades four through eight, English SOLs.
How soon we forget the nightmare that was distance learning. Or maybe none of you experienced that. These school aged children that lost time in the classroom for reading instruction will be MISSED if this FULL expansion of the Virginia Literacy Act is not passed. There are a key group of children that, yes, are soon to be in middle school (in school year 2024-2025) and struggle with reading due to the havoc caused by Covid. Please support and fund this HB1526 bill in its entirety. All of these house bills go to strengthen our schools with providing parents the knowledge they need to advocate for their children and better equipping teachers to teach within their large and neurodiverse classrooms (1:5 students are dyslexic). thank you for your service to our great Commonwealth.
I urge you to passing both HB 1526 and HB 2137. Both of these bills promote literacy programs and support desperately ended for Virginia students, especially those who struggle with reading.
As you may be aware, dyslexia a common learning disability for students of average to above average intelligence. Dyslexia affects a student's ability to read accurately and fluently and communicate his/her thoughts in writing. Since kindergarten, our son struggled with reading skills and was never accurately identified as a dyslexic in elementary school. We have spent thousands of dollars in evaluations and before-school tutoring. We pulled him from Chesterfield County public schools after 6th grade because his teachers were unable to address his IEP goals and none of his teachers nor the special education administrators were aware of specific interventions for dyslexic learners. My husband and I had to assume an unexpected private school tuition debt of $28,000/year which is truly a financial hardship on us. Thank you for unanimously passing the Virginia Literacy Act last year. Please support HB1629 and HB15265 to provide the much-needed support and interventions for dyslexic students and their families. Parents of dyslexic children, many educators and neurobiologist understand the nuances of dyslexia. As our state representatives, we hope you understand this disability to better support our kids in their most critical stages of learning! Reading is such a foundational skill to ensure a country of productive citizens! Thank you for your concern and support.
My name is Rebecca Warner and I am a founding member of Decoding Dyslexia Virginia DDVA. Ten years ago a group of mothers in Virginia started the Virginia chapter of Decoding Dyslexia. We were the 12th state to join what is now a national movement with chapters in every state as well as other countries across the globe. The dream was to not only raise dyslexia awareness and create laws to support our young children in grade school, but it was also to recreate how literacy is taught in the state of Virginia. We knew it meant a deeper conversation with higher education, policymakers, and researchers who truly understood the science of reading. HB1526 and SB1175 embody what I had fondly called the "Cadillac" of legislation. Our group envisioned doing away with teaching methods that were not evidence researched and replacing these methods with proven strategies that were backed by science. We knew we needed teachers trained in these methods, we parents needed full transparency, and we needed it all done with fidelity. This is what HB1526 and SB1175 offer. It will take time. It will take resources. It will take a cultural shift and a great deal of patience. I knew 10 years ago that my legislative effort and DDVA work would not benefit my then 10 year old son, but I knew it would help other families and perhaps my grandchildren. Finally. The Cadillac just pulled up.
My name is Shannon Duncan and I am a founding member of Decoding Dyslexia Virginia. We can't thank you enough for coming together to pass and fully fund the Virginia Literacy Act last year. I am writing to ask for your support of: HB1526 - Delegate Carrie Coyner's Virginia Literacy Act Expansion bill will expand evidence-based literacy instruction, teacher professional development, and increase reading specialists for our 4th through 8th graders. (Mirroring bill in the Senate SB1175) HB1629 - Delegate Carrie Coyner's Parent Data Portal bill will provide parents with timely access to their children’s state-sponsored assessment data so that they can participate in data-informed decisions about their children’s education. HB2137 - Delegate Karrie Delaney's bill will empower parents with the knowledge of what core/intervention curriculum is being used by each school, in addition to the job description and contact information for reading specialists/dyslexia advisors. This data must be shared publicly on the VDOE website. We are in the midst of a literacy crisis in Virginia and we need to invest in our children's literacy by ensuring they receive a curriculum rooted in science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction. We must pass HB1526/SB1175 into law and fully fund this enormous undertaking so that the children hardest hit by the pandemic (those K-2 students during the pandemic) aren't forgotten because they will be out of reach of the Virginia Literacy Act when it takes effect 2024-2025 school year. ALL children, K-8, deserve teachers who can hit the ground running and impart foundational literacy skills during their academic careers without the current wait-to-fail model that was in place for my own daughter who couldn't learn to read. Parents are their children's first and best advocate and it's important that data relating to their literacy is easily and equitably accessible no matter what district their children attend in Virginia. Reading is a right!
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.
I support HB1526 because our schools are failing to teach children how to read. Thanks to years of research, we now know absolutely the right way to teach reading. Passing HB1526 ensures all of our teachers in Virginia in grades 4-8 will be using the techniques proven to foster literacy and STOP using the techniques proven to hamper literacy. Voting 'yes' for HB1526 will be the easiest decision our lawmakers will have in this legislative session.
ExcelinEd in Action is pleased to support the expansion of the Virginia Literacy Act contained in HB 1526. A comprehensive early literacy policy that includes strategies to support teachers and administrators, students and their families will ensure that students have the foundational reading skills needed to learn, graduate and succeed. Virginia took a huge step forward with the passage and enactment of the Virginia Literacy Act last session, but this expansion to grades 4-8 ensures that struggling readers won't slip through the cracks as they progress in their educational career and that teachers have the training and tools necessary to serve all students. Thank you for your consideration and support.
"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
HB1526 support: I have trained hundreds of publicly schooled kids who have fallen through the cracks to read more proficiently through core cognitive skills strengthening overlayed with a structured and explicit reading program based on the Science of Reading, delivered via a one-on-one brain training approach. I know how the brain learns to read and how to train it to read. The meta-analysis research is very clear, if kids are not reading on grade level by forth grade, around 75% of those never read on grade level. In at-risk populations, that lowers their opportunity to get a quality education and reduces their choices in life, further reducing the chances they can break out of the poverty cycle in which they were born. Thus, it is justifiable that reading is a civil right, and one which doesn't stop at 3rd grade. The 4th-8th graders contemplated in this bill are very segment most at risk of giving up on learning as a way up because there is very little remedial reading intervention today, only accommodations. If we don't intervene, we will see these numbers reflected in our public assistance and penal system down the road. Deal with the problem up front (high ROI), or pass the buck and chronically manage the symptoms downstream year after year. Thanks for your support.
I have trained hundreds of publicly schooled kids who have fallen through the cracks to read more proficiently through core cognitive skills strengthening overlayed with a structured and explicit reading program based on the Science of Reading, delivered via a one-on-one brain training approach. I know how the brain learns to read and how to train it to read. The meta-analysis research is very clear, if kids are not reading on grade level by forth grade, around 75% of those never read on grade level. In at-risk populations, that lowers their opportunity to get a quality education and reduces their choices in life, further reducing the chances they can break out of the poverty cycle in which they were born. Thus, it is justifiable that reading is a civil right, and one which doesn't stop at 3rd grade. The 4th-8th graders contemplated in this bill are very segment most at risk of giving up on learning as a way up because there is very little remedial reading intervention today, only accommodations. If we don't intervene, we will see these numbers reflected in our public assistance and penal system down the road. Deal with the problem up front (high ROI), or pass the buck and chronically manage the symptoms downstream year after year. Thanks for your support.
HB1526 asks that we expand the Virginia Literacy Act to include grades 4th through 8th so that they may receive evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with science-based reading research. As an intake coordinator for a psychology practice, I hear too many stories from parents who are just realizing that their children can not read at grade level during their first year in high school. Schools miss non-readers too often. Most parents are not told about a literacy problem until 4th grade or later, so we must include these grades within the scope of The Virginia Literacy ACT. This is especially true after the COVID years. Thank you.
The Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce strongly supports HB 1526 introduced by Del. Coyner. It is critical that we provide funding to ensure that students who struggle with literacy have an equal opportunity at a quality education. On a personal note, I did not learn to read until the 6th grade. I was fortunate enough to have a mom who fought for me to get the resources in public school that I needed. When the public schools couldn't get me caught up, thanks to my mom's advocacy and dedicate research, my parents found a school that was dedicated to help children who struggled with literacy. Furthermore, I was also fortunate enough to have a father who taught me that failing doesn't define you, but it makes you stronger. Unfortunately, many children who struggle with literacy, do not see this. Even with my positive influences, it was not until I was in my thirties that I truly began to comprehend my father's teachings and see my failures in the classroom as a badge of honor, not a stigma. If it weren't for parents, I wouldn't be here today. I am outliner in the community of those who struggled with literacy as a child, not because I am special, but I have been very lucky. Delegate Coyner's bill will help ensure that all students have the opportunity to an equal education like I did. I deeply appreciate her effort and I hope the rest of the subcommittee can find it in their hearts to make the same investment in the next generation of Virginian's that my parents made in me.
Good morning members of the Education - Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee, my name is Kathryn Haines and I am Vice-Chair of the Chesterfield County Public Schools School Board, a Board firmly committed to the science of reading. I would like to share a few words of support for HB 1526 and HB 1629. If you have read the “2022 Across the Aisle Report: What Voters and Parents Want in Education by the Hunt Institute,” (https://hunt-institute.org/resources/2022/11/2022-across-the-aisle-report-what-voters-and-parents-want-in-education/) you know that these days there seems to be a larger than usual discrepancy between the desires of the loud minority and the silent majority (for example, the silent majority does not support vouchers). I am grateful to the Hunt Institute for reaching through the political noise to capture the concerns of this majority. The Hunt Institute report surveyed parents to judge support for various proposals to improve public education. One of the proposals that received exceptionally strong support? To implement evidence-based literacy programs in classrooms to improve student reading levels. When I testified on behalf of the VA Literacy Act last year, I threw out several facts on why evidence-based literacy programs are critical to the future success of our kids. I am going to assume everyone is now familiar with those facts and so I will emphasize instead that this bill is the kind of support that your constituents need and expect. In Chesterfield, where we are deeply aware of the widespread support for kids reading on or above grade level, our top performance objective is that CCPS students (including reporting groups - Black, Hispanic, FRL, SPED) will demonstrate on approved SOL assessments an English performance (reading and writing) of at least 80%. Expanding and FUNDING the VA Literacy Act will help us meet our goals as a board. I would like to draw your attention to the need to fully fund this bill. The VA Literacy Act last year came with a price tag of two million for Chesterfield (the State covered about 1 million). I am pleading with this committee to either fully fund the expansion or to free up dollars for local funding by lifting the support cap. Lifting the support cap would result in an additional ten million dollars to Chesterfield from the State. The money is there, all you have to do is to urge your colleagues to put kids before politics. I will close by offering a warm thank you to Delegate Coyner for championing this bill.
Please support Bill #1396! So important for the children of the Commonwealth of Virginia!
HB1554 - Public high schools; identification of faculty member responsible for spec. education transitioning.
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.
"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!
HB1593 - Standards for accreditation; school accreditation review frequency.
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.
"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 believe that HB1593 will place a heavy and unfunded burden on both the VDOE and individual schools if the School Accreditation Frequency is increased. Not only will this require additional staff for the VDOE, individual district and school administrations will have to devote more resources to the process which is already burdensome.
Please support Bill #1396! So important for the children of the Commonwealth of Virginia!
HB1629 - Virginia Parent Data Portal; Board of Education to create and maintain, report.
How soon we forget the nightmare that was distance learning. Or maybe none of you experienced that. These school aged children that lost time in the classroom for reading instruction will be MISSED if this FULL expansion of the Virginia Literacy Act is not passed. There are a key group of children that, yes, are soon to be in middle school (in school year 2024-2025) and struggle with reading due to the havoc caused by Covid. Please support and fund this HB1526 bill in its entirety. All of these house bills go to strengthen our schools with providing parents the knowledge they need to advocate for their children and better equipping teachers to teach within their large and neurodiverse classrooms (1:5 students are dyslexic). thank you for your service to our great Commonwealth.
As you may be aware, dyslexia a common learning disability for students of average to above average intelligence. Dyslexia affects a student's ability to read accurately and fluently and communicate his/her thoughts in writing. Since kindergarten, our son struggled with reading skills and was never accurately identified as a dyslexic in elementary school. We have spent thousands of dollars in evaluations and before-school tutoring. We pulled him from Chesterfield County public schools after 6th grade because his teachers were unable to address his IEP goals and none of his teachers nor the special education administrators were aware of specific interventions for dyslexic learners. My husband and I had to assume an unexpected private school tuition debt of $28,000/year which is truly a financial hardship on us. Thank you for unanimously passing the Virginia Literacy Act last year. Please support HB1629 and HB15265 to provide the much-needed support and interventions for dyslexic students and their families. Parents of dyslexic children, many educators and neurobiologist understand the nuances of dyslexia. As our state representatives, we hope you understand this disability to better support our kids in their most critical stages of learning! Reading is such a foundational skill to ensure a country of productive citizens! Thank you for your concern and support.
My name is Shannon Duncan and I am a founding member of Decoding Dyslexia Virginia. We can't thank you enough for coming together to pass and fully fund the Virginia Literacy Act last year. I am writing to ask for your support of: HB1526 - Delegate Carrie Coyner's Virginia Literacy Act Expansion bill will expand evidence-based literacy instruction, teacher professional development, and increase reading specialists for our 4th through 8th graders. (Mirroring bill in the Senate SB1175) HB1629 - Delegate Carrie Coyner's Parent Data Portal bill will provide parents with timely access to their children’s state-sponsored assessment data so that they can participate in data-informed decisions about their children’s education. HB2137 - Delegate Karrie Delaney's bill will empower parents with the knowledge of what core/intervention curriculum is being used by each school, in addition to the job description and contact information for reading specialists/dyslexia advisors. This data must be shared publicly on the VDOE website. We are in the midst of a literacy crisis in Virginia and we need to invest in our children's literacy by ensuring they receive a curriculum rooted in science-based reading research and evidence-based literacy instruction. We must pass HB1526/SB1175 into law and fully fund this enormous undertaking so that the children hardest hit by the pandemic (those K-2 students during the pandemic) aren't forgotten because they will be out of reach of the Virginia Literacy Act when it takes effect 2024-2025 school year. ALL children, K-8, deserve teachers who can hit the ground running and impart foundational literacy skills during their academic careers without the current wait-to-fail model that was in place for my own daughter who couldn't learn to read. Parents are their children's first and best advocate and it's important that data relating to their literacy is easily and equitably accessible no matter what district their children attend in Virginia. Reading is a right!
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.
"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
HB1526 asks that we expand the Virginia Literacy Act to include grades 4th through 8th so that they may receive evidence-based literacy instruction aligned with science-based reading research. As an intake coordinator for a psychology practice, I hear too many stories from parents who are just realizing that their children can not read at grade level during their first year in high school. Schools miss non-readers too often. Most parents are not told about a literacy problem until 4th grade or later, so we must include these grades within the scope of The Virginia Literacy ACT. This is especially true after the COVID years. Thank you.
Thank you for this opportunity to be heard and for your service. A parent cannot affect a child's education if they do not know how they are doing at that moment, not several months from a light bulb moment. COVID created a light bulb for many parents. Their children sat next to them as they learned. Too many parents realized that their child could not read, write or calculate even near grade level. Let's change that with HB1629. Virginia's current approach to data sharing with parents is not in compliance with federal law, which requires that every parent receive individual reports about their child's assessment results as soon as possible after an assessment and in an understandable format. When children move to a new school this is also a problem and wastes time as they enter a new school. Our kids need to hit the ground running. We need VDOE to provide every parent with access to the Virginia Parent Data Portal containing all state-supported assessment data for their child. This needs to happen in a timely and understandable manner. Thank you.
Please support Bill #1396! So important for the children of the Commonwealth of Virginia!
HB1657 - Virginia STEM Education Advisory Board; purpose and duties, historically underrepresented students.
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.
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!!!
HB1700 - Early childhood care and education; licensure requirements for certain accredited private school.
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.
"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
HB1701 - Private schools, certain; disclosure of certain employee records for purpose of accreditation.
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.
"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
HB1713 - Child day programs, certain; exempt from licensure by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
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.
"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
In the past I have provided continuing education for child care educators. I believe that continuing education is critically important for the people charged with the care of our most vulnerable population. It makes no sense to me to eliminate licensure. Licensing not only protects little children, it can protect the business providing care from law suits that might grow out of neglect of safety practices. In short, I am opposed to HB1713.
HB1820 - Virtual school programs; virtual administration of certain through-year growth assessments.
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.
"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
NA
HB1821 - Education improvement scholarships; expands tax credit program.
On behalf of the Virginia members and supporters of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, I urge you to oppose HB 1821, which would expand eligibility for the so-called “education improvement scholarship” voucher program that funds private school education. This bill should be rejected because it would send money to parents who can already afford to send their kids to private schools and does not address the systemic problems with vouchers.
Please do not support HB 1821; The state is already behind in its requirements to fully fund the SOQs for public education. Public monies should only be spent for public institutions like our public school systems. Some private schools discriminate against students they feel do not subscribe to their beliefs; there should be no discrimination against any student who has a desire to be educated. Public schools do not remove students because of their religious or no religious beliefs; public funds should support public schools only.
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.
Please oppose HB1821 that expands the Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credits (EISTC). The Scholarship foundations, such as RenewaNation, that receive these tax credits can provide funds to students at schools that have policies that do not support a student's stated gender identity. They can refuse enrollment or expel a student who professes to be a homosexusal/bisexual/transgender person. Faith Christian Academy www.fcavirginia.com states that it reserves the right to expel a student who practices or condones gender identity different than birth sex chromosomal level or promotes such practices. Tax credits, that support scholarships that allow such discrimination, should not be allowed in Virginia. The tax credit program does decrease general funds that are needed for public schools where students with all beliefs are supported. Certainly the tax credits allowed should not be increased. Please oppose HB1821.
Please oppose HB1821 that expands the Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credits (EISTC). The Scholarship foundations, such as RenewaNation, that receive these tax credits can provide funds to students at schools that have policies that do not support a student's stated gender identity. They can refuse enrollment or expel a student who professes to be a homosexusal/bisexual/transgender person. Faith Christian Academy www.fcavirginia.com states that it reserves the right to expel a student who practices or condones gender identity different than birth sex chromosomal level or promotes such practices. Tax credits, that support scholarships that allow such discrimination, should not be allowed in Virginia. The tax credit program does decrease general funds that are needed for public schools where students with all beliefs are supported. Certainly the tax credits allowed should not be increased. Please oppose HB1821.
"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 am writing to support HB1821 because I believe in the power of school choice to better our communities and the entire Commonwealth. I believe that, since the pandemic, there is ample evidence to demonstrate that comprehensive education must include a variety of models rather than a single system. By expanding the tax credit program, families who believe that private education will best fit their child's needs will be able to achieve their hopes without burdensome costs. As a father of four school-aged kids, I am grateful that this program has made it possible for my children to receive an excellent education at St. Pius X Catholic School and Catholic High School. I know there are many other families that, for a variety of reasons, believe that private education is best for their child(ren), and I am hopeful that by expanding this program their dreams may be realized. Thank you for your work to pass this legislation.
HB1823 - College and Career Readiness for English Language Learners Grant Program and Fund; established.
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.
To Whom It May Concern: I am currently an ESOL teacher in Prince William County Schools. The school in which I work is nearly 65% English learners. I can attest to the fact that our current funding model is leaving English learners behind. I urge you to pass HB 1823 and HB 182 to provide better opportunities for our English learners. If these bills pass, we could provide more adequate state funding to support EL students and come closer to the national average for state supplemental support. It would also provide more academic rigor to our English learners. These students have the potential to be our next leaders if they are given the right support. Additionally, the opportunity to increase funding for community schools and wraparound services to support immigrant families is essential to English learners' success. Finally, as an educator, I strongly urge you to fund Virginia Board of Education updates to the Standards of Quality to increase EL instructor to student ratios more for students with less English proficiency as national experts recommend. This could make all the difference in the success of English learners. Thank you for your consideration, Emily Kubiak
"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, Juan Santacoloma support both bills as consider they crucial for the professional, personal and community future of many English Language Learners. We in Virginia provide all children K-12 education and we cannot abandon those who are in an extra need of support. These students deserve the opportunity to success, demonstrate they are good members of the Commonwealth and when possible pay back with their jobs, taxes and in many cases offering job opportunities to others in our communities. As an English Language Learner I exactly know how important is to receive any support from others. Believe me, it is crucial for our future development. When children receive positive support and help, they are going to return the same to our Commonwealth.
Edu-Futuro supports HB 1823, which expands access to college & career readiness programs for English Language Learner students (ELLs), as it provides school divisions the ability to better support ELLs students enrolling in a certain career, technical & apprenticeship programs, and college readiness and preparation programs and courses for high school ELL students, will help make sure ELLs students have meaningful access to these important programs.
Greetings Chairman and members of the Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee. It is my honor to introduce myself as Fabiana Parker, a dedicated teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) at Spotsylvania County Public Schools and the proud recipient of the Virginia Teacher of the Year award for 2023. I am honored to address you today in support of bills H1823 and HB1824. As an ESL educator, I am keenly aware of the pressing concern of the shortage of educators who possess the skills and qualifications to effectively support English-language learners (ELLs) in Virginia's public schools. Despite the challenges that we have faced in addressing this issue, the reality remains undeniable, that ELLs constitute the fastest-growing demographic among public school students, currently making up approximately 10% of the total student population in the United States. It is projected that this number will reach as high as 25% by 2025. These statistics serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the inadequate support and resources provided to our ELL students. While it may appear that we are currently managing to cope with this issue, the reality is that we are on the brink of a crisis that demands immediate action. To address this pressing shortage of educators, it is imperative that we take action to recruit and retain more highly qualified ESL educators in the Commonwealth to effectively meet the unique needs of ELL students. As nearly a quarter of all public school students in America will soon be English-language learners, it is essential that aspiring educators receive exposure to diverse schools and classrooms. However, this alone is not enough. As the number of ELL students continues to grow, policymakers at both the local and state levels must engage in candid and courageous discussions about ways to increase funding for ESL programs and to recognize and compensate the dedicated educators who work tirelessly to support these students. Although funding is only one aspect of the equation, it is a crucial foundation for ensuring our most marginalized students - including ELLs - receive the support and resources needed to succeed. In order to ensure that English-language learners have the opportunity to succeed, it is our responsibility to provide them with the necessary resources and support by offering funding for the implementation and expansion of career, technical, apprenticeship, and college readiness programs and courses specifically tailored to the needs of high school students who are limited in their English proficiency. These programs and courses provide a vital foundation for the students' future success and should be made widely accessible to them. In conclusion, I strongly urge the Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee to support bills H1823 and HB1824, as they are crucial in addressing the pressing concern of the shortage of educators who possess the skills and qualifications to effectively support English-language learners in Virginia's public schools. It is our responsibility to ensure that these students are given the opportunity to succeed, and it is imperative that we take action to recruit and retain more highly qualified ESL educators, increase funding for ESL programs, and provide funding for the implementation and expansion of career, technical, apprenticeship, and college readiness programs specifically tailored to the needs of ELL students. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Good Morning everyone, My name is Micael, I was an ELL student in high school, and now I’m a student at Richard Bland College of William e Mary. I’m sending this to emphasize the importance of ELL resources. Virginia’s state supplemental funding for ELL students is 13.5%, just one-third of the national average (39%). I was 14 when I got to the U.S. and started my freshman year in high school, only being able to speak a few words and greetings. I had so much to say, but couldn’t let it out, because if I had spoken, no one would understand what I was saying, it felt like I had to not just translate my words but also myself to a new country and culture. Some days I would feel so stuck, like a recently born bird that just wants to fly and whistle around, but can’t because it hasn't learned how yet, so it is forced to stay on a single tree. I was fortunate enough to have ELL resources in my high school, including all four-course levels of what was called ESL classes back then. If it wasn't for those classes and the teachers that were teaching them, I wouldn’t have passed my college preparatory classes and my SOLs, and therefore I couldn't have graduated. Perhaps I wouldn't even be speaking here today without the help of an interpreter. It’s because of those teachers and classes that I was able to succeed in my courses in my first semester of college, including Honors English. Now, why am I telling you this? Why is there a need for me to brag about the amazing ESL system I had in high school? Because not everyone in Virginia has access to those resources, I actually happened to have friends who had to come to my school, because their school didn’t offer certain levels of ESL, or just didn’t have them at all. In a traditional school year, Henrico County Public Schools have around 3,500 ESL students enrolled throughout the school district. This past year, however, the system saw around 4,400 ESL students enrolled. ESL needs to be expanded within those schools and more teachers need to be hired to face that demand, which requires support from the state. I come here today to emphasize the importance of those resources and how much they help those students and their families whether it is by helping their parents understand what a paper says, managing their business, or asking a question at a grocery store. These resources play a big role in the graduation rates of Virginia schools and their accreditation. I today on behalf of my family, friends, and students without English proficiency who have just recently come to Virginia, ask that support for ELL education increases. Thank you
HB1824 - Teachers; employment, English as a Second Language Incentive Reward Program and Fund.
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.
To Whom It May Concern: I am currently an ESOL teacher in Prince William County Schools. The school in which I work is nearly 65% English learners. I can attest to the fact that our current funding model is leaving English learners behind. I urge you to pass HB 1823 and HB 182 to provide better opportunities for our English learners. If these bills pass, we could provide more adequate state funding to support EL students and come closer to the national average for state supplemental support. It would also provide more academic rigor to our English learners. These students have the potential to be our next leaders if they are given the right support. Additionally, the opportunity to increase funding for community schools and wraparound services to support immigrant families is essential to English learners' success. Finally, as an educator, I strongly urge you to fund Virginia Board of Education updates to the Standards of Quality to increase EL instructor to student ratios more for students with less English proficiency as national experts recommend. This could make all the difference in the success of English learners. Thank you for your consideration, Emily Kubiak
"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, Juan Santacoloma support both bills as consider they crucial for the professional, personal and community future of many English Language Learners. We in Virginia provide all children K-12 education and we cannot abandon those who are in an extra need of support. These students deserve the opportunity to success, demonstrate they are good members of the Commonwealth and when possible pay back with their jobs, taxes and in many cases offering job opportunities to others in our communities. As an English Language Learner I exactly know how important is to receive any support from others. Believe me, it is crucial for our future development. When children receive positive support and help, they are going to return the same to our Commonwealth.
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, and most of our beneficiaries are English language learners. By incentivizing the acquisition of an endorsement in English as a Second Language instruction, HB 1824 will necessarily improve the staff to student ratio for ELLs. To that end, Edu-Futuro wholeheartedly supports Delegate Avoli’s HB 1824. I also support this bill as a private citizen and second generation immigrant myself, and I am very pleased to see that on the Senate side, my own Senator, Jennifer Boysko, is this bill’s chief co-patron. I also want to express my support in my personal capacity as a former public school teacher for Delegate Simonds’ HB 1696. Thank you.
Edu-Futuro supports HB 1824, as it incentivizes teachers to obtain appropriate credentials to teach English as a Second Language to English Language Learners (ELLs), similar to Virginia’s existing National Board Certification incentives. This program would increase the number of Virginia teachers who have the skills to assist ELLs to adjust quicker to American Society.
Greetings Chairman and members of the Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee. It is my honor to introduce myself as Fabiana Parker, a dedicated teacher of English as a Second Language (ESL) at Spotsylvania County Public Schools and the proud recipient of the Virginia Teacher of the Year award for 2023. I am honored to address you today in support of bills H1823 and HB1824. As an ESL educator, I am keenly aware of the pressing concern of the shortage of educators who possess the skills and qualifications to effectively support English-language learners (ELLs) in Virginia's public schools. Despite the challenges that we have faced in addressing this issue, the reality remains undeniable, that ELLs constitute the fastest-growing demographic among public school students, currently making up approximately 10% of the total student population in the United States. It is projected that this number will reach as high as 25% by 2025. These statistics serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address the inadequate support and resources provided to our ELL students. While it may appear that we are currently managing to cope with this issue, the reality is that we are on the brink of a crisis that demands immediate action. To address this pressing shortage of educators, it is imperative that we take action to recruit and retain more highly qualified ESL educators in the Commonwealth to effectively meet the unique needs of ELL students. As nearly a quarter of all public school students in America will soon be English-language learners, it is essential that aspiring educators receive exposure to diverse schools and classrooms. However, this alone is not enough. As the number of ELL students continues to grow, policymakers at both the local and state levels must engage in candid and courageous discussions about ways to increase funding for ESL programs and to recognize and compensate the dedicated educators who work tirelessly to support these students. Although funding is only one aspect of the equation, it is a crucial foundation for ensuring our most marginalized students - including ELLs - receive the support and resources needed to succeed. In order to ensure that English-language learners have the opportunity to succeed, it is our responsibility to provide them with the necessary resources and support by offering funding for the implementation and expansion of career, technical, apprenticeship, and college readiness programs and courses specifically tailored to the needs of high school students who are limited in their English proficiency. These programs and courses provide a vital foundation for the students' future success and should be made widely accessible to them. In conclusion, I strongly urge the Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee to support bills H1823 and HB1824, as they are crucial in addressing the pressing concern of the shortage of educators who possess the skills and qualifications to effectively support English-language learners in Virginia's public schools. It is our responsibility to ensure that these students are given the opportunity to succeed, and it is imperative that we take action to recruit and retain more highly qualified ESL educators, increase funding for ESL programs, and provide funding for the implementation and expansion of career, technical, apprenticeship, and college readiness programs specifically tailored to the needs of ELL students. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Good Morning everyone, My name is Micael, I was an ELL student in high school, and now I’m a student at Richard Bland College of William e Mary. I’m sending this to emphasize the importance of ELL resources. Virginia’s state supplemental funding for ELL students is 13.5%, just one-third of the national average (39%). I was 14 when I got to the U.S. and started my freshman year in high school, only being able to speak a few words and greetings. I had so much to say, but couldn’t let it out, because if I had spoken, no one would understand what I was saying, it felt like I had to not just translate my words but also myself to a new country and culture. Some days I would feel so stuck, like a recently born bird that just wants to fly and whistle around, but can’t because it hasn't learned how yet, so it is forced to stay on a single tree. I was fortunate enough to have ELL resources in my high school, including all four-course levels of what was called ESL classes back then. If it wasn't for those classes and the teachers that were teaching them, I wouldn’t have passed my college preparatory classes and my SOLs, and therefore I couldn't have graduated. Perhaps I wouldn't even be speaking here today without the help of an interpreter. It’s because of those teachers and classes that I was able to succeed in my courses in my first semester of college, including Honors English. Now, why am I telling you this? Why is there a need for me to brag about the amazing ESL system I had in high school? Because not everyone in Virginia has access to those resources, I actually happened to have friends who had to come to my school, because their school didn’t offer certain levels of ESL, or just didn’t have them at all. In a traditional school year, Henrico County Public Schools have around 3,500 ESL students enrolled throughout the school district. This past year, however, the system saw around 4,400 ESL students enrolled. ESL needs to be expanded within those schools and more teachers need to be hired to face that demand, which requires support from the state. I come here today to emphasize the importance of those resources and how much they help those students and their families whether it is by helping their parents understand what a paper says, managing their business, or asking a question at a grocery store. These resources play a big role in the graduation rates of Virginia schools and their accreditation. I today on behalf of my family, friends, and students without English proficiency who have just recently come to Virginia, ask that support for ELL education increases. Thank you
HB2124 - School psychologists; staffing flexibility, DOE to ensure process & criteria to obtain licensure.
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.
"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
HB1423 - School Readiness Committee; renaming as Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education.
Comments Document
The League of Women Voters of Virginia (LWV-VA) supports HB1423 School Readiness Committee; renaming as Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education. Currently, the LWV-VA is completing a study of child care in Virginia. We have found there is a dire need for more quality child care in Virginia. We believe this bill and the creation of a Commission on Early Childhood Care and Education would offer solutions to many of the critical problems besetting quality child care in the Commonwealth. Here is a link to our recent study report. https://lwv-va.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Final-Study-Report-Child-Care-Issue-Group-2022.pdf
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.
Please oppose HB 1423 as amended. HB 1423 as amended has traded a governing committee made up of teachers and those with direct educational delivery experience for educational administrators and private business representatives. It is hard to imagine how the expertise and insight of those in the business sector will have bearing on the many challenges facing the youngest and most vulnerable students in the Commonwealth. Certainly, private sector business input is valuable when considering how secondary education can benefit from and contribute to real world economic challenges, but the challenges of our youngest citizens center around readiness to learn, trauma informed models of educational delivery, reading readiness, and mathematical fundamentals. The individuals addressing these concerns should be those intimately familiar with how these challenges are manifesting in the students of today and what proven methods there are to mitigate them. The earlier draft of this bill comes closer to meeting those challenges. It is also difficult to discern how a data tracking system to link student performance with specific educator information will do little more than burden an already overwhelmed teacher force with more documenting and reporting tasks resulting in even more student face time and critical delivery planning time lost. Please oppose HB 1423
"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!