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Good morning, I would like to make some comments on HB398. My name is Carol Andrews and I currently teach at Radford High School. This is my 35th year of teaching, so needless to say I have seen many changes during my career - some good and some not so good. My concerns about HB398 are based on my school division who went all in on Restorative Justice and PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies). We did all of the activities, tactics and strategies with these two philosophies and things did not turn out very well. I understand the concept of trying to use different intervention methods for students, but at what expense? We saw our behavior problems increase and morale with the student body, faculty and staff decrease. Everyone says that you have to have 100 percent buy in or it doesn't work. But sometimes these strategies just don't work. We had an increase of behaviors including extremely bad language, fights and disrespectfulness to faculty, staff and other students. These comments are not just coming from the adults, but also from the students. Many of the them feel the same way. I have spoken on many occasions with my students and they feel that the same students are the ones breaking the rules because they know not much of anything will be done to them. What are we teaching the next generation? That one can break the rules and have no consequences? I believe in giving everyone a second chance and even more to correct their behavior, but why should the 90 percent of the student body follow the rules and do what they need to do and the other 10 percent be allowed to break the rules over and over and not be held accountable the way they should? If you have not been in a public school as a teacher, staff member, administrator, coach, substitute or volunteer lately, I feel that you need to experience it personally before making decisions that affect those involved in education. I would recommend that you discuss this with educators across all parts of the state before finalizing your position on this issue. Thank you for you time.

Please vote in support of HB398. Students with disabilities are disproportionately disciplined as compared to their non-disabled peers. Unfortunately, often those disciplinary actions are based on the staff member's "best intention" or "logic" rather than stemming from evidence-based approaches. What seems to make sense often, in fact, makes matters worse. I have witnessed this firsthand with my own children. And, as the past president of a parent organization representing students with disabilities in Fairfax County, unfortunately, I've heard story after story of inconsistent disciplinary actions taken toward students with disabilities - often making situations worse, further escalating situations, and ultimately contributing to additional trauma and mental health problems for these students.

Strongly Oppose. Requirement is top down and too proscriptive. VA Code § 22.1-279.3:3 already provides an alternative discipline process for instances that involve non-bodily harm. School boards (i.e., Fairfax) have a flexible framework that allows the principal to exercise his or her discretion in designing , developing , and implementing an adjudication process that is amenable to all affected parties. The adjudication process can include many of the techniques described in HB398, if the Principal and parties to the infraction believe it is appropriate. The state should not be dictating HOW to do it. According to the HB398's Fiscal Impact statement, the cost of this legislation at the local level is indeterminate: another unfunded mandate.

Comments Document

Discipline practices across the country continue to disproportionately impact marginalized populations, including students with disabilities. The Office of Civil Rights' most recent report on Student Discipline and School Climate (attached) clearly demonstrates these disproportionalities. The report explicitly says "Students with disabilities were overrepresented in discipline outcomes when compared to their total student enrollment in public schools. (Figure 4). These students represented 17% of total K-12 student enrollment, but 24% of students who received one or more in-school suspensions, 29% of those who received one or more out-of-school suspensions, and 21% of those who received expulsions. " It is critical that Virginia put in place laws that support and require the use of evidence-based restorative discipline practices. These students are also some of the most at-risk students academically. In order for the opportunity and achievement gaps for these populations to even begin to decrease, these children must actually be in school to receive instruction. Additionally, adequate training for teachers to implement these evidence-based restorative practices must be done consistently and with fidelity, along with support staff to support their implementation.

Comments Document

As a leader in my community in Richmond, Virginia who has worked with young people caught in our state’s juvenile justice system for the past decade, I would like to submit my formal support for HB398. I am the Cofounder and Managing Director for a nonprofit based in Richmond called The Hive. We help young people caught in our legal system and child welfare system transition into adulthood successfully. Our goal is to keep young people and young adults from returning to our legal system. I have worked as an arts educator, advocate, and nonprofit leader in this field since 2013 and I can confirm that using suspension and expulsion in its current design does not keep young people from violating their school’s code of conduct. In reality, it often is the starting point from which many young people ultimately end up in our legal system, causing further strain on an already stressed system. Punitive disciplinary action has been proven many times over to not yield the results they propose. Rather, it reinforces negative beliefs that students often already have of themselves and contributes to greater negative effects on a student’s future academic performance, attendance, and behavior (American Institutes for Research, 2021). Additionally, it has been demonstrated that students of color and students with disabilities are disproportionately harmed by punitive disciplinary policies. Virginia has been cited by the Center for Public Integrity, more than once, to lead the nation in its referrals to law enforcement for school-based disciplinary action. Legal Aid Justice Center released a study in 2019 that documented the disproportionate use of disciplinary action (Legal Aid Justice Center 2019). Countless studies done in Virginia and across the country continue to underscore this harmful trend. HB398 represents a new path forward, one that can address the underlying conditions that create unsafe schools. This bill supports the Virginia Department of Education’s 2021 “Model Guidance for Positive, Preventative Code of Student Conduct Policy and Alternatives to Suspension.” It’s time for our legislature to bring our state’s public school system into the 21st century and stop using outdated 20th-century practices. Upstream thinking is the idea that we can address social issues more deeply and sustainably by addressing conditions before they result in negative consequences. Young people who end up in our juvenile justice system or ultimately in our adult criminal justice system commonly first experience disciplinary punishment in schools. The use of restorative practices in school, as HB398 supports, allows our community to address issues upstream before we face the results downstream like incarceration. There are organizations and practitioners across the country and here in Virginia ready to partner with our public school system to implement evidence-based restorative justice programs, such as Dr. Ram Bhagat. I worked with Dr. Bhagat in 2021 to implement restorative justice practices in Richmond Public Schools, which they have done to a certain extent. Other districts that have adopted restorative practices include Chesterfield, Richmond City, Harrisonburg, Fairfax, Spotsylvania, Loudoun, and Roanoke. The expertise and infrastructure are in place. We need state policies and laws to reinforce this approach statewide. Sincerely, Trey Hartt

Fairfax County SEPTA (Special Education PTA), representing the over 30,000 students receiving special education services, their families, & staff who serve them, supports HB398. Students with disabilities are disproportionately disciplined as compared to their non-disabled peers. We are strongly in favor of the use of evidence-based practices & interventions before the use of suspensions or expulsions.

Students with disabilities and students of color are disproportionately subjected to exclusionary discipline in Virginia's public schools. These same students face a multitude of other educational challenges. Exclusionary discipline does not address the underlying cause of a student's behavior, has adverse consequences for the child's educational success, and perpetuates the school to prison pipeline. For these reasons, we support HB398, which would require that schools implement at least one restorative justice intervention prior to resorting to exclusionary discipline in many circumstances; and we oppose HB853, which would impose a mandatory three-strikes-and-your-out approach to managing student behavior in classrooms across the commonwealth without leaving any discretion to teachers to implement more effective and less harmful interventions.

Please vote NO on HB 398. Discipline in school is a necessity for students and staff to be safe and to ensure a positive learning environment for students. Those who are disruptive, threatening, and violent need to face consequences that will stop and deter bad behavior. Without significant consequences, problem students will continue to create chaos and make it difficult for teachers to teach and students to learn. To continue to allow disruptive and dangerous behavior, with little to no consequences, will lead to more teachers leaving the profession, resulting in staff shortages and overcrowded classroom. Students and teachers deserve to feel safe in school. Not disciplining students who are causing trouble does them a disservice as well, as these children need to learn how to behave in socially acceptable ways.

Please vote no to this bill. We need more discipline and accountability, not less! I have students in middle and high school and there are no consequences (at least not serious ones) for seriously bad behavior. At a time when mass school shootings are at an all time high, our high school welcomed a student back who was expelled the previous year for bringing a gun on school property!

Please vote NO on HB398. I'm sitting here imagining what schools would be like with no consequences for student discipline problems. It would be a free for all in some classes/schools. Students who already act out by being disruptive, who don't care about the well-being and education of their classmates, would have no fear at all because there wouldn't be any repercussions. Students who already don't have a problem with putting their hands on other kids and teachers, would probably be more violent. And students who haven't brought a weapon to school yet because their punishment would be much greater than a school yard fight, will no longer fear any consequences. I would hope that in today's day and age, you as well as administrators, politicians, police, etc. would want to do whatever it takes to protect children and teachers from harm. So I ask you this. What good will come from passing this bill? And what potential serious ramifications will come from passing this bill? Did we already forget about the SIX YEAR OLD BOY who brought his mother's gun to school and SHOT HIS TEACHER?! There truly needs to be greater consequences and help for children with disciplinary problems, not less! So I implore you to do the right thing and vote NO for HB398! Thank you! Signed, ~ A taxpayer and more importantly, a mother of an 11 year old boy in a public school in Virginia Beach.

Please vote NO on HB 398. Learning about consequences is very important to young people. Improper behavior should result in discipline, not discussion. Teachers need to know they are valued and safe.

Please vote NO on HB 398.

I am more than concerned regarding this bill. With discipline at an all time low and no accountability for students’ nefarious behavior, this bill is appalling. As retired teacher of 45 years, I have seen, and now am hearing from colleagues still teaching, how students are running the schools. Please reconsider this bill which is nonproductive to modeling future good citizens. I would definitely be open to discussing this with you.

Delegates, PLEASE vote NO on HB 398. Allowing violence and intimidation to run rampant at school with no tangible consequences fosters an unstable teaching and learning environment. If a teacher 's safety and respect is threatened on a regular basis, how can someone educate effectively. Talk about a huge distraction! Likewise, students need fewer distractions in the school atmosphere to ensure a better learning experience. Facing potential assault and bullying often decreases the motivation of students to learn and teachers to instruct. Not a surprise that teachers are leaving the profession and students are leaving the public school system. Additionally, what message is sent to students who assault and taunt knowing that they will not have to suffer any discipline? Talking it through may help in some non violent cases, but what about those who are determined to be disruptive and violent ? If bad behavior isn't put in check at this stage, what happens when they go out into the general public? The damage to the students and teachers is real when no consequences are given for unacceptable violent and/or disruptive behavior. Vote NO on HB 398, thank you!

It is incredible that our legislators would pause more than a few seconds before voting NO on this bill. I read and hear too many stories of outrageous behavior by students in public schools. I saw a picture of a smiling legislator proposing teacher pay rises to stem the tide of teachers leaving their profession. Money does not solve the problems. It’s hard to believe that elementary school teachers are fearful for their safety. BUT IT’S TRUE. VOTE NO

As a retired educator I find that there are now few consequences for inappropriate behavior in a class. Lack of consequences will greatly undermine the teacher's authority as well as safety to an even greater degree than it has already. My wife is still teaching and I am concerned for her safety every day. Lack of consequences will further erode the atmosphere of the classroom making it increasingly difficult to do any meaningful teaching! A student desiring an education is denied that in a chaotic environment of an undisciplined classroom. Remove consequences? Imagine doing the same with traffic laws, even 'minor' ones. Chaos will ensue, maybe not today, or tomorrow, but it will come. I could not continue to teach under those circumstances. After struggling for a number of years, I found that the time and effort I expended to attain my M.eD. after retirement from the Navy would have been better and more effectually spent pursuing a business degree. No wonder teacher recruitment is in such disarray,

Ref: HB398 It is vital that you vote no! As a 35 year veteran of public schools I am left speechless daily this year due to the posturing and aggression exhibited by the students in middle school. Students with 3 even 4 incidents of fighting come back to the school day after day feeling more empowered to bully classmates and teachers. Protecting school property, other students, and myself should not be a daily concern. The community is not going to ignore these behaviors when they leave public schools. We are not preparing these students to be contributing members of society when we tolerate and try to talk away aggressive behaviors in the classroom -

Vote NO to HB398!!!

Delegates; Please vote "NO." Discipline problems are at an all-time high in public schools due to bills like this that restrict teachers and principals from being able to provide meaningful consequences to students who break the rules, assault staff and other students, and are disruptions in the class. These discipline problems impact all students because they disrupt the learning environment. This bill could require teachers who have been assaulted by students (which is happening) to provide "mediation" or a "restorative circle" rather than meaningful discipline. This bill would further restrict teachers and administrators from being able to address the out-of-control discipline problems in schools. Teachers are leaving the profession due to student discipline problems. This bill will only exacerbate the teacher shortage. You should be doing everything you can to create a safe and secure learning environment for both students and teachers...this bill won't be doing that.

Please vote No-This bill would further restrict teachers and administrators from being able to address the out-of-control discipline problems in schools. Teachers are leaving the profession due to student discipline problems. This bill would only exacerbate the teacher shortage. Thank you for your consideration.

Please vote NO on house bill 398! Reducing the ability of teachers and administrators to discipline students will cause additional teachers to depart the profession worsening a teacher shortage. Also, keeping students who have had significant behavioral issues in the classroom due to alternatives to discipline will creat disruption in the learning process and environment. I have two school aged children and do not want to see this bill enacted and affecting my children’s classrooms. Please vote NO to HB 398. Thank you. Mike Lowdermilk

Disruptions in our school buildings are at an all time high. They impede instruction, academic progress and threaten safety. Administrators must have autonomy to find the most effective measures for maintaining a safe, peaceful environment for optimal instruction. Do not tie the hands of our principals. They are the professionals. Vote NO on HB 398. Sincerely, Gloria Boyd School board member

I urge you to vote a resounding NO to HB389. Discipline issues are already through the roof; please don't make it worse. Vote NO.

Please vote "no" on this proposal. Most school systems use a ladder of increasingly harsh punishments on disruptive students to eliminate subjectivism on behalf of the school, Most children learn at an early age that misbehavior on their part generates punishment from those with charge over them. If they didn't learn this cause/effect cycle before preschool they need to learn it asap for the good of society. Many liberals worry about the schools to prison pipeline. This bill will NOT help. If students can't/don't behave in school, they will most certainly be a problem in general society after they leave school. Teachers have 10-40 students in a class. There is no learning without classroom order. Allowing a disruptive student to remain or have their poor behavior to go unpunished punishes the students who want to learn and are a threat to the teachers.

With common sense and overwhelming empirical evidence available from the parents ,teachers and students in our public schools, vote NO on this ill- conceived bill. Teachers and parents are fleeing public schools at alarming rates because of a multitude of behavioral problems. Systems that did away with “resource officers” a/k/a police,are bringing them back. If anything ,increase the measures available to administrators and teachers in dealing with disruptive behavior. Remember Richneck Elementary in Newport News, where administrators (felt compelled ?) to take no action in a clearly dangerous situation.I note that many of the comments are from Virginia Beach,which has one of the best school systems in the state. We see and hear of the assaults, shootings, disrespect for authority in other surrounding systems. Save us from that.Thank you, Harvey Bryant , Retired Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach after 14 years .

I am writing to ask the delegates to vote NO to HB 398. This bill would further restrict teachers and administrators from being able to address the out-of-control discipline problems in schools. Teachers are leaving the profession due to student discipline problems. This bill would only exacerbate the teacher shortage. Thank you for your consideration.

Please vote no on this bill as our schools already have issues with school discipline. There is a lack of discipline and the students have no respect for authority as they know there are no consequences for their disruptive behavior. Disruptive students negatively affect the learning of other students. All children need discipline and without it there will be no learning in schools, only chaos.

Please vote "NO." Discipline problems are at an all-time high in public schools due to bills like these that restrict teachers and principals from being able to provide meaningful consequences to students who break the rules, assault staff and other students, and are disruptions in the class. These discipline problems impact all students because they disrupt the learning environment. This bill could require teachers who have been assaulted by students (which is happening) to provide "mediation" or a "restorative circle" rather than meaningful discipline. This bill would further restrict teachers and administrators from being able to address the out-of-control discipline problems in schools. Teachers are leaving the profession due to student discipline problems. This bill would only exacerbate the teacher shortage.

If you don't know that teachers are walking away from the profession in staggering numbers, where have you been? PBIS is being pushed in schools, where we are told to "ignore negative behaviors and make examples of the positive ones" while teachers are being physically and verbally assaulted by students as young as Kindergarten and parents on a daily basis. Our work place is not safe. BEHAVIOR ESCALATES! As a parent, we know that if we don't address a situation or behavior it will become worse in the future. If we don't address issues that aren't deemed " most serious" in schools, then the behavior will escalate as the child is not getting the response desired. This is true in schools and we see if every single day. Kids are violent toward peers and adults in the school and since there are no consequences for their actions, nothing changes. We don't feel safe. Students can't learn in a environment where they don't feel safe and the worst part is that students today will think seeing and experiencing this type of behavior in the classroom is NORMAL. We are not teaching in a positive and comfortable learning environment, but rather a battle ground. Students go off if they don't want to do something and it stops everyone from learning. Our job as school professionals is to TEACH and instill a love of learning. How can you LOVE learning when you are afraid you will be attacked? DO NOT VOTE YES on this!

Please vote NO on Senate Bill 398!! Disruptive and violent student behaviors in public school are at an all time high. As it is currently, teachers are leaving the profession due to behaviors and the ineffectiveness of PBIS. If Senate Bill 398 passes, there will be a greater exodus of teachers across the state. I, for one, will not remain in a profession that is unsafe due to a lack of accountability and discipline for disruptive and violent behaviors.

Please vote "NO." VOTE NO ON HB 398. Discipline problems are at an all-time high in public schools due to bills like these that restrict teachers and principals from being able to provide meaningful consequences to students who break the rules, assault staff and other students, and are disruptions in the class. These discipline problems impact all students because they disrupt the learning environment. This bill could require teachers who have been assaulted by students (which is happening) to provide "mediation" or a "restorative circle" rather than meaningful discipline. This bill would further restrict teachers and administrators from being able to address the out-of-control discipline problems in schools. Teachers are leaving the profession due to student discipline problems. This bill would only exacerbate the teacher shortage.

I urge the delegates to vote NO on this bill. Removing meaningful consequences for students actions when it comes to behavior violations is not in the best interests of the students, teachers or the broader public. In a time where discipline problems are worsening significantly and assaults on teachers and staff is a growing problem, it is a mistake to reduce penalties for students. This not only encourages bad behavior, but it disincentives people from going in to the teaching profession.

I respectfully ask House members to vote "NO" on this bill. This bill seeks to codify into law the worthless piece of VBOE policy called "2021 Model Guidance for Positive, Preventative Code of Student Conduct Policy and Alternatives to Suspension." The aforementioned "guidance" and the proposed bill seek to codify a phrase called "evidence-based restorative disciplinary practice" into law. This is a bad idea for several reasons. First, the so-called "evidence" presented in VBOE policy is sourced from hyper-partisan entities such as the Southern Poverty Law Center and the teachers union known as the National Education Association, to name a few. No conservative or right-leaning agency or publication is quoted as a source for the so-called "evidence-based practices" in the VBOE guidance. More importantly, the authors of the VDOE guidance (which reads like Marxist drivel) made no effort to coordinate or include the dissenting views of teachers/parents who would reject the so-called "evidence" presented by VBOE. Second, all the so-called "evidence-based practices" that this bill would codify into law are firmly rooted in the failed narrative of diversity, inclusion, and equity. The sham "evidence" being referred to in this bill uses the word equity 66 times, diversity 12 times, and inclusion eight times. The sham practices in the VBOE guidance use the unproven idea of "restorative justice" to remedy the bad behavior of a few students and make no mention whatsoever of the negative impact of the student's behavior on the teacher or other students in the learning environment. Third, as a matter of good governance, elected officials should always vote "NO" against legislation that inculcates hyper-partisan policy statements from **unelected state bureaucrats** into law because it removes the power of local elected officials. To be clear, if the hyper-partisan VBOE "Model Guidance" of sham "evidence-based practices" is made into law, it will significantly hamper the options local school boards (and the parents who vote for them) have to deal with discipline issues in the classroom. Finally, it would behoove members in the House to take a step back and reflect on how poorly the VBOE has done on any objective measures regarding success in our schools. Policy statements like this one from VBOE have been around since 2004. Have test scores continually improved since then? Have discipline issues continually improved since then? Is Virginia leading the way in educational excellence over the other 49 states? Are teachers happy with the state of discipline in the schools, or are they leaving in droves? The objective evidence clearly shows test scores are down, and teachers consistently mention poor discipline in the classroom as a significant concern that negatively impacts their job performance. Do we really want to inculcate failed guidance from VBOE into law? No, we do not and should not. The failed narratives of DIE and SEL, and all Marxist policy derived from them, need to end. Parents, children, teachers, school boards, and school staff should not have to deal with hyper-partisan and sham-based VBOE guidance shoved down their throats under the cover of Virginia law. VOTE NO on the horrible piece of legislation called HB 398.

Please vote "NO." Discipline problems are at an all-time high in public schools due to bills like these that restrict teachers and principals from being able to provide meaningful consequences to students who break the rules, assault staff and other students, and are disruptions in the class. These discipline problems impact all students because they disrupt the learning environment. This bill could require teachers who have been assaulted by students (which is happening) to provide "mediation" or a "restorative circle" rather than meaningful discipline. This bill would further restrict teachers and administrators from being able to address the out-of-control discipline problems in schools. Teachers are leaving the profession due to student discipline problems. This bill would only exacerbate the teacher shortage. I am submitting on a personal basis but I do work for Virginia Beach City Public Schools and have been working here for over 24 years. I work in the office that handles discipline hearings for students. PLEASE VOTE NO! Thank you!

HB398 Please vote a resounding “NO” Our teachers need the protection as well as students need the knowledge of their acts having consequences.

Absolutely not. Basic discipline must come first. When schools replace strong discipline systems with restorative justice (because they are told to do so), they find a decline in student behavior. It is important to bring back strong discipline protocols into schools to help ensure student and teacher safety. Student discipline is also a strong factor in a school being able to secure substitutes. When discipline is poor, substitutes don't want to work at the school. Neither do teachers. Please use your votes to help bring back schools that are predictable in terms of student expectations and a stronger learning climate.

Please vote "NO." Discipline problems are at an all-time high in Virginia Beach public schools due to bills like these that restrict teachers and principals from being able to provide meaningful consequences to students who break the rules, assault staff and other students, and are disruptions in the class. These discipline problems impact all students because they disrupt the learning environment and create an unsafe and fearful school experience for other students. Students who assault teachers (which is happening) should not be provided "mediation" or a "restorative circle", these students require meaningful discipline and criminal charges to be filed as appropriate. Out-of-control discipline problems in schools are causing teachers to leave the profession and leave school districts open to civil litigation from not addressing student discipline problems or reports of direct threats (teacher shot by student in Newport News). Virginia should be protecting our teachers, administrators and the vast majority of non-violent students, not prioritizing and justifying violent students behavior.

Please vote NO... to hb398...we need discipline and order in schools not chaos and disruption, Thank you

To Whom it may Concern, Public schools that provide clear consequences and boundaries for one’s actions will lead to increased safety for all. VOTE NO on HB 398 TO PROTECT SCHOOL EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS. Elizabeth Resnick

Urge you to vote NO- nowhere have these policies proven to be effective. People need consequences and even the threat of consequences to motivate their behavior. How are you creating safe places for education when staff members and students know they could be attacked and the response would be to mediate with the attacker? We should be creating zero tolerance policies not lowering the standards. You have a responsibility to demand people come to the places and abide by the rules. You are literally creating a policy to help people who are not following the rules the first time! Why do you think this helps anyone other than the people who can’t and won’t listen? Policies like this are the reason why staff do not feel supported and leave the public education sector for private where they do feel protected.

I would like to respectfully request the for Delegates to please vote NO on the HB398 Bill. I am retired, from VBCPS and have personally witnessed the decay in discipline, among other things. Students disrespecting staff and other students; there’s no repercussions while putting others, in danger; running/walking hitting each other, fighting, girls wearing outfits where parts of their bodies should not be exposed in an environment intended for learning. Not a single staff member speaks to them about their outfits. Kids running in the hallways. I was personally hurt on the back of my ankle while walking to a classroom in the hallway. Parents send their children to school to learn, I believe that “Learning” should include respect for others. I used to feel good when my own children attended VBCPS. For the past few year I worry about my Grandchildren; Thankfully, this is the last year is the last year, as they’ll be graduating. * I write this only for the rest of the students that will be subjected to attend a school system in decay. Respectfully, Ms. Blanco

Discipline problems are at an all-time high in public schools due to bills like these that restrict teachers and principals from being able to provide meaningful consequences to students who break the rules, assault staff and other students, and are disruptions in the class. These discipline problems impact all students because they disrupt the learning environment. This bill could require teachers who have been assaulted by students (which is happening) to provide "mediation" or a "restorative circle" rather than meaningful discipline. This bill would further restrict teachers and administrators from being able to address the out-of-control discipline problems in schools. Teachers are leaving the profession due to student discipline problems. This bill would only exacerbate the teacher shortage.

VOTE NO ON BILL HB398. We need discipline in our schools and our children need consequences for their actions. Teachers need to know they can act accordingly without being attacked by a student. If kids don’t learn that actions have consequences, violence will just escalate.

Please vote no on HB398. The introduction of this bill just exemplifies the paucity of intellect of certain legislators!

Please vote “no” on HB398.

Vote NO!! Discipline problems are rampant in Virginia public schools. Teachers and administrators need to have the ability to discipline students who violate rules, are disruptive, and/or assault teachers, administrators, or other students This bill would further restrict teachers and administrators from being able to address the out-of-control discipline problems in our schools. Teachers are leaving in drives because of the lack of discipline in our schools. This bill will drive more of them out of the public school profession.

I urge you to vote NO on HB 398. Students need to be taught there are consequences for their actions!! Teachers are already leaving the profession due to discipline issues and they need your support by voting NO!! Mediation is not the answer and let’s not waste our time on “feelings “ teach them if they do wrong the pay the price. My husband volunteers in PRE K classes 2 times per week and he sees first hand with 4 and 5 year olds getting in trouble only to be sent back to the classroom. Think about that PRE K , if no consequences at that age what happens as they move up the grades? VOTE NO save the kids and staff!!!

"VOTE NO!!" ON BILL HB398. W e need discipline in our schools and our children need consequences for their actions. Teachers need to know they can act accordingly without being attacked by a student.

I urge you to vote NO on HB398. As we all know, discipline problems are at an all-time high in public schools, and bills like these restrict teachers and principals from being able to provide appropriate and effective consequences to students who break the rules, assault staff and other students, and cause class disruptions. These discipline problems impact all students and the learning environment. Teachers are leaving the profession because they feel unsafe and that their hands are tied (and they are not supported) in matters of discipline and this bill will further exacerbate that problem. Mediation may be appropriate in some circumstances for first time offenders but in many cases it is not sufficient in dealing with the serious issues that arise in our our classrooms today.

Do not vote for this bill. We do not need to be restricting the application of appropriate disciplinary actions,

PLEASE VOTE NO. Teachers are already leaving the schools frustrated bc the discipline problems and behavioral issues are not being addressed. Restorative Justice does not work. Just look at other states and the issues they have dealt with. Children need to be held accountable for their actions and choices.

Please vote NO. If passed, this bill will further contribute to the teacher shortage problem throughout the state. Teachers are leaving the profession due to increasing student discipline problems. Teachers are being assaulted by students, threatened by students, and more. Teachers and administrators must have all tools available to provide appropriate consequences to students who are disrupting the learning environment for all. Requiring "peer mediation" or "restorative circles" may work in some circumstances but all involved must be agreeable which often doesn't happen. If passed, this bill will further exacerbate the discipline problems in the classroom. Students need firms boundaries and meaningful consequences for misbehavior.

Vote YES

Vote YES to restorative justice practices 398 THANK YOU for this bill that is evidence based and will change lives

seconding what my family and friends have said and taught me as we examine these bills together- 134- YES 214- YES 224- YES 253- YES 386- YES 398- YES 497- YES 498- YES 603- YES 686- YES 732- YES

134- YES to fentanyl training to save lives and decrease stigma. It is overdue 214- YES 224- YES 253- YES civic engagement encouraged 386- YES 398- YES incredible practice to prevent punishment and foster healthy development 497- YES 498- YES 603- YES 686- YES 732- YES Nalaxone critical and life saving

134- YES to fentanyl training to save lives and decrease stigma 214- YES increase safety and change culture 224- YES to save lives with training 253- YES students' voices are critical and will teach power of speaking up for themselves 386- YES 398- YES restorative justice changes lives and prevents school to prison pipeline. Lynchburg has found restorative practices to be so impactful that a federal grant was just awarded almost 1M to continue 497- YES SAVE LIVES 498 YES save lives 603 YES save lives reduce stigma 686 YES 732 YES save lives

A student could assault a teacher and the only discipline they receive could be community service or mentoring? If this bill is passed it will only cause the violence in schools to increase. Please do NOT support this bill.

We need laws to ensure the safety of the students of the commonwealth. And it starts with accountability. That’s why I support this bill.

Please ensure that this bill spells out that school safety includes keeping children safe from perpetrators that are internal the system and mandatory reporting of alleged abuses to children no matter if the employees work for the County or locality. In my family’s case my children reported they were being abused while in the Foster System in Fairfax County DSS at the hands of the social workers, the foster parents, the CASA and GAL. I also asked school personnel of FCPS including Kelly Con Rita to report what was happening as me and my family were victims of crimes that were ultimately addressed through the federal government intervening. We should ensure there are processes spelled out for accountability of such a system of reporting and consequences if these guidelines are not followed.

Fairfax County SEPTA strongly supports Delegate Cohen's bill requiring schools to maximize the ability to evacuate all students from a building during an evacuation drill or emergency requiring evacuation. Many families aren't even aware that their students with mobility impairments aren't evacuating the building with their non-disabled peers, as this is often not explicitly communicated by the school. I have attached a document entitled "Emergency Evacuation Planning Guide for People with Disabilities" written by the National Fire Protection Association and published in November 2022. While Areas of Refuge are mentioned, this document also talks about emergency stair travel devices, and facility/building improvements that can be made to facilitate evacuation of people with disabilities (such as modifications that can be made to elevators to allow them to continue to be used in an evacuation drill/emergency). These options allow for both short-term and long-term improvement options to ensure *all* students and staff can evacuate the building. The fact of the matter is that these students are currently being denied access to the practice of actually evacuating that their nondisabled peers access monthly during required drills when there is technology that would allow them to do so. Times have changed. Technology has improved. Accessibility has improved. It's past time for our emergency procedures to improve along with them. Our children and staff with mobility impairments - whether temporary or permanent - deserve the equal opportunity to evacuate the building alongside their nondisabled peers. Thank you.

Fairfax County SEPTA (Special Education PTA), representing the over 30,000 students receiving special education services, their families, & staff who serve them, supports HB 501, Presently in FCPS, students with mobility needs are typically relocated to a "safe room" during an evacuation. These students do not then actually practice their evacuation. Additionally, they experience increased anxiety, knowing that they are still inside a building where they are (or are practicing in the event of being) in imminent danger while their peers are all evacuated safely. We strongly support this bill.

The Virginia PTA supports HB564

PLEASE GO TO HENRICO SCHOOL BOARD MEETING MARCH 14, 2024 LINK BELOW. READ THE LAST COMMENT ON PAGE 9 AND THE THIRD COMMENT ON PAGE 27. THIS IS WHY MARIJUANA SHOULD NOT BE LEGAL https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/henrico/Board.nsf/files/D3CJHX4D404E/$file/Written%20Comments%203-14-24.pdf

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Open enrollment policies in K-12 education refer to the practice of allowing students to enroll in a public school outside of their designated, or zoned, school. These policies are designed to provide families with more flexibility in selecting a public school that best fits their child’s needs and preferences. While not all school buildings can house every student who wishes to attend, we do believe, by state policy, every public school should be open to every student who lives in that state. The creation of a model policy to guide local divisions as they navigate policy decisions around open enrollment is a positive step, ensuring that flexibility and transparency are paramount.

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Please support HB 659. This bill will provide all students equal opportunity and not limit opportunity based on zip code.

HB571: AGAINST: The Bill is redundant; it is already in the Code of Virginia and already says that it shall not be construed to permit the censoring of books in any public or elementary school. It is redundant. HB654: NO POSITION: I Commend the idea, but as a data analyst and a parent, I am concerned about how the data will be kept safe and if it will be sold or provided to 3rd party vendors without parental consent. The cost concerns me as well - initial and ongoing – will it mean higher taxes at some point? Especially if the Ed Department passes on the responsibility to local school divisions. Local school divisions, especially the smaller ones cannot afford this price tag and will have to raise taxes to pay for this. I ask that you consider these concerns and pass it by for further discussion and consideration. HB659: FOR 1. The bill is permissive: Uses ‘May’, not ‘shall’. 2. Helps students not be stuck into the zip code they were born into. 3. Makes it easier for families to find out prior to school starting or ahead of the spring semester if there are any open seats and be informed on waitlists or lottery with the schools they are interested in. 4. Ensures families will not be charged additional tuition within their own school division if there is an open seat in a school outside zoned attendance, as they are already paying taxes for the use of their division’s public schools. 5. This is common sense. If you advocate for equity, vote Yes for this bill. HB670: FOR: Anyone who claims to care about children and their physical and mental health should be voting for Yes on this bill. If you Vote No, and one more child ends up going through what Sage went through, then that will be on you! HB757: FOR: This is a no-brainer. If you vote No, then you are anti-parents and anti-children. HB1120: NO Positions/FOR: Please PBI this bill and Vote Yes for HB1229 instead. HB1229: FOR: If you vote against this bill then you are undoing all the years, sweat, and tears that went into making Title IX a reality. You are anti-woman; you are aiding and abetting men by occupying female spaces and snatching female achievements. If you vote no, you are also a science denier. Males are born with increased lung capacity and higher muscle mass, and regardless of how many puberty blockers and cross-gender hormones they take, they will always have physical advantages.

Im a senior at a Virginia Beach city public school , I support this bill because it give students of lower income communities opportunities to go to schools that can better suit there needs. If this bill existed when I was a lower class men I could only imagine the struggles I wouldn’t have had to go through and the cool things I could have done in school. education is a right and shouldn’t be limited by tax bracket !!

I am product of Richmond Public Schools and now a RPS assistant teacher in Richmond. I support HB 659 bill. Having observed the challenges and potential in our public school system, I believe this bill is a step forward. It gives families more options and many could benefit based on needs.

Hello, I'm a mother of two in Chesapeake, and I support HB 659, the Out of Zone Attendance / Open school enrollment bill. As a Democrat, I believe in the power of inclusive policies that promote equity and empower families. This bill, despite its potential to benefit all communities, unfortunately hasn't enjoyed the bipartisan support it deserves. Providing families, especially in our minority communities, with choices within the public school system shouldn't be a divisive issue. While many legislators (on both sides) have pledged full funding for education, we're still waiting, and HB 659 can assist in bridging that equity gap by offering more educational opportunities. We need to come together to prioritize our children's futures and recognize there is more than 1 way to solve the education issues.

I, Sheryl Young, retired educator/administrator support HB659 giving access and opportunity for school CHOICE with no extra fees assigned! Sheryl Young

My name is Brenda King, and I am a former school administrator. Having experienced various schools and how they are run, my hope is that whichever bills are passed , the school administrator will make decisions based not on WHO is asking for admittance to his/her school, but on ALL students who apply. As long as those in decision- making positions have INTEGRITY, I feel comfortable that this bill has a chance at success. The other part of this situation is OVERSIGHT. You have to INSPECT what you EXPECT to make sure the process is EQUITABLE and successful.

children should be free to optimize their possibilities, not be limited by their zip codes

School Choice puts this prospective law in the hands of the local parents & not in hands of the beauacrats. Parents & guardians know which is best for children’s educational goals & objectives not the good folks in the Richmond commonwealth capital buildings. Respectfully Submitted Thomas Sansoni

Parents and children deserve the right to utilize money that best supports the educationsl needs or custom desires for their education. Government has wasted more money each year as quality of education goes down. Social experiments in school seem to abuse and exploit children to greater extents each year.

As a resident of Prince Edward County whose public schools have been below par for years, it is imperative that you approve HB659. This bill will: - Give expanded access to educational opportunities such as AP classes and learning resources. - Provide all students equal opportunity. Allowing out of zone enrollment gives low income students equal access to the quality education as their peers from wealthier neighborhoods. - Put parents – not government bureaucrats – in the driver's seat. This allows them to pick the school that is best for their child. - Ensure Virginia moves on from redlining. Underperforming public schools in the 21st century are too often located in the areas “redlined” in the 20th century. This would ensure today’s students educational opportunities are no longer determined by previous generations housing policies. Again I urge you to vote for HB 659. Our children deserve no less. Very truly yours, Michele N Schumacher

Comments Document

This testimony identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal, indicating how it can be improved and how it could benefit Virginia's K-12 students.

Dear Members of the General Assembly, I support HB 659 because parents need to access good education for their children. It’s as simple as that! Many states do this already. Why is Virginia so far behind? I hope you will all vote for it. Let’s get Virginia back to high quality education by providing choice! Thank you so much. Sincerely, Mrs. Mary Cresswell

Please vote to pass HB667. Children in ALL zip codes deserve better educational choice than what they are receiving in urban areas in failing public schools.

Please support the Education Success Account Program. Options in education are essential for keeping children engaged and safe, our society well equipped, and especially struggling communities viable. I do work with my kids' public school teachers and board but the bureaucracy's overhead, pet projects, and focus on achieving a stagnant-at-best basic minimum are overwhelming. Viable competition (supported by the tax dollars taken from us and our economy that now keep most of us unable to afford it) would help citizens better provide for their children, give current and potential teachers career options to do their best work with supportive, mission focused administrators, and encourage a collaborative, positive relationship by all involved.

As I listen to the testimony on HB 767, I urge you to vote NO on this bill. From the research I have done on schools in FCPS, chronic absenteeism disproportionately impacts students with disabilities and economically disadvantaged students. These families did not "get comfortable" having their students home during the pandemic- there are other social, economic and medical factors at play that sending a family to social services will not fix. In fact, for many families of students with disabilities especially, students being home during Covid was a major crisis as their students no longer had access to the supports, services, and accommodations they needed to access education. This bill will continue to disproportionately punish these students, and as long as chronic absenteeism is tied to accreditation it will disproportionately impact their communities as well.

Dear Legislators, I am writing to express my full support for HB 767, which addresses the issue of non-attendance of children as educational neglect. Chronic absenteeism is a challenge that requires a collaborative effort. While educators are committed to supporting families, there is an essential need for additional support and parental responsibility in our collective efforts to educate students. I urge you to support this bill. Sincerely, Kristy N. Somerville-Midgette, Ed.D. Division Superintendent Brunswick County Public Schools

I am in support of HB767. This bill clarifies what is meant by educational neglect and reinforces the compulsory attendance laws that are already in place. It strengthens each division's goal of educating all children.

I am a 33-year Virginia educator, a sitting superintendent of 8 years and father to four current Virginia public school students. If the pandemic united us around anything it was that it is critical for schools to be open and accessible to students. Learning, development and the many opportunities only available for so many through what's provided to them through a guaranteed free and appropriate education are vital to the health of our nation, state and to our students. But the whole point of school being open is to ensure classrooms are full of students. There are parents who are negligent in cooperating and partnering with schools to make sure their children are being exposed to the education they desperately need - again, as the pandemic taught us. Virginia needs to join so many other states that have prioritized attendance in school by not only saying parents are required to address it, but holding us all accountable by including the failure to do so in the definition of abuse and neglect. Please support this bill.

Chronic absenteeism continues to be a barrier to success for a growing number of students of all ages in K-12 Virginia schools; this number has only escalated since the pandemic. We simply cannot close academic gaps and provide quality in-person instruction if students are not present in school. Too often, students who are chronically absent are the students who most need to be present every day in order to close an achievement gap. K-12 schools have tirelessly tried to tackle student absenteeism from every aspect, but at the end of the day, we do not have control of a student being present in school on any given day. We need all responsible parties to be held accountable in ensuring all students are present in the classroom if real change is going to be made. It is essential that House Bill 767 receives bipartisan support to recognize ‘educational neglect’ as a major aspect of chronic absenteeism so that we may better tackle this barrier to quality education for all students.

Please vote NO on this bill. While I appreciate the delegate's words that this bill is not intended to impact students with disabilities, the fact of the matter is that students with disabilities are **already** disproportionately impacted by existing school discipline procedures. This is shown by data on local, state, and national levels repeatedly. The delegate sponsoring this made a comment that this isn't intended to impact students who can't control their behavior, but rather those who are making a choice. The problem with this logic is that students with disabilities are **often** responded to by school staff as though their behavior is a choice, rather than a manifestation of their disability. Behavior is communication. That is especially true for nonspeaking students for whom behavior is often their main mode of communication. This bill will exacerbate existing disproportionalities in discipline that students with disabilities experience.

Students with disabilities and students of color are disproportionately subjected to exclusionary discipline in Virginia's public schools. These same students face a multitude of other educational challenges. Exclusionary discipline does not address the underlying cause of a student's behavior, has adverse consequences for the child's educational success, and perpetuates the school to prison pipeline. For these reasons, we support HB398, which would require that schools implement at least one restorative justice intervention prior to resorting to exclusionary discipline in many circumstances; and we oppose HB853, which would impose a mandatory three-strikes-and-your-out approach to managing student behavior in classrooms across the commonwealth without leaving any discretion to teachers to implement more effective and less harmful interventions.

We need consequences for student behavior. All students deserve to avoid legal problems in the future, by having their behavior addressed today.

I support this bill. I'm an educator. Teachers are sick of having their hands tied by administrators who want to lower the number of discipline referrals in their school to present a false illusion of safety to the public. Lack of discipline has caused chaos in schools.

Please support HB853. Teachers need support to maintain control and safety in their classrooms. If this had been a requirement in Newport News, perhaps a teacher would not have been shot. Teachers feel their hands are tied when it comes to being able to provide appropriate consequences to students who disrupt learning in their classrooms.

You gotta be kidding! That system already exists and it traumatized me so hard I nearly took my own life twice!

Comments Document

Thank you for considering important legislation that would direct the department to develop a model policy and urge local school divisions to adopt policies to protect students from harmful devices and online content during crucial classroom hours. At the ExcelinEd National Summit on Education last November, guests heard research from Dr. Jonathan Haidt who has extensively researched the impacts of phones and social media on kids and the impacts have been detrimental. Please see the attachment for research and information about the negative impacts of phone-based childhoods and distractions during the school day. Thank you for your consideration; ExcelinEd in Action supports this legislation.

Please amend this to ensure that any model policies created from this law include exceptions for students with disabilities. Cell phones are now used for medical purposes - for ex, apps can now monitor insulin levels for those who have type 1 diabetes. Students with mental health needs and/or executive functioning needs may also require their use to access their education. These needs must be explicitly addressed and included to ensure these students retain such essential access.

Please vote to pass HB667. Children in ALL zip codes deserve better educational choice than what they are receiving in urban areas in failing public schools.

Please vote to pass HB882 . Cell phones are weapons of mass distraction and are ruining our kids' minds and behavior.

Comments Document

Thank you for considering important legislation that would direct the department to develop guidelines and local school divisions to adopt policies to protect students from harmful devices and online content during crucial classroom hours. At the ExcelinEd National Summit on Education last November, guests heard research from Dr. Jonathan Haidt who has extensively researched the impacts of phones and social media on kids and the impacts have been detrimental. Please see the attachment for research and information about the negative impacts of phone-based childhoods and distractions during the school day. Thank you for your consideration; ExcelinEd in Action supports this legislation.

HB359, HB538, and HB1008 work together to support HB936, one of the three top priority bills in the [Virginia Progressives legislative agenda](http://VAProgressives.org). Taken together, the bills shape physical and curricular infrastructure Virginia's children will need to prepare for taking on the problems of the social provisioning of human needs going into a global climate crisis, and include proper funding mechanisms for their implementation. These bills reach up to meet initiatives from the federal level. Billions in federal funds are being spent into existence, and will flow in greater amounts in the future. They are seeking such programs in order to be spent effectively. More than half a dozen currently active can be found in our above linked legislative agenda, including, directly addressing the impact statement for HB936, [guidance for the EPA Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG)](https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-09/CPRG%20General%20Competition%20NOFO.pdf) which states: ---- Accordingly, the CPRG general competition for implementation grants is designed to enable states, municipalities, tribes, and territories to achieve the following goals:" ... 2. Pursue measures that will achieve substantial community benefits (such as reduction of criteria air pollutants (CAPs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)), particularly in low- income and disadvantaged communities; ... In general, EPA anticipates that applications may seek funding for the following types of measures: ... • Implementation of new benchmarking and building performance standards ----- VA DEQ has been made aware, including in its Glen Allen DEQ CPRG public input session, that HB936 can tap this program while making DEQ's application more competitive.

Comments Document

To the Distinguished Members of the House Education K-12 Subcommittee - Change the Air Foundation is writing in support of HB 936, an act to improve indoor air quality standards in public schools in Virginia. This simple change will do so much to impact the health and well-being of so many Virginian students and school personnel. Poor indoor air quality and water-damaged indoor environments not only impacts our health, but also causes significant physical, emotional, and financial hardship. What’s worse, water damage is not always a visible problem and can be hidden behind walls and in places not often frequented, such as attics and crawl spaces. Many individuals may be suffering from chronic health symptoms and have no idea that the culprit behind their degrading health rests within these hazardous indoor spaces. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (CDC NIOSH) estimates that the average American spends over 90% of their time indoors. The American Lung Association states that the average adult takes 20,000 breaths a day. The U.S. EPA’s research indicates air pollutants can be 2 - 5 times - even up to 100 times - higher indoors than outdoor levels. These statistics paint an important picture: We spend more time indoors than ever breathing in air that is potentially bad for our health. Indoor air quality and the state of our indoor environments has an immense impact on our health and well-being. Mold and water damage is often a major, hidden driver behind illnesses that are entirely preventable with the right resources and information available to the public. Change the Air Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization helping families across the country breathe safe indoor air. The Foundation believes that every person has a right to know that their indoor environments may be affected by mold, bacteria, and other potentially harmful indoor pollutants. We believe that healthy and safe indoor air is a basic right. We also believe that HB 936 is consistent with the science and current policy recommendations, is practical and will protect thousands of Virginia students and school personnel in the years to come. Mold-related illnesses can be prevented if residents and owners are properly informed and take the necessary steps to identify and prevent mold and water damage in their housing environments. Change the Air Foundation believes that HB 936, if passed, can be a cornerstone leading the way towards safer indoor air quality standards for all in Virginia. The attachment will be used to support our position with data and relevant information. We urge you to pass this bill and stand ready to provide further information. In health and change, Brandon Chappo Director of Public Policy Change the Air Foundation

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As a parent to a child with special needs, this bill is calling out to benefit the underserved. "Regular" educators often have one Exceptional Education course as a part of their studies and that is often about LAWS, not actually teaching strategies and understanding various learning disabilities and other qualifiers of a student having an IEP that spends any amount of time in a regular education classroom. While a special educator may be a part of the plan, it does not suffice for all students to have partial support in their instructional day. In many cases, it would be best to have a qualified special educator with the student across all settings. Not all instructional assistants are meant for Special Education, either. This means, more education, and at the minimal should require additional training and experience to teachers who have inclusive classrooms. It is not fair to the child nor the educator to not have the tools they need to service a student in their classroom. As a special education parent, and as an educator, I will say what no one wants to say. Not all teachers are meant to teach special education--some really excel at it even when they are not certified in Special Education and others do not. Nothing that is in place seems to make allowances or accommodations for this either. It is another failure to the student that has more specific needs, more one on one attention, etc. Please consider these factors when looking at the big picture. Not only that, please do not lose sight of these children who need and are entitled to an education.

I am a parent of a child with Down syndrome and congenital heart disease. I urge you to consider this bill as one way to improve special education in our state. As a parent, we often look for the schools and districts that "do inclusion well" and "are pro-inclusion." We ask other parents who their children had for case managers and teachers and how the administrators were towards their kiddos with disabilities. "Did they push for self-contained?" "Did they fully include them?" When looking forward to next year, school transfers, and moves between districts, these are some of the more common questions we ask each other. Parents will tell you there is an enormous variance in opportunity for special education between teachers, schools, and districts, and implementing this bill is one way to increase consistency and improve quality.

I am Wendy Little, also known across Virginia and the United States as 'Eryn's Mom'. Eryn and I are thrilled that Delegate Coyner and Senator Favola Patroned HB 1089 following my attendance at the Chesterfield County Legislative Session the very day following a Breast Cancer Surgery, with my large sign that Eryn Little Deserved Access to His Education and just a few pieces of information, in hopes of garnering some attention to our plight, which is not completely unique. I briefly was able to speak with Ms. Coyner and provided her with the attached document, and a prior Letter from Lieutenant Governor, Winsome Sears pertaining to the treatment of my son, Eryn Little, by Chesterfield County Public Schools. Eryn remains without Access to Education more than 1.5 years later. Special Education is complicated and School Divisions have obligations to protect the Rights of Scholars with Disabilities. Often when that doesn't happen, parents and students experience retaliation. The VDOE is not enforcing Corrective Action Plans, and the LEA's often ignore them due to lack of enforcement. I support HB 1089 and hope this bill removes corruption from the Special Education Arena in Chesterfield County and Virginia. Thank you.

Our teachers need professional development and our children deserve it! Standardizing IEPs and providing professional development should be no brainers in a society that is trying to recover from Covid learning losses. Our teachers, who are skilled individuals, meed access to learning the latest methods and techniques so they can deliver the best education possible for Virginia’s children. Expecting principals to deliver professional development to their staff is not enough—it’s an unfunded mandate that is yet one more task set on their shoulders but not supported. Please review this bill and provide for Virginia’s future!

The need for a parent engagement specialist for parents of special needs students cannot be underestimated, especially at the elementary school level when a majority of students are initially diagnosed and parents have the most need for and assistance with the IEP process and engagement with schools. Additionally, though PETA is an excellent resource to assist parents on navigating the IEP system as well as other resources, having regional services available would allow parents closer access to those resources needed. Please consider your stance of this bill carefully. All kids deserve a chance to thrive.

The House has to consider the impact that this bill has on the SLP workload. Requiring objectives to each IEP goal would create a substantial burden to the SLP workload. My current caseload exceeds 85 students across three schools. I love my job, and I love being able to work directly with each of my students. I would feel an undue burden if I were required to create objectives on the 85+ goals that I oversee. The time spent creating the objectives, measuring the objectives, and reporting on the objectives would be substantial. This would take a significant amount of time and would only take away direct therapy time from the students. The SLP workload is already heavily burdened with compliance duties. Please consider what requiring objectives for each IEP would mean.

Please amend this bill to include that specialists (music educators, art educators, physical education teachers, school librarians, etc) also are required to have coursework to support students in an inclusive setting as well. Especially in elementary school, these classes are one of the major avenues for inclusion for students with disabilities, yet these educators receive little to no instruction as to how to support students with disabilities in their curricula. This has to change to truly provide a school-wide inclusive environment. Also, please ensure that any work groups or other work done to improve the Virginia IEP - or any part of this process - includes the parent/caregiver voice on these committees as well as the voice of school districts. In order to create a document that meets academic and social needs as well as the needs of families, families must be a part of the creation and review process. Thank you!

We are completely in support of this bill. Virginia has one of the largest populations of military families in the nation. Families whom Pcs orders can make transfer with a child with an IEP a nightmare. Creating a standardized state issued IEP program makes it so those moves are easier. It also promotes equity because no matter what school a child attends regardless of title status or income levels all children with IEPs will receive the same services and uniformity. This is especially important at the Elementary school level. What these kids are learning are not just the foundation of facts but the foundation of life skills. In addition it will create a digital footprint that I truly believe will help protect teachers across virginia. All documents will be readily available and processes outlined. Our special education students were hit the hardest by covid and are not even close to being where they started pre pandemic which if we are being honest wasn’t where they should have been then either. Please consider passing this bill which will benefit kids like my own three incredible little boys.

As a parent of a student with an IEP, the process needs to be streamlined and consistent across the state. Starting the process in middle school and having to transfer through multiple schools, the process was extremely difficult. It wasn't until we arrived at her current school Tallwood High School, that we were finally able to get her properly assessed and get the process completed. This has shown a major change. I have watched a child who struggled in school for almost 9 years now being able to obtain A/B honor roll. I also feel that there needs to be more training done starting down at the elementary school level to be able to assess these students. Being able to address concerns at an earlier stage will prevent the children from having to struggle through school especially the higher they get in the system. I feel that with proper training on assessment, the kids who are struggling can be helped instead of being labeled as problem children and having less attention paid to them or being sent away to an alternative school. I truly would like to see teachers and counselors trained to be able to recognize the signs of a child who is struggling and may need more help. Then a program that is streamlined and consistent to be able to work across the whole school system and not have to be redone when a child changes schools. This creates a lot of stress on the parents and children when transitioning is already stressful enough. Thank you for your time and I hope to see change happen with this bill!

I have lived the Special Education processing nightmare for nearly four years as we fought for our daughters Mental Health treatment and educational needs. We were “accommodated” with a Section 504 plan, which only sometimes worked and not all teachers were even briefed or aware she was a student covered under a 504. We unfortunately found this out in the middle of a MDR (Manifestation Determination Review of a Disciplinary Referral which had my daughter removed to an alternative school. I appealed her case all the way to the school board with no real resolution. Her school work improved, but discipline declined because of the association with other children with behavioral problems in that school environment… further worsening her mental health decline. Yes, I was watching my 14 year old daughter implode before my eyes as we begged, pleaded and tried everything to get the help we needed to break the bonds of Depression, Anxiety and most of all the worsening effects of ADHD had on our daughter. Angela is a star Volleyball player. Has played at multiple levels. Freshman Letter in Kempsville Middle School, played 7 years with Woodstock Recreation League, coached two years under me there, and is currently playing Travel League for Southeast Regional Volleball (Vb/Ches) on the 18 Select team with ladies two to three years her senior. After losing my daughter for a whole year to inpatient treatment at Youth for Tomorrow, we finally were able to transition Angela to an IEP at Tallwood High. At first her grades were B’s and C’s and she failed Algebra her freshman year. We thought this would be a setback. No, it wasn’t, we met again with her SPED Committee members and reassessed the IEP making it stronger to address her assessment difficulties due to anxiety. As we recently closed the First Semester of her Sophomore Year, I’m proud to report she is an A and B Honor Roll Student for the first time since elementary school. Having the resources is critical to SPED students success. The right staff in the right places is just as critical. Thank you all for the support and I hope and pray this bill passes for all of our kids.

I’m a resident of Virginia and I fully supper HB 1089. My kids have IEPs in their schools. Please vote yes on this bill and help the special education population in Virginia. They deserve the same type of education as the other kids in school. Thanks,

I would like to request that HB 1098 remove short-term objectives from its IEP definition or clarify that short-term objectives apply only to academic IEP annual goals. I am concerned that adding short-term objectives to students' annual IEP goals for communication would increase the amount of time speech-language pathologists spend on "compliance activities" such as report writing and decrease the amount of time available to students for speech-language therapy. According to a SHAV 2019 study, approximately 43% of SLPs have caseloads over the Virginia cap of 68, making this an urgent issue for SLP's who desperately need to provide therapy services to students who desperately need those services. We appreciate your collaboration and urge you to consider this information when voting for HB 1098.

The Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia (SHAV) would like to request that HB 1098 remove short-term objectives from its IEP definition or clarify that short-term objectives apply only to academic IEP annual goals. We are concerned that adding short-term objectives to students' annual IEP goals for communication would increase the amount of time speech-language pathologists spend on "compliance activities" such as report writing and decrease the amount of time available to students for speech-language therapy. According to our 2019 study, approximately 43% of SLPs have caseloads over the Virginia cap of 68, making this an urgent issue for our members who desperately need to provide therapy services to students who desperately need those services. We appreciate your collaboration and would be happy to support HB 1098 with this revision.

To provide for quality education for all Virginians everyone should have choice in their school. Monopolies have never provided excellence. In the case of public education, the monopoly has lowered VA and the USA graduates to dismal results compared to other countries and private education and drop-out rates to excessive highs. Please support choice.

Please vote NO to school vouchers. As long as private schools are not required to follow IDEA, students with disabilities will be disproportionately negatively impacted as they have been in other states. Private schools could kick that child out, and have the child end up back in public schools, and yet in many of these systems that money doesn't then follow the child BACK to the public school - thus leaving the public school underfunded. Additionally, without the protection of IDEA families have no recourse if the private school is not meeting their child's needs. If these schools want to receive public funding, then they should be bound by ALL federal laws that come with that money as well.

It is time to end the Democrat/Teacher's Union collusion that prevents lower income students from accessing high standard, quality education by choosing the schools they need. Tax dollars for parental choice of schools to end subservience to left wing political agendas.

Please vote to pass HB1164. Children in ALL zip codes deserve better than the failing schools often occurring in urban districts.

As a prior Virginia educator in the public school setting, I want to believe the education our schools are providing our children is reliable, successful, and beneficial. Unfortunately, as a parent of school-aged children, my confidence in the education provided by Virginia's public schools is severely lacking to the point that I would rather search for other educational options than the public school system. I have witnessed both sides of the educational coin as a parent and educator. My experience as an educator makes me more wary of the education my children would be receiving in public schools. Students are being passed along grades without mastery of content knowledge and are lumped into groups derived from test scores (low, just meeting standards, and excelling). Additionally, large class sizes, lack of firm disciplinary actions, the influence of political agendas, and ever-changing curricula and programs further disrupt students' learning as focus is less on educating our youth and more on attempting to stay afloat in the classroom. Decisions made by Virginia legislators -many who have limited or no teaching experience and/or educational knowledge- do not keep my children in mind. The decisions to implement more technology in the classroom without proper teacher instruction and in-depth knowledge of the technology is a disservice to our youth. Too often programs are purchased and thrown at educators without sufficient training and the data derived from the programs is not adequately or properly analyzed or used. To put it bluntly, technology is thrown at educators, money is being wasted, and children are being assessed without true understanding of the data. All the while, research is being published about the damaging effects technology has on developing brains; ultimately, hindering education. Furthermore, the focus on technology reduces the amount of opportunities students have to interact with peers and learn kinesthetically. The reduction of these opportunities impacts our youth's social skills which can be witnessed in the increasing presence of poor behaviors in the classroom and declining ability to problem-solve and interact with peers and superiors. Virginia's students deserve better than what the public school system is supplying and parents deserve the right and ability to choose educational opportunities that will prepare their children not only academically, but in life. Parent choice is not an egregious attack on the school system. It is a call to provide better education for our youth. It is the responsibility of the state to provide an adequate education to all students. Parents should have the ability and right to make educational decisions for their children, especially when state responsibilities are not being fulfilled and their choices are failing students.

Please give our children and opportunity to excel by having school choice in Virginia. Thank you. Bobby Wright, Virginia Beach, Virginia.

I strongly urge Support for HB1164, Education Excellence for All. This legislation is written to help children who live in underserved communities achieve success in life. It has enabled tens of thousands of low-income children across the United States to thrive and has given their parents peace of mind as their children learn in secure surroundings. HB1164 focuses on underserved communities and gives students access to an education that enables them to read and write proficiently, excel in math, and learn in a safe environment. We are all aware that public school systems in urban areas face significant challenges and require substantial assistance to provide their students with an education that prepares them for success in life.

The educational Improvement Act has extended educational opportunity and choice to many in Roanoke Virginia. I have contributed to it for over 6 years. We have seen the economic and racial diversity of students increase in our local private and parochial schools. My great nieces and nephew were in a school where they were not learning and not reaching educational goals. The school administration was unable to deal with bullying and discipline problems. By transferring to a private school they were able to join a much more supportive and helpful educational environment. This sends a message to school administrators that their "customers" have voted with their feet, and are not prisoners to their deficiencies. This is the best tool parents and communities have to motivate change in education. Please support this extension of Educational Improvement and choice through the Commonwealth.

The existing Educational System in Virginia has failed to maximize the talents and potential of our future leaders. More options, not more money would be a wise alternative, as this legislation suggests.

We need to give every child the opportunity to learn the fundamentals. They can grow if education is a positive experience.

Derrick Max founder and former principal of Cornerstone Schools of Washington, D.C., wrote this article in the Richmond Times on the success of providing school choice in the poorest neighborhoods in DC. Please look at the evidence, read the article . stop bowing to the teachers unions and save the children public schools will not get better without competition. Support School Choice. https://richmond.com/opinion/column/commentary-school-choice-is-the-answer-to-underperforming-schools-washington-d-c-is-proof/article_7fb96874-b616-11ee-a1f1-2329df5a22fa.html

Children must be given a chance to succeed. High quality education is the foundation for future opportunities. Limiting educational choices is denying our children the capability to realize their full potential. Parents want and need school choice. Why should their children be imprisoned in failing schools. Please support school choice!

Homes in good school districts are not affordable to the middle class family as myself . The middle class is the backbone of America, we should at least be given the right to send our children to schools that uphold our values. It is unreasonable for us to pay 32% income tax and to be forced to pay for private school when the schools in our districts rate way below 5/10.

Please support education choice and HB 1164. I am a mother of two and felt the effects of lack of choice during COVID and still. Parents need to have a choice in where we send our children to school. Please vote yes on HB 1164. Thank you!

I support Hb1167 and Hb1296.

The pandemic exposed the dire state of education for disadvantaged students. Parents must have an exit ramp to get children out of failing schools. School choice is not an attack on public education. It provides an incentive to schools to improve their product in order to keep students coming. Currently, there are no consequences to schools who refuse to accommodate the needs of their students and families. Please vote yes to allow parents, particularly those who are underserved, move their children to education options that can and will meet their individual needs.

Please know that many of us want more choices in education. We are taxed to no end and have minimal choice in how funds are used to educate our own children. We will not vote or be happy with “tax raises to go toward education “ as we are not happy about the so-called education the state and county attempt to provide. This is a turning point; parents matter and have a say. We will find ways to educate our children as WE see fit.

As a mother and school teacher, I have noticed that our schools have become strained by the amount on ELLs in our public schools. Despite having 11-12 full time teachers in many buildings that serve ESOL students, daily, they are considered supplementary, and the classroom teachers are expected to close the learning gaps until everyone is on grade level. This is impossible because we keep getting more of these sweet children, so school goals are focused on them every year. Compassionate teachers spend most of their time trying to meet the needs of ELLs and have less, and less time for native speakers. In fact, how much teacher professional development and resources are focused on just ELLs? Furthermore, school goals should include ALL children, sending a message to teachers that ALL kids matter equally. All children deserve an equal opportunity to education, and to reach full potential. Please consider this bill. Honestly, how can anyone disagree with that?

School vouchers will defund or public schools, subsidize the wealthy, and leave low income students who choose to participate in such programs with a sub standard education the quality of which is not regulated by the VDOE. If you truly believe in equal opportunity then fully fund public schools.

Quality education benefits all society. It gives confidence and skills, if successful. If not successful, it is a waste of time and life. All children have the right to learn basic skills, self-discipline, how to focus, principles of logic, our country’s true history, respect for all, and what is necessary for a successful future. Parents have the right to be able to assist their children in their preparation for and pursuit of success.

I am writing to you as a sitting school board member, and a homeschooling mother, asking you to vote yes on HB1164. I am privileged to have the capability, the time, and the financial means to homeschool. I have CHOICES when it comes to selecting the best method for educating my children. Many families in Virginia do not have a choice because they cannot afford private school and may be unable to homeschool. Over the last several years I have had many families reach out to me because something in the public school system wasn’t working for their child. That isn’t to speak ill of public schools; it is merely to say that one size fits all education wasn’t fitting their student. The year is 2024; society has come a long way in identifying and recognizing that human beings are unique. Children learn differently and have differing educational needs. Schooling is now available in so many different flavors. Hands on learners may excel in Montessori schools. A child with dyslexia may need a specialized curriculum. A child suffering from anxiety or trauma may need a school with small class sizes and gentle teaching. In the homeschooling world, when a learning obstacle pops up, a creative solution will soon be invented to fill that need. The opportunities are endless! It is impossible for the current public-school model to keep up with the wide range and fast pace of niche educating. There are endless paths to successful learning for those who can afford it. Isn’t it time to level the playing field and open educational choices to all children? Parents of means already have school choice available to them. I am asking that we extend this opportunity of educational choice TO ALL.

Please vote to pass HB1164 to give all children more choices for a better education. Some children are locked into poor schools just by their address. Please give them more opportunities for more choices for better education.

Dear Committee members, An ESA bill would greatly benefit many children in the Commonwealth who, right now, feel no hope regarding their future because of poor or underperforming schools. It would put the opportunity into the hands of the parents, who love their kids the best, to select an individualized approach to their children's education. Such a thing would benefit all kids of The Commonwealth individually and would benefit Virginia as a whole. My family has encountered the issues with trying to rely on the assigned school system. As parents of a non-verbal, autistic son, we've spent many worrying days and nights trying to figure out the best option for his education and his future life. As you know, for many special needs students, a one size fits all approach doesn't work. Each of these children needs an individualized education plan. Unfortunately, not all public schools are equipped to handle all of the accommodations nor are they adept at handling basic ones. To help our son, we've moved from location to location until we've found a school system that has been helping in Stafford. They are better than a lot across the country, but they still don't help with all his needs. For example, being able to have programs like swimming or horse-back riding would really help, but they aren't currently available. Having an education savings account would allow us to take state funding and apply it to programs that would help him better than the average. Doesn't that make him and the whole Commonwealth better? Please vote for HB 1164. Just today my wife and I wept some tears for him wondering if we have done all we could for him. Truth is, we did our best given our family financial circumstances and the options available. I know better and more options would have made a difference for my son early on. Let's make this a possibility for children just getting started now. Thanks for reading and vote yes on HB 1164.

Please support to give children the educational opportunities they deserve. This is equal opportunity for ALL children

Vote yes on HB1164. HB1164 provides low-income families with a lifeline. Richmond public schools have seen an increase in funding by more than 50% per pupil since 2011 but their reading proficiency scores are decreasing. No amount of money is going to improve the public school systems until they address the systemic problems that exist in those schools. It will take years, if not decades, for the Democrats and Republicans to fix our public schools. In the meantime, we have children who are destined to go to prison and live in poverty because they cannot read by 4th grade. We must provide them with a lifeline.

Good afternoon, To me, your vote will reveal whether you really care about giving the best education opportunity to all children. A negative vote means political power is more important than the welfare of children. When parents can choose the best school for their children, it is good for the parents, the children, the family, and our land! Well-taught children who have a good educational experience are better able to become stable, happy, productive adults, sharing their gifts with their families, their neighbors and their fellow citizens. We are counting on you to do the right thing.

Dear Sirs/Madam I am writing this to urge you to vote for the bill HB1164 and we as Virginians support this bill. As a grandparent and retired teacher whom is helping to homeschool our grandchildren , I understand and support this bill for parents and for students. Thank you

It is time for parents to have a choice in their children's education. Please pass HB1164. Thank you.

Dear K-12 Education Subcommittee As a parent who actively supported K-12 students participation in First Robotics, Lego League, Community Science Research Projects and led the progromattic and funding initiative ls with NASA, AUVSI, STEM and Lego League to ensure rural and inner city school and after school for all kids could participate in PBL Competions I strongly support HB1164

We strongly support this legislation as it provides for families who desire to have more educational options for their children. Please vote for this bill. Thank you.

I support Hb1167 and Hb1296.