Comments Document

Regarding HB131 - This spirit of this bill is commendable, and I am in agreement, however, with a few minor adjustments. A. Supporting the School Divisions (LEAs) who have already been extensively with emergency pandemic funding and which failed to use it directly for student support/teaching/tutoring, and after multiple different 'bail-outs' by Governor Youngkin, the focus needs to be on DIRECT support for the Students who remain woefully behind due to the impacts of the Pandemic. Many special education students simply are unable to readily perform/learn on the computers provided and continue to require BOOKS, which are sorely lacking in availability to all students, especially those with disabilities who need them most, since the Pandemic. B. This bill should contain language pertaining to 'school age non-graduated students' rather than 'enrolled'...IDEA/FAPE requires that special education services and supports follow each student's RESIDENCE, not Enrollment. (Citation: Endrew F. vs. Douglas County Landmark Special Education Supreme Court Case) I look forward to continuing to advocate for our Commonwealth's truly most vulnerable population, Disabled Children, to change the landscape in education to one that truly honors and protects their Civil Right to Appropriate Education tailored to each one's NEEDS as defined by the IDEA and FAPE. Wendy Little (Eryn's Mom) 804-909-3639

HB408 - Not in favor of this bill as is. School Divisions, many or most, do not have the capacity in neither safe buildings (trailers) and/or qualified teachers to take on so many additional prospective students, especially if a large percentage of eligible children are ELLs, low income, and/or special needs. Better: First, have especially the larger, big-budget School Divisions take a 20% haircut from their overbloated administrative staffs annually, and cut expenditures on 'socio-political' programming and annual software contracts that are not expressly math, science, reading and writing curriculum, etc. by 30% at least, also annually. PBIS is not working. Social Emotional Learning is not working. Trauma Informed Care is not working...etc. These savings can be used to fund teaching positions and give current teachers their rightful and overdue raises, attracting enough of them required to make this suggested bill successful. The reduction in overbloat can also be used towards CIP for safe learning environments for the tiniest, most vulnerable prospective student population. These measures need to be achieved first. Thank you, Susan

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I am Maria Posey, chair of the child care issue group from the League of Women Voters. We oppose House Bill 408 as written as it endangers the financial stability of child care providers by altering reimbursement methods based on child absences. While we fully support the establishment of an enrollment-based payment system, we do not support this system to revert back to attendance-based in the event a child is absent more than 10 days in a month. Any payment tied to attendance penalizes providers for circumstances beyond their control, such as a child's illness or family emergencies, potentially leading to significant financial losses. This is why we see many providers opting not to participate in the child care subsidy program.  Without a guaranteed source of income per slot irrespective of a child's attendance, providers will continue struggling to sustain their operations and will be incentivized to expel students who are absent for 10 days rather than risk that their reimbursements for the slot are cut back in case there are further absences. In this event, it is the child who suffers due to circumstances outside their control. This bill undermines efforts to sustain a robust, accessible child care system for all children. We recommend that it be revised to remove the clause about reverting back based on absences.

I'm Maria Posey, chair of the child care issue group for the League of Women Voters Virginia. On behalf of the League, I strongly support House Bill 419. This bill aligns with the findings of our recent study and proposes to strengthen the funding formula and maintain educator incentives - both of which are critical to improving the quality and accessibility of child care in the Commonwealth. Our 2022 study built on existing research and highlighted critical shortages in quality child care, especially for children aged 0-6. Only 57% of demand for child care in Virginia is being met in the current system. That's nearly half of Virginia's children not getting access to the care their families need. This bill would ensure that much-needed funds would be allocated towards child care and, once allocated would not never revert back to the general fund. As a mom of three spending over $35,000/year on child care, and chair of the child care issue group for the League of Women Voters, I urge your support for House Bill 419, a pivotal step towards securing a brighter future for Virginia’s children and families.

I support HB408 in that providers, including schools, not providing actual services should not be paid taxpayer funds for all days services are not provided (within reason, like for periodic short-term illnesses, death in family, doctor's appointments, etc. etc.) providers especially should not receive funding when services are not provided such as times when a child is 'kicked out' of a program due to manifestations of disabilities, like Autism behaviors, Mental Illnesses and the like.