We don’t need more of people’s hard working tax dollars going to a study on why there is chronic absenteeism. The last decade or so numerous school districts have lowered their standards and expectations in every way possible. -Allow cell phones, laptops, iPad headphones -Inconsistent with following Students Code of Conduct Policy -Cultural Diversity/Equity Policies Training -Lack of parental involvement - Passing on students who are not proficient -Make excuses for special education students and her bad behaviors. Dumbing down the states for a few -Teaching students to be a victim -

I am Arnav Bhalla, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA. Over the past year, I have seen Virginia Senate Bill 707's instrumental impact on middle and high school students in ensuring they continue to have access to career and technical student organizations (CTSOs) such as Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). I am writing to express my support for the language changes in HB 1783 to exclude only federally chartered CTSOs, specifically the FFA. Thank you so much, and I appreciate your support in ensuring all middle and high school students have equal educational and career training opportunities.

Comments Document

Attached are my remarks and talking points for Senate Bill 1462. Respectfully, Dr. James J. Fedderman Chair, NAACP Education Chair

The disAbility Law Center of Virginia supports any effort to ensure that students with disabilities and their families are well informed of their rights, including their right to FAPE under IDEA and reasonable accommodations under the ADA when they are dually enrolled in high school and a comprehensive community college.

I strongly support of Delegate Helmer’s assessment reform bill. This bill reflects many of the recommendations of the House Bill 585 assessment task force. As Senator VanValkenburg stated, this bill is test agnostic – it’s not touching the issue of the number of tests, but just trying to make them better. I also like the new guardrails put on local assessments. I’m a huge skeptic of these local assessments, which have an inherent conflict of interest when you have a school district’s employees grading them. I understand this bill is not the place to address their merit. I also strongly like the fact that the bill requires that SOL and local assessment scores be on an intuitive 100-point scale vs. the current nonsensical 600-point scale. In addition, I strongly support the provision making an SOL exam at least 10% of a student’s final grade. This provision will likely reduce grade inflation and decrease the growing discrepancy between grades and standardized test scores. And it will effectively prevent districts from eliminating final exams for all classes, an anti-rigor fad that fails to prepare kids for college. Lastly, I agree with Delegate Helmer and Senator VanValkenburg that this bill relates to our state’s future economic development.

We are writing on behalf of the Arlington Special Education Parent Teacher Association (Arlington SEPTA). Arlington SEPTA supports the educational experience of students with disabilities in Arlington Public Schools, who comprise approximately 15% of our school division population. SEPTA urges you to support SB 738 and HB 1961. These bills relate to regulation of student cell phone possession and use in schools. In the absence of governing law in this area, the Governor of Virginia directed the Virginia Department of Education to issue guidance to Virginia’s public schools. We ask you to support these bills because of problems with the VDOE guidance that particularly affect students with disabilities. SB 738 and HB 1961 are a substantial improvement over the current VDOE guidance in the following ways: We support the bills’ allowance of more flexibility for local school divisions to craft age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate policies that work for each school division, as opposed to VDOE’s one-size-fits-all approach. The VDOE guidance removes local control from division School Boards and puts decision-making in the hands of those who are not familiar with the students, the environment, or other pertinent circumstances. The bills restore the correct balance. We support the bills’ prohibition of the use of exclusionary discipline for violations of personal device rules. Excluding students from class or school is not an effective behavior modification technique, and it is not evidence-based. Indeed, it is often counterproductive to remove students from their instructional setting. It is well established that students with disabilities and other at-risk students are disproportionately subjected to exclusionary discipline in schools. This disproportionate impact is seen across the U.S. and here in Virginia. HB 1961 and SB 738 are needed to prevent this situation from worsening further. We support the language in the bills regarding accommodations for students with disabilities who need their phones for disability/medical reasons. The bills are needed to override the VDOE guidance, which limits the provision of accommodations by directing that "Viable alternatives to using a cell phone or personal electronic communication device should be explored and implemented in collaboration with the student's family." Based on reports we are hearing from families, school divisions are using this directive to deny students' requests for accommodations to use their personal devices. This is creating hardship to students who have found success with their personal devices, but now need to attempt to transition and adjust to a different type of technology/support that may not be as effective or accessible. In short, the VDOE guidance erects unnecessary roadblocks to the success and well-being of students with disabilities. Please remove those barriers by voting for SB 738 and HB 1961. Thank you for the opportunity to provide input and for the work you do on behalf of children in Arlington and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sincerely, Sascha Foertsch, President Laura Swanson, Executive Vice President Wendy Pizer, Advocacy Chair Arlington Special Education PTA Arlington, Virginia

Comments Document

I am writing you today to address pending legislation before the Virginia House of Delegates K-12 Subcommittee. I am a native Virginian from Newport News. I earned two degrees from Virginia Tech and a PhD from Virginia Commonwealth University in educational research and evaluation. I am currently an associate professor in the College of Education at Auburn University. I am writing to express my opposition to HB 1961 and to urge you to oppose this legislation. Research has shown a significant relationship between screen time and negative academic, social, emotional, and mental health outcomes for children. Preliminary evidence from Indiana, New York City, and other locations suggests that policies banning cell phones in schools have helped mitigate these issues. My colleague Dr. Tim Pressley of Christopher Newport University and I have collaborated with a school division to assess the efficacy of the current cell phone ban in Virginia. In December, prior to the policy's implementation, we surveyed teachers in each of the middle and high schools within the division. We discovered that over three-fourths of teachers believe that cell phones are a major distraction in the classroom, and nearly 85% of teachers support the existing ban. However, teachers also expressed concerns about the uniform enforcement of the policy and whether they would receive adequate support to uphold the ban. HB 1961 effectively nullifies the policy by removing meaningful consequences, which are precisely what teachers have indicated they want to see enforced. Restricting cell phone use without real repercussions is likely to place an even greater burden on teachers, especially at a time when we should be seeking ways to support them. I have attached a research brief containing our preliminary baseline findings. Dr. Pressley and I plan to follow up with the same teachers at the end of this year to evaluate the effectiveness of the current cell phone policy. We would be pleased to discuss our findings with you. If you support the academic, emotional, social, and mental health well-being of Virginia’s students, I encourage you to advocate for the removal of cell phones from schools. If you support Virginia’s teachers, I urge you to oppose HB 1961.

We are writing on behalf of the Arlington Special Education Parent Teacher Association (Arlington SEPTA). Arlington SEPTA supports the educational experience of students with disabilities in Arlington Public Schools, who comprise approximately 15% of our school division population. SEPTA urges you to support SB 738 and HB 1961. These bills relate to regulation of student cell phone possession and use in schools. In the absence of governing law in this area, the Governor of Virginia directed the Virginia Department of Education to issue guidance to Virginia’s public schools. We ask you to support these bills because of problems with the VDOE guidance that particularly affect students with disabilities. SB 738 and HB 1961 are a substantial improvement over the current VDOE guidance in the following ways: We support the bills’ allowance of more flexibility for local school divisions to craft age-appropriate and developmentally-appropriate policies that work for each school division, as opposed to VDOE’s one-size-fits-all approach. The VDOE guidance removes local control from division School Boards and puts decision-making in the hands of those who are not familiar with the students, the environment, or other pertinent circumstances. The bills restore the correct balance. We support the bills’ prohibition of the use of exclusionary discipline for violations of personal device rules. Excluding students from class or school is not an effective behavior modification technique, and it is not evidence-based. Indeed, it is often counterproductive to remove students from their instructional setting. It is well established that students with disabilities and other at-risk students are disproportionately subjected to exclusionary discipline in schools. This disproportionate impact is seen across the U.S. and here in Virginia. HB 1961 and SB 738 are needed to prevent this situation from worsening further. We support the language in the bills regarding accommodations for students with disabilities who need their phones for disability/medical reasons. The bills are needed to override the VDOE guidance, which limits the provision of accommodations by directing that "Viable alternatives to using a cell phone or personal electronic communication device should be explored and implemented in collaboration with the student's family." Based on reports we are hearing from families, school divisions are using this directive to deny students' requests for accommodations to use their personal devices. This is creating hardship to students who have found success with their personal devices, but now need to attempt to transition and adjust to a different type of technology/support that may not be as effective or accessible. In short, the VDOE guidance erects unnecessary roadblocks to the success and well-being of students with disabilities. Please remove those barriers by supporting SB 738 and HB 1961. Thank you for the opportunity to provide input and for the work you do on behalf of children in Arlington and throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Sincerely, Sascha Foertsch, President Laura Swanson, Executive Vice President Wendy Pizer, Advocacy Chair Arlington Special Education PTA Arlington, Virginia

Comments Document

I am Dr. Tim Pressley, an associate professor of educational psychology at Christopher Newport University. Over the past five years, I have published over 20 peer-reviewed papers on teacher well-being and burnout. Recently, my colleague, Dr. David Marshall, a Newport News native and current faculty member at Auburn University, surveyed teachers from a local school division on their perspectives regarding Executive Order 33, the cell phone ban that just went into place. Based on my expertise and our recent findings, I am expressing my opposition to HB 1961. I have attached the policy brief of our research findings, but I can share some of the highlights. Among the teachers we surveyed, 78% shared that cell phones are distractions in their classroom, and 84% believed the new cell phone policy was appropriate for their school. In short, most teachers see the need for the policy and approve their school’s plan to address it. Though most approved of the new policy, teachers did have concerns regarding the implementation. For instance, they will fail if these policies are not implemented and enforced consistently with clearly communicated consequences. Teachers also expressed worries about insufficient backing from school leaders, which could lead to difficulties enforcing the policy. Lastly, teachers also shared concerns about the effective implementation of the policy, particularly regarding communication and consequences. I fear the current Bill would remove consequences and impact teachers' ability to enforce the executive order. The executive order is one that teachers seem to favor, but for it to be successful, there must be consequences for breaking the rule. If you have any follow-up questions, I am happy to discuss this research in more depth.

Thank goodness for Governor Youngkin’s executive order on cellphones. It is now up to the school districts and parents to follow through with the policy.

I am a Moms Demand Action volunteer and I support this bill.

I am writing in support of bills HB2055 and HB2679. As a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, we know that taking proactive, preventative measures saves lives. Notifying parents and guardians of the critical importance of secure storage of firearms is imperative to mitigate risk. We know that the majority of youth who use a firearm in deaths by suicide as well as youth who use firearms to harm others in school related shootings obtain their firearms from the home of family or friends. Minimizing access to these lethal means is critical to keep everyone safe and make sure our youth get the help they need. These bills are common sense solutions to increasing awareness and education and empower parents and adults to help our children stay safe and alive. Please support these important bills for Virginians. Thank you.

Thank you for bringing up this bill; I am in full support and this will save lives. Thank you for caring so much for the students in our public schools.

This is a simple but important addition that can save a child's life. Parents deserve the best information on how to keep their children safe, and we know that preventing a child's access to lethal means when they are at imminent risk of suicide can make the difference.

I'm a Moms Demand Action volunteer and I support HB2055 Student health and safety; responsibility to contact parent of student at imminent risk of suicide and HB2679 School boards; threat assessment teams and procedures. We need to keep people safe from gun violence.

I'm a Moms Demand Action volunteer and I support these bills. As a gun owner and the parent of someone who, at one point during their high school years, experienced suicidal ideation, I believe it is extremely important for educational personnel aware of an imminent risk of suicide not only reach out to at least one parent or guardian, but to provide that adult with the tools to help prevent a tragedy. This bill will save lives through information helping the adults in the household secure their weapons in a safe manner during a mental health crisis

I support this bill as an extremely necessary mechanism to help prevent suicide. Sadly, firearm suicide has risen faster in teens than any other group in the United States. Providing access to information, education and resources is a proven way to help decrease the number of suicides and suicide attempts in our Commonwealth.

I'm a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I support this bill. The most important thing that schools can do to prevent active shooter incidents—and gun violence overall—is to intervene before a person commits an act of violence. Threat assessment programs are a critical part of comprehensive school safety plans.

I SUPPORT this bill as access to guns is a cause of lethal suicides. Educators and school staff often spend more time with children and teens than parents and family members do, so they should absolutely notify parents when a child/teen is at risk of suicide, and information about removing dangerous medications and firearms will help save lives. 82% of adolescent suicides involve a gun belonging to a family member (Johns Hopkins School of Public Health).

I am writing in SUPPORT for HB 2055. I feel that it is very important for the school to notify parents of the imminent risk of suicide of their child. This will allow the parents to get their child to safety and get them the mental health help they need. It is also important for the school to send home information on safe storage of medications and fire arms to keep these items out of reach of a suicidal minor. Keeping them safely stored with help prevent this minor from taking action and help prevent their death.

I support this bill, notifying parents/guardians of imminent risk of suicide. I appreciate that this bill requires that notification come with information on safe storage. Often times in the midst of a crisis it is hard to focus on all the moving parts and this information coupled with the warning about their child's mental health could help a parent/guardian safe guard the child's environment.

I support this bill as access to guns is a cause of lethal suicides.

We support this bill as access to guns is a cause of lethal suicides.

This is a common sense bill that parents or guardians be informed if a child is showing signs of suicide - to ensure that the child is not exposed to dangerous materials at home. This is intended to keep parents educated and children safe. How can no one agree with this.

Parents or guardians should be notified if there is any reason to believe a student is at the risk of suicide and it's important this also includes proven preventative measures such as information/resources on safe storage of firearms and medication. We SUPPORT this bill as access to guns is a cause of lethal suicides.

I am writing in support of the passage of HB2055. The fact that mandatory reporting of suicidal thoughts/intent among children is not already a requirement and/or a codified law is an unconscionable, abject failure by our state government. This bill will save lives. It is the moral thing to do.

I support HB2055 as it requires school personnel to notify parents or guardians if a K-12 student if they have reason to believe the student is at risk of suicide. School must include materials on safe storage of firearms and medication to parents of children who are deemed at imminent risk for suicide. We support this bill as access to guns is a cause of lethal suicides.

This is important and must pass. Requiring school personnel to notify parents or guardians if they have reason to believe their child is at risk of suicide should be obvious. In addition, schools absolutely must include materials on safe storage of firearms and medication to parents of children who are deemed at imminent risk for suicide. Access to guns is a cause of lethal suicides -- if not larger community risks,.

As a parent, I cannot imagine the unbelievable pain of losing a child, let alone to something preventable like suicide. Young people often make rash decisions without adult guidance and alerting parents to possible suicidal tendencies could save thousands of lives per year.

I support this bill. It could save the lives of many children. Firearms are the most lethal method of suicide and drugs are the most common method for suicide attempts.

The materials must be factual, non -biased and without cartoonist content. Please leave out any race-baiting, cultural competency, social emotional, equity conversion. Stick to the facts and use a balance of resources. The public schools do not have a decent amount of resources represented in the curriculum. I see why some parents are discouraged by the public education system and left. The public schools need to stop parenting and counseling and focus on teaching basic academics. The parents need to be accountable for their child’s education, and welfare.

I am against lowering student overdoes discrepancy . I want strict controls to ban opioids and fentanyl in school

It’s crucial for the Virginia Board of Education to implement policies requiring parental notification within 24 hours when students experience drug overdoses for several key reasons: 1. Parental Awareness and Responsibility: Parents play a central role in the health and safety of their children. By ensuring that parents are immediately notified if their child experiences a drug overdose, it allows them to intervene quickly and provide necessary support. In situations like these, parental involvement can be critical in addressing the issue before it escalates further, whether through seeking professional treatment, initiating conversations, or setting up preventative measures. 2. Early Intervention: Timely notification of a drug overdose can lead to faster intervention from parents, healthcare professionals, or even law enforcement, if necessary. Early intervention could save lives by preventing a recurrence or addressing the root cause of the issue, such as substance abuse. 3. Safety Concerns: If overdose incidents are not communicated to parents, there’s a risk that the underlying issue—drug use—could go unaddressed for longer periods of time. For example, the 11 reported drug overdoses at Park View High School in Sterling, Virginia, may only be the tip of the iceberg, with many other incidents potentially going unreported or unnoticed by parents. Parental notification ensures that no case is left in the dark, and that all students who are at risk receive appropriate care and attention. 4. Transparency and Accountability: Schools and the broader community need to be transparent about what is happening on campus. By making it a policy to notify parents of drug overdoses within 24 hours, the Virginia Board of Education would help maintain trust between parents and schools, as well as ensure that administrators are taking appropriate action to safeguard student well-being. 5. Support for Preventive Measures: Notifying parents in a timely manner enables families to participate in prevention efforts. If parents are aware of overdose incidents early, they can collaborate with school officials and health experts to address the problem, which may involve educational programs, counseling services, or stronger school policies regarding substance use. Given the rising concerns around drug use among students, particularly Fentanyl and Opioids, making sure parents are swiftly informed could be a game-changer in preventing further overdoses and promoting safer school environments. The urgency of addressing this public health issue requires coordinated action between schools, parents, and the community at large.

I am the President and founder of Army of Parents, Inc, but more importantly I am concerned parent, community member, and advocate for the safety and well-being of our children. I am in strong support of Delegate Harry Higgins’s HB2424, which would require schools to notify parents within 24 hours of an in-school overdose incident. In Loudoun County, we have seen firsthand the devastating rise in overdoses among young people. These incidents are not isolated; they are a symptom of a larger crisis that cannot be ignored. Tragically, we know that Loudoun County Public Schools have downplayed and, in some cases, covered up overdose incidents, keeping parents in the dark about life-threatening dangers within our schools and community. This is unacceptable. HB2424 addresses this critical gap by ensuring transparency and timely communication between schools and families—a fundamental step in protecting our children. Every day that passes without this law puts more children at risk. When parents are left uninformed, they are unable to take the critical steps necessary to address potential substance use, provide support, and even save lives. Parents are the first line of defense for their children, but we can only fulfill that role if we have the information needed to protect them. Voting against HB2424 is a vote against the safety of our kids. This bill is not about politics or ideological agenda; it’s about ensuring that parents are empowered to keep their children safe. Communication within the family unit is essential, especially when it comes to issues as grave as drug use and overdoses. If an overdose happens in a school, it signals a threat to the safety of all students and the community—not just the one who overdosed. Parents deserve to know when these events occur so they can take appropriate steps to safeguard their children. The argument that parents don’t need to be informed is deeply flawed. Schools are entrusted with the care and safety of children during the school day, but that trust must include transparency and accountability, while keeping the name of the student who overdosed private. Opposing this bill suggests that schools and administrators know better than parents how to protect children—a dangerous and unacceptable assumption. I urge this subcommittee to do the right thing. Do not let this bill die like it did last year. Passing HB2424 sends a clear message: that the safety of our children is paramount and that parents have an undeniable right to be informed about incidents that put their children at risk. Do not wait until another tragic overdose forces action. ACT NOW. Please vote in favor of HB2424. and ensure that families have the information they need to protect their children.

I strongly support Delegate Higgins’s HB2424, which underscores schools’ responsibility to notify parents about drug overdoses, particularly in Loudoun County, where overdose numbers remain alarmingly high. Transparency and timely communication are essential in addressing this crisis, and empowering parents with critical information is a vital step in protecting our students. Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order, requiring schools to notify parents within 24 hours, has already proven to be a crucial measure. HB2424 builds on this foundation by codifying parental notification into law, ensuring consistency and accountability across all schools. This legislation prioritizes the safety and well-being of our children while fostering the collaboration needed to combat the growing threat of drug abuse in our communities. I urge its swift passage.

The schools should always notify parents about what is happening at school.

Good morning, Chair and members of the committee, My name is Sammy Howard, and I am the First Congressional District Chair of High School Republicans and a student at Mechanicsville High School in Hanover, Virginia. I’m here to voice my support for HB2460. The age of social media is here to stay—whether we keep it out of schools, daycares, or even ban specific apps, it’s already a pervasive part of our lives. With this new digital era comes great potential but also significant challenges, one of the most pressing being the spread of misinformation. While some platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter use fact-checking tools, these tools are often inconsistent, ineffective, or biased, particularly on politically sensitive topics. As young people increasingly turn to social media as their primary source of information, it’s crucial to equip them with the skills to critically evaluate what they see and verify their sources. HB2460 addresses this issue head-on by introducing media literacy and digital citizenship education in Virginia schools. This isn’t just a hypothetical concern—18 other states have already implemented similar laws, recognizing the urgency of the problem. This bill is especially meaningful because it’s been brought forward by high school students like me—students who understand firsthand how misinformation impacts our generation. We’ve carried the weight of this issue, and today we ask that you consider the long-term impact this bill could have on our education system and our democracy. I urge you to support HB2460. Let’s give students the tools they need to navigate the digital world responsibly and critically. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Good morning, Chair and members of the committee, My name is Sid Butna, and I am a senior at Patriot High School. I’m here to support HB2460, a bill I've worked on to address the growing issue of misinformation in the digital age. As a student, I’ve seen firsthand how misinformation spreads quickly and influences opinions, often shaping discussions before anyone has a chance to verify the facts. Social media platforms provide limited tools to combat this, but they are often too slow or ineffective. HB2460 offers a proactive solution by integrating media literacy and digital citizenship into our education system. This will equip students with the critical thinking skills needed to analyze information, identify credible sources, and make informed decisions. I’ve seen the difference these skills can make, and I believe this bill is a necessary step to prepare my generation for the challenges of a complex, digital world. I urge you to support HB2460. Thank you for your time.

I fully support Ms. Reaser’s bill to further protect School Board members. In the past 4 years Loudoun County School board members (and school board members across the country) were subjected to harassment and death threats. Our Sheriff’s Department decided they no longer would protect and keep order at our School Board meetings. This left our School Board more vulnerable to threats and attacks. We must have protections in place for these public servants.

I am a Moms Demand Action volunteer and I support this bill.

I am writing in support of bills HB2055 and HB2679. As a volunteer with Moms Demand Action, we know that taking proactive, preventative measures saves lives. Notifying parents and guardians of the critical importance of secure storage of firearms is imperative to mitigate risk. We know that the majority of youth who use a firearm in deaths by suicide as well as youth who use firearms to harm others in school related shootings obtain their firearms from the home of family or friends. Minimizing access to these lethal means is critical to keep everyone safe and make sure our youth get the help they need. These bills are common sense solutions to increasing awareness and education and empower parents and adults to help our children stay safe and alive. Please support these important bills for Virginians. Thank you.

Thank you for introducing this bill; I agree that students who pose a threat to themselves and/or others should be helped, and this bill will help those around them help them. Thank you.

I'm a Moms Demand Action volunteer and I support these bills. As a gun owner and the parent of someone who, at one point during their high school years, experienced suicidal ideation, I believe it is extremely important for educational personnel aware of an imminent risk of suicide not only reach out to at least one parent or guardian, but to provide that adult with the tools to help prevent a tragedy. This bill will save lives through information helping the adults in the household secure their weapons in a safe manner during a mental health crisis

I support this bill. Threat assessment and identification programs allow schools to intervene to address potential violent behavior before it happens. It is a proven means to keep students safe and provide families with resources to help their child before anyone is hurt or killed.

I'm a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and I support this bill. The most important thing that schools can do to prevent active shooter incidents—and gun violence overall—is to intervene before a person commits an act of violence. Threat assessment programs are a critical part of comprehensive school safety plans.

Advanced class auto-enrollment policies have empirical evidence that they work for all students, especially the least advantaged students. That’s why these policies have the support of the leading national education civil rights organization, The Education Trust. Just 4 years ago, the VDOE proposed keeping almost all kids in the same math class until 11th grade based on no evidence as part of the thankfully dead Virginia Math Pathways Initiative (VMPI). But this anti-acceleration ideology didn’t die with VMPI. Although this ideology was proven in San Francisco to hurt the least advantaged students the most, it’s still pushed by many schools of education and certain ideological K-12 math organizations, like the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. As stated by the old phrase, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. For instance, we saw Alexandria City Public Schools recently eliminate its 7th grade Algebra path because of a warped definition of equity. Advanced math is a civil rights issue. The new accountability system’s middle school advanced math factor also incentives schools to not remove acceleration opportunity. But that factor alone is not sufficient. The federal government made clear in ESSA that states should prioritize offering advanced courses. The legislature needs to codify advanced math civil rights protections into law with this bill.

Comments Document

I support HB2686. I am an education researcher at the University of Virginia who helped prepare a research brief around the benefits of math course auto enrollment/acceleration for middle schoolers. We need to focus on improving educational outcomes for all Virginians to help strengthen our commonwealth’s economy and create competitive workers for the future , and middle and high school course taking decisions, especially around algebra, are an essential crossroads where many students can set themselves up for future success. Thank you for your time serving on this committee.

Comments Document

I am an education researcher at the University of Virginia who believes that opening pathways for students to take rigorous math courses will improve our states' overall academic achievement, and better prepare students for successful futures and careers. I, in concert with my colleagues at the University of Virginia, prepared the attachment below: a research brief emphasizing the benefits of a program like this for all Virginia students. Our students deserve a rigorous education that will properly prepare them for a postsecondary credential or a gainful career so that they can be productive members of our society. Broadening students' ability to take higher level math courses based on data-driven decision making is a logical and necessary step for improving our students' futures and our states' economy. See attached research brief for further details.

Comments Document

Honorable Members of the House Education – K-12 Subcommittee – Thank you for the opportunity to voice support for HB2686, which provides for automatic math enrollment policy, a key tenet of ExcelinEd’s fundamental math policy principles. The bill would require each school board to develop and adopt a policy that sets forth the criteria for students in grades five through eight to be eligible to enroll in advanced or accelerated mathematics. The bill requires that each such policy provides for the automatic enrollment of certain students in advanced or accelerated mathematics based on Standards of Learning assessment scores, subject to course offerings and availability and the opportunity for parental opt-out, multiple additional pathways to student enrollment in advanced or accelerated mathematics, and an annual parental notification relating to mathematics coursework. Advanced mathematics opportunities allow students to move through math course sequences at a faster pace. For example, students usually take algebra (or its equivalent) in high school. With access to advanced mathematics opportunities, students who are ready for advancement may take algebra or its equivalent in middle school so that in high school, students can eventually take college–level courses for credit, often through Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Concurrent Enrollment, and/or Dual Enrollment. Automatic enrollment ensures that students have access to the mathematics courses that are appropriately challenging and enriching and requires no added registration paperwork or meetings. For too long, many students who should have been in advanced math opportunities were not given access to those courses. While this policy is strong, we would recommend adding language requiring reporting on automatic math enrollment and student outcomes. In states without these reporting requirements, we have seen students who qualify for advanced math get counseled to opt out of the program, even though they are prepared and capable. Reporting data would illuminate any issues that arise to ensure that all students who are prepared to advance have the opportunity. Thank you for your leadership and for considering this policy to help students advance in math coursework. Sincerely, Ashley Mullins National Legislative Director ExcelinEd in Action