Virginia's current Standards of Quality funding formula underestimates staffing needed to serve students, uses recession era caps to limit funding, and fails to adequately account for the higher costs of educating students in 2025. An entire generation of students have now come and gone through the school system under funding restrictions that were designed to be temporary 15 years ago. The budget crisis is over. The Commonwealth had a $1.2B surplus last year. While we also support an overhaul of the funding system in Virginia, it's disingenuous to continue to study the study while children and educators struggle. Lift the support cap now while working towards a fundamental reboot of the funding system. The Virginia PTA supports HB1831.

The Virginia Assocation of School Superintendents is in strong support of HB 1831 and HB 1954. The items listed in these bill have been on the top of our priorities for a number years. Thank you, Dr. Tom Smith VASS

Dear House of Delegates, I am disheartened by the lack of high expectations and standards for Virginia’s schools. Many politicians and people believe throwing money at the issue will fix it. Nope Where are the parents, guardians of the students who are being disruptive and causing harm? It was Never about the salary! It was always about the poor policies, low standards and expectations for the students. Stop making excuses for some and not the others. All schools must follow The Student Code of Conduct. Fact: there are teachers and administrators who are too lazy to follow the policies and be consistent. I refuse to let this go because I know we must be fair. Schools that allow bad behavior instead of discipline and accountability are shameful. Look at our society now. Please stop covering up bad behaviors with low standards, excuses, and now metal detectors. Stop lowering standards in one place and raising standards in another. Encourage hard work and dedication without government dependency. Please stop dividing us into groups based on race, religion, gender, etc. Where is the home?

The Virginia Association of School Superintendents stands in support of HB 1604, HB 1829 and HB 1831. Thank you Dr. Tom Smith VASS

The VA NAACP supports: HB 1829 HB 1831

Support for public schools is a prerequisite for a stronger society, a more compassionate community and a more resilient regional leadership.

I have heard concerns that HB1945, which allows access to Telehealth during the school day, will take away instructional time. My secondary-school aged child spent two years with uncontrolled Chron's disease, forcing him to miss a significant amount of school. The stress from missed school inflamed his condition, leading to the strong recommendation that we add mental health support to his care plan. Ironically, the need for one hour a week of therapy--even when done virtually from our nearby home--took about a half day of instructional time from his already limited schedule and added significant stress (and resistance to getting help). Even if we secured a coveted end-of-day appointment, the travel time still required him to be pulled from his final class. The ability to participate in a telehealth appointment during school hours in a private location would have helped tremendously to keep him in the classroom, increasing his instructional time and health.

Mental health access is important to all students. According to CDC data from 2018–2022, suicide was the leading cause of death among Asian Americans aged 15–24, and the second leading cause of death among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, highlighting a critical and urgent issue. On behalf of Hamkae Center, we believe students learn best when they have the appropriate supports they need and support this bill as it impacts our growing AAPI communities and meets their needs in making sure that this next chapter in our community’s future is a better and brighter one for the younger generations to come. (https://beyond-the-surface.s3.amazonaws.com/beyond-the-surface-youth-mental-health-report-2024.pdf) Suja S. Mathew, Advocacy Manager

Greater access to telehealth, including while at school, is a modern-day need. Allowing students the ability to access telehealth services from the school building helps to keep students in class since they don’t have to leave for appointments. It also benefits students and families in rural areas that may not have physical access to medical treatment in their locality. Telehealth is a resource that is needed to keep up with the evolution and availability of medical resources. The Virginia PTA supports HB1945.

the disAbility Law Center of Virginia supports this legislation. This should enable children with disabilities in the most rural parts of the Commonwealth to have better access to important services.

Looks good based on the context. As an autistic student I struggled to make friends and I struggled even more to learn another language. Because of that I was forced into ABA ‘therapy’ where I was tortured for being myself. This bill is a good start to fixing it assuming by behavioral health you mean guardrails to ABA users and ending behaviorism once and for all.

On behalf of Hamkae Center, we believe students learn best when they have the appropriate supports they need. We support Delegate Rasoul's bill HB1954 as written shows an investment towards funding for resources, training teachers, and school systems to help augment helps support education access to high quality information. This allows all students, no matter what barriers they may face has the ability to communicate AND receive supports that they need. This is a great opportunity which will ensure that all emergent bilingual, multilingual and ELL students are able to communicate with each other and their teachers so that all students will be able to benefit fully from all educational programs and services that the Commonwealth has to offer. Suja S. Mathew Advocacy Manager

Special Education, low income, and English language learners are unique students and therefore, require unique resources and funding. Schools are legally required to provide identified extra services to these students in many cases, yet the current funding system fails to account for this. The need for additional resources for these students is critical. The Virginia PTA supports HB1954.

The Virginia Assocation of School Superintendents is in strong support of HB 1831 and HB 1954. The items listed in these bill have been on the top of our priorities for a number years. Thank you, Dr. Tom Smith VASS

For HB1894: HB1894 seeks to address the arguably unconstitutional, and undoubtedly inhumane conditions of Virginia prisons. 7 Virginia prisons currently have no central heating or cooling. In the winter, it gets so cold multiple inmates have needed to go to the hospital for hypothermia. it’s so cold that the water in the toilet freezes over while in the summer, it gets so hot that the walls sweat. This too has led to numerous incarcerated people being hospitalized for heat stroke. Medical complications associated with extreme heat or cold are often associated with expenses in excess of 10,000 dollars per hospitalization, a cost which the state bears the burden of. The fiscal impact of this legislation has been paired back significantly in order to ensure that we can take immediate steps to address the inhumane conditions in Virginia prisons. We urge you to support the legislation. For HB 1958: When it comes to free school meals the question on everyone’s mind is the same, why universal? First, significant numbers of students who are food insecure either do not meet existing eligibility requirements or are eligible and are not enrolled for other reasons including stigma. Not only does free school breakfast bridge these gaps in existing programs, but universally free breakfast is also more cost effective. On average, districts which have universal free school breakfast programs spend 58 cents less per breakfast than they cost in districts with means tested programs. This means that instead of spending money on paperwork, we can spend money on feeding hungry kids. Furthermore, children who experience food insecurity are 31% more likely to be hospitalized for health issues, in the short term costing in excess of $12,000. Cases where children are diagnosed with protein-calorie malnutrition can cost Medicaid as much as $1.25 million a for very young children. One in seven children in Virginia are hungry. We urge you to support this legislation and take one step towards eliminating child hunger in Virginia.

Comments Document

On behalf of Hamkae Center, we are in support of HB1958 . All children should have access to healthy meals. Costs of living continues to get higher and tight budgets for low-income families and busy morning schedules can mean that many students arrive at school hungry and not ready to learn. Some families may not know how to ask for additional assistance when it comes to financial difficulties and may not openly share their burdens to their children or to others. By providing free breakfasts, this eliminates the need to stigmatize students who may be in need. This bill ensures that no child should be left without food before the school day begins. Introducing universally free breakfasts increases math and reading test score gains by roughly 15 and 10 percent of a standard deviation on average, respectively. Students who participate in school breakfast show improved attendance, behavior, and academic performance as well as decreased tardiness. Thank you. Suja S. Mathew, Advocacy Manager

Childhood hunger is linked to academic struggles, difficulties focusing and concentrating, mental health disorders, and increased behavioral referrals. School meals help close the nutrition gap that exists for low-income families and play a critical role in youth dietary behaviors. Allowing school meals to all at no cost ensures all children in need will have access to adequate nutrition during the school day and eliminates the stigma many students face when such resources are not available to them. It’s the most fundamental thing we can do to help children be ready to learn at the start of the day.

Comments Document

My name is Melissa Jensen and I represent the Capital Area Food Bank, which is the largest charitable food provider in Northern Virginia. I am writing to ask you to vote yes to fully fund Del. Bennett-Parker's HB 1958, which would provide free school breakfast for all Virginia's students. There are over 252,000 food insecure children in Virginia. Childhood food insecurity is a detriment to healthy childhood development; school breakfast mitigates these negative outcomes. Research shows that breakfast helps children learn, improves attendance, and reduces behavior problems and tardiness. Children who eat breakfast at school – closer to test-taking time – perform better on standardized tests than those who skip breakfast or eat breakfast at home. Breakfast also promotes good health. Eating breakfast at school results in fewer visits to the school nurse, improves children’s diets, and helps build healthy habits. Research also found no negative impacts on student body mass index. During the 2023-2024 school year, 381,000 Virginia students ate breakfast daily, yet many barriers – including administrative burdens, social stigma, and school meal debt – prevent over half of low-income children from participating in school breakfast. Research also demonstrates that children of all income levels benefit from eating breakfast at school. There are a growing number of ALICE- Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed -households that earn more than the Federal Poverty Level, so they do not qualify for federal benefits, but do not earn enough to afford the basics in their communities. The United Way estimates that 29% of Virginia households are ALICE. Similarly, CAFB found in our 2024 Hunger Report that the greatest rates of increase in food insecurity in the region were in the middle-income groups – households earning approximately $100k to $150k. School breakfast proves to be an important tool in educational equity but removing income restraints and reaching all children in need. Attached is my full written testimony with more detail. Thank you.

Please support HB 1958 to provide breakfast for all children. Pediatricians are dealing with a mental health crisis and an obesity epidemic amongst our youth. Food insecurity is a major factor in both these issues, and we know providing them with a healthy meal can have a positive impact on both. The cost of investing in our children now will be much less than the health care costs of treating medical conditions that result from poor physical and mental health. Healthy children become healthy adults and reduce the burden on our health care system. A well- fed child will do better in school and go on to be a more productive member of our community. Please support Virginia’s children, their struggling families and the health care workers who provide care for them.

Childhood hunger is linked to academic struggles, difficulties focusing and concentrating, mental health disorders, and increased behavioral referrals. School meals help close the nutrition gap that exists for low-income families and play a critical role in youth dietary behaviors. Allowing school meals to all at no cost ensures all children in need will have access to adequate nutrition during the school day and eliminates the stigma many students face when such resources are not available to them. It’s the most fundamental thing we can do to help children be ready to learn. The Virginia PTA supports HB1958.

I am writing on behalf of Greater Richmond Fit4Kids in support of HB 1958. We are a Richmond, VA-based nonprofit that provides nutrition and physical activity programming and education in multiple Central Virginia school districts, including Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Petersburg, and Hopewell. As school program providers, we see the positive effects of school breakfast on a regular basis, including improved student attendance and concentration, positive behavior, and reduced hunger and food insecurity. Providing free school breakfast to everyone would help reduce stigma as well as family household food costs, while ensuring that all students across Virginia have the nutrition they need to start the day ready to learn. Thank you for supporting all of Virginia’s students!

I was lucky enough to grow up in NYC where I had free lunch. Free breakfast is an even better idea. I worked for a time as an outreach instructor for Jamestown/Yorktown Foundation and saw children at times falling asleep in class which I think was due to getting out early with no breakfast. Children are are future, our most important investment in our country and need to be nourished. If we want them to be alert and interested in their education, we must do all we can to see that they have the energy to do that. They need a good start to the day. This applies to all of them. No child wants to be singled out as needy so all the children need to be offered a good, no-cost breakfast. Thank you.

Research over decades show that students taught by National Board Certified Teachers do much better. See link and data below. https://www.nbpts.org/connect/research/ In addition, teachers who achieve National Board Certification, do it out of their will to be better teachers not because it’s a license requirement. So the dedication is very visible. If we really value good teachers and want to reduce the achievement gap, then support NBCTs by increasing the state stipend. $5000 initial and $2500 following year is very insufficient in a state where the cost of living is so high. Let’s put the money where the mouth is and support NBCTs by increasing state funding towards the annual stipend. This will retain more teachers in VA and help pursue more to become NBCTs. High compensation = highly qualified teachers = excellent student learning So please take action to support NBCTs

Comments Document

Melissa K. King, NBCT •6301 Edsall Rd, Unit 307 • Alexandria, VA 22312 • (703) 282 - 0555• melissakking@gmail.com RE: Increase Financial Support for National Board Certified Teachers in Virginia My name is Melissa K. King and I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT). I am writing to advocate for an increase in the annual stipend for National Board Certified Teachers in Virginia, raising it to $7,500. Currently, the Virginia National Board Certification Incentive Award (NBCIA) provides a stipend of only $2,500 per year. This amount has remained unchanged since the bill was passed more than a decade ago, despite growing evidence of the positive impact National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) have on student achievement. Research consistently shows that students taught by NBCTs perform better than those taught by non-NBCTs. Neighboring states, such as Maryland, recognize the value of NBCTs by offering significantly higher stipends—$10,000 annually, with an additional $7,000 for NBCTs in Title 1 schools. These higher stipends are part of a broader effort to retain and attract high-quality educators, and something Virginia should consider, given a teacher shortage with over 4,500 vacancies. In order to retain skilled and dedicated teachers and ensure the best education for Virginia’s students, we must do more to support and recognize National Board Certified Teachers. Our students deserve the highest level of expertise in the classroom, and NBCTs should be rewarded accordingly. For me, becoming a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) was a pivotal moment in my career, fostering both professional growth and pride. Though the process is rigorous, it is by far the best professional development I’ve ever had. This opportunity is sustained, and self-selected. It aligns with my current needs, focuses on actionable strategies, and offers opportunities for practice and reflection, all aimed at improving student achievement. It deepened my understanding of the link between effective preparation and student learning, shifting my focus from teaching delivery to improving student outcomes. I urge you to support legislation that increases the stipend for National Board Certified Teachers when it comes to a vote on the Floor. Thank you for your attention to this important issue. Sincerely, Melissa K. King Melissa K. King

Dear Members of the K-12 Subcommittee, I am writing to express my strong support for HB2381. This legislation is a pivotal step toward enhancing the quality of education in Virginia by recognizing and rewarding the exceptional contributions of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs). The expansion of this program will align Virginia with neighboring states, provide critical support for our educators, and benefit our students and schools. Research consistently demonstrates that students taught by NBCTs achieve greater learning gains compared to their peers. These benefits are particularly pronounced among students facing significant barriers to learning, such as those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds or those with special educational needs. By expanding the NBCT program, Virginia can ensure that more students have access to the high-quality education they deserve. Furthermore, NBCTs are significantly more likely to remain in the profession compared to non-certified counterparts, providing continuity and stability for schools and students alike. Compensation plays a critical role in attracting and retaining effective educators. In Virginia, low teacher pay has contributed to a troubling exodus of experienced educators. A 2023 JLARC survey revealed that 43% of licensed teachers who left Virginia public schools indicated they might return if offered better pay. Among those who left due to personal dissatisfaction or other reasons, 55% cited inadequate salary as a significant factor. The NBCT incentive program is an essential tool for addressing this issue, but current award amounts have not kept pace with inflation. Since the program’s inception 25 years ago, the $5,000 and $2,500 awards for certified educators have lost nearly half their value due to inflation. As a result, the number of NBCTs in Virginia has declined, dropping from 1,879 in the 2018-19 school year to 1,635 in 2023-24. By increasing the annual award amounts and expanding eligibility, HB2381 provides a much-needed boost to this critical program. Virginia’s current National Board Certification incentive program lags behind those of neighboring states. For example, Maryland offers a $10,000 annual award, plus an additional $7,000 for educators in low-performing schools, and reimburses certification costs. North Carolina provides a 12% salary increase and reimburses up to $1,900 in certification costs, with full reimbursement for those in low-performing schools. West Virginia awards $3,500 annually, plus $2,000 for educators in low-performing schools, and reimburses certification costs. By adopting HB2381, Virginia can position itself as a leader in education, ensuring that our state remains competitive in attracting and retaining top-tier educators. I urge the members of the K-12 Subcommittee to support HB2381 and take this vital step toward strengthening education in Virginia. Thank you for your consideration and for your dedication to the future of our students and schools. Sincerely, Melissa Larimer, NBCT, Hanover County Public Schools

Good morning. I’m Dr. Amy Brown, National Board Certified Teacher, and I have been an advocate for this certification since I engaged in the rigorous process in the early 2000s. Numerous research studies indicate NBCT’s have a measurable positive impact on student learning, even beyond the impact of other highly qualified educators who are not NBCTs. Knowing that, and as a parent of two school-age children, I would love to see all of our students have the benefit of an NBCT guiding their instruction, serving in school counseling offices and media centers, and leading school administrations. The reality, however, is that fewer than 4% of Virginia’s teachers are National Board certified, and there are numerous counties, cities, and geographic regions throughout our state that have not a single National Board Certified Teacher among their educators. HB 2381 not only serves to incentivize National Board Certification by recognizing those who have already achieved this high bar, but it also helps break down barriers to access for those who are unable to pay the fees associated with becoming certified. While a handful of school divisions and organizations, such as the Virginia Education Association, Southeastern Virginia NBCT Regional Network (also known as SEVA), and the Virginia NBCT network have long been engaged in supporting educators pursuing certification, the reality is that we need the support of our legislators and our Governor to achieve that worthy aim of having NBCTs in every school division and available to all of our students. And if you need more pragmatic reasons to support National Board Certification, I would also note that in a time where we are struggling to recruit and retain high caliber educators, NBCTs have demonstrated a commitment to ongoing improvement and addressing specific student needs, and that the attrition rate among NBCTs is significantly lower than non-NBCT educators. Thank you for your consideration of this bill.

I have just earned National Board certification in December. I can attest that this was the most profound professional development I have experienced. However, it took hours of my time over multiple years and I paid for the certification completely out of pocket. While I want to recommend this process to other teachers, extended financial incentives would help to encourage highly skilled teachers. The current incentives have not been updated for many years. I was surprised that only 1.7 of Virginia teachers are NBCTs. We are behind other states.

I earned my national board certification last December. The NBCT process was as rigorous as my graduate program. Many claim that teacher's compensation should be merit based; this certification is the best signifier of merit a teacher can achieve. Also, with the lucrative bonuses covered by Maryland and North Carolina makes it very inciting to move to those states. I seriously wonder how many teachers we lose to those states because we are behind attracting highly qualified teachers. Lastly the extra bonus for Title I schools would provide significant incentive to move to such a school. Please support HB 2381.

As a NBCT(2009/2018), I can honestly say that this accomplishment has provided an immense amount of professional development , networking opportunities, and self reflection in the profession . I’ve been teaching for more than 22 years and have seen the decline in the number of people wanting to enter the educational realm. I’ve also worked with National board by mentoring and encouraging people to participate . Most comments lately is that it is not worth the time and/effort . Passing this bill will definitely attract more teachers to try this certification process. Although the incentive may be the driving force, once entering this process the professional development , reflection on practice , and mentoring will have some impact on the candidates . Imagine the benefits this will have on students taught by NBCT as well. There are so many people willing to relocate to areas where this certification feels celebrated . I’ve encountered numerous teachers in other states who strongly encourage me to transfer to neighboring states that appreciate NBCTs more . I hope that this bill passes as I would love to see the number of teachers engage in the process and be rightfully compensated.

Thank you for taking time to reflect on the issue of incentives given to those who accomplish becoming a National Board Certified Teacher. Reflection, is a key component of becoming certified. Becoming certified improved my teaching after 16 years in the classroom and also gave me a boost to stay in as an educator because of the incentive and professional development. With many teachers leaving the profession, I chose to stay after becoming certified so that at the end of my career I would know that I had done all that was possible to help my students and grow as an educator. I must let you know that teaching has become extremely more difficult since the pandemic. So much so that teachers are feeling hopeless. Who is coming alongside the educators with support? Knowing the incentive is NOT what neighboring States provide has been extremely important as I reflect on if I really can stay in. Please increase the incentive so that morale is boosted and more teachers can benefit from the incredible experience of becoming certified. If the incentive isn't increased, it gives certified teachers even more proof that we are on our own and not cared for in the profession. We need your support more than ever. Please reflect on the message it sends to teachers if you don't increase the incentive to the full extent. Sincerely, Anita Aberle, NBCT

The single most important factor in a student’s academic growth over the course of a school year is the effectiveness of the teacher in the room with them that year. National Board Certification not only increases educator effectiveness but helps retain some of the best teachers in the classroom. Becoming an NBCT is an investment, both financially and of time - sometimes taking as long, if not longer than a Master’s program. Please support this bill providing greater financial incentives for teachers to pursue certification and continue supporting the students of the Commonwealth.

I am writing to ask for support of HB 2381. National Board Certification in teaching (NBCT) is a rigorous professional development program for teachers that builds skills, recognizes excellence, and helps retain our educators. This bill moves Virginia in line with neighboring states to incentivize our best educators to undertake this endeavor and to stay in the classroom. The National Board Standards and certification process are closely aligned with Virginia’s Teacher Evaluation Standards and Performance indicators. Its individualized nature allows educators to focus on areas of their own professional growth that will benefit the students they serve. Numerous studies indicate students taught by NBCTs make greater learning gains compared to peers. Outcomes are even more prevalent among students facing more barriers to learning. Research suggests NBCTs have a lower attrition rate compared to non-NBCT educators. Many NBCTs refer to the National Board process as their most impactful professional learning experience. Effective teachers are the most important school-based determinant of student performance. Low pay in Virginia is contributing to an exodus of the state’s most experienced educators. A 2023 JLARC survey found 43% of licensed teachers who left teaching in Virginia public schools indicated they might return for better pay. Fifty-five percent of those who left for personal reasons or because they were unhappy cited inadequate salary as one of their reasons for leaving. The number of NBCTs eligible for incentive awards has decreased from 1,879 in the 2018-19 school year to 1,635 in 2023-24. Offering $5,000 for the first year of certification and $2,500 for subsequent years, Virginia is behind most neighboring states for NBCT awards. Thank you for reading and considering my input.

My name is Lauren McGehee Efird and I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) who resides and teaches 5th grade in Williamsburg James City County. I am one of only 1,635 NBCT teachers in Virginia. Less than 2% of Virginia's teachers hold the certification. The National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in education. I received my certification in 2013 and renewed it in 2022. I am a 16-year veteran teacher with a master’s degree. Effective teachers are the most important school-based determinant of student performance. Please show your support for teachers who have demonstrated their effectiveness through this certification. I ask you to support HB 2381 and specifically a permanent increase in the NBCT stipend to $7,500 annually and to expand eligibility to all public-school staff. Please follow the lead from bordering states. Maryland gives $10,000 annually while North Carolina offers a 12% salary increase. Currently, I receive $2,500 annually from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the same national certification. The stipend has not increased in 20 years. National Board Certification benefits students, educators, and schools. As the number of NBCTs in Virginia has been declining, HB2381 incentivizes more educators to pursue this rigorous process and shows existing NBCTs that Virginia recognizes and values the expertise they bring to classrooms across the state. Please support HB2381 to expand the National Board Certification incentive reward program.