2018 General Assembly Update

Key Education-Related Subjects

Week ending Friday, January 26, 2018

Fairfax County Public Schools, Office of Government Relations

Additional information regarding the education-related legislation described below, as well as for all other bills related to education can be found in the thirteen subject categories located on the web pages of the FCPS Office of Government Relations at https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/departments-and-offices/government-relations/virginia-general-assembly.  Bills in these categories are linked to the Virginia Division of Legislative Services web pages, which provide up-to-date summary, fiscal impact and bill status information.

K-12 Related Bills

Long Term Suspensions HB 1600 (Bourne) would reduce the maximum length of a long-term suspension from 364 calendar days to 45 school days.

 

Vacancies and Appointments of Division Superintendents HB 81 (Krizek) would upon request, grant a school board an additional 180 days within which to appoint a division superintendent. 

 

Mental Health Instruction SB 953 (Deeds) Health would require health instruction to incorporate standards that recognize the multiple dimensions of health by including mental health and the relationship of physical and mental health so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes, and behavior that promote health, well-being, and human dignity. The bill would also direct the Board of Education to review and update the health Standards of Learning for students in grades nine and 10 to include mental health.

 

Voter Registration; Notice and Public Access not Required for Certain voter Registration Events SB 131 (Edwards) would provide that voter registration conducted in a high school and voter registration events sponsored or conducted by an entity or organization which the general registrar or an assistant registrar attends as an invitee are not required to be open to the public.

 

Net Energy Metering in Schools HB 1451 (Sullivan) would require a school board to direct that when a school is an eligible customer-generator in the net energy metering program and generates more electricity than it consumes, the supplier would be required to credit the excess electricity to one or more other schools in the school division without assessing any service charges or fees.

 

Additional Funding for Instructional and Support Services Positions HB 1508 (Adams) would declare it to be the policy of the Commonwealth that school boards that are unable to fund the total amount required by the locality's composite index of local ability to pay to reach the prevailing funded salary for qualified instructional positions funded under the Standards of Quality, as set out in Direct Aid to Public Education in the general appropriation act, and support services positions shall receive, to the extent practicable, state funds for qualified instructional positions and support services positions in addition to those state funds that the school board receives for public school purposes.

 

Virtual Virginia Enrollment HB 1504 (Cline) would require enrollment in the Virtual Virginia online learning program during the school year to be open, on a space-available basis and free of charge, to each public high school student in the Commonwealth and each high school student in the Commonwealth who receives home instruction.

 

Options for a High School Diploma HB 1530 (Davis) would provide that, except in the case of high school students who are eligible for the Applied Studies diploma, each high school student who has met the requirements for graduation prescribed by the Board of Education and the local school board shall be awarded a diploma of achievement or a diploma of achievement with a foreign language endorsement.

 

Menstrual Supplies in School Buildings HB 1434 (Keam) would require each school board to make tampons and pads available at all times and at no cost to students in the bathrooms of each facility that it owns, leases, or otherwise controls that houses a public school at which any student in grades six through 12 is enrolled.

 

Health Education; Prescription Drugs HB 1532 (Herring) would require the health education program required for each public elementary and secondary school student to include an age-appropriate program of instruction on the safe use of and risks of abuse of prescription drugs that is consistent with curriculum guidelines developed by the Board of Education and approved by the State Board of Health. The bill would require the Board of Education to model such curriculum guidelines after the curriculum adopted by the School Board of the City of Virginia Beach regarding drugs and the opioid crisis.

 

Teacher Probation and Dismissal HB 1577 (Kory) would specify that a teacher may be placed on probation for incompetency, immorality, noncompliance with school laws and regulations, disability as shown by competent medical evidence when in compliance with federal law, conviction of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude, or other good and just cause. The bill would replace the current condition constituting incompetency, for the purposes of teacher employment, of one or more unsatisfactory performance evaluations with the condition of more than one unsatisfactory performance evaluation or one unsatisfactory performance evaluation coupled with a finding by the division superintendent that the teacher (i) exhibited a pattern of poor performance or (ii) failed to respond to efforts to improve his performance. The bill would extend from 10 business days to 15 business days the deadline for a teacher to request a hearing after receiving written notice of a recommendation of dismissal. The bill also would stagger by 10 days (a) the opportunity for a teacher recommended for dismissal to inspect and copy his personnel file and all other documents relied upon in reaching the decision to recommend dismissal and (b) the opportunity for the division superintendent to inspect and copy the documents to be offered in rebuttal to the decision to recommend dismissal. The bill would also extend from 15 business days to 30 business days the deadline for the school board or hearing officer to set a hearing after a request for a hearing by a teacher recommended for dismissal.

 

Potable Water Lead Testing HB 1578 (Kory) would require each local school board's plan for testing potable water sources in school buildings to provide for such testing as often as is required of the supplying public water system by the Virginia Department of Health's Office of Drinking Water pursuant to regulations established in accordance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The bill would require such plan and the results of each test conducted pursuant to such plan to be posted on the local school board's website and reported to the Virginia Department of Health. The bill would provide that if the results of any test conducted in accordance with the plan indicate a level of lead in the potable water that is at or above 20 parts per billion, the school board shall develop, implement, post on its website, and report to the Virginia Department of Health a plan to remediate the level of lead in the potable water to below 20 parts per billion and confirm such remediation by retesting the water at two consecutive six-month intervals, consistent with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act.

 

Children who are deaf or hard of hearing; services; advisory subcommittee. HB 676 (Pogge) would declare it the goal of the Commonwealth that each child who is deaf or hard of hearing is (i) as linguistically ready for kindergarten as his peers who are not deaf or hard of hearing and (ii) receptively and expressively literate in English and literate in written English by the end of third grade. The bill would require each agency of the Commonwealth that is responsible for providing services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing to collaborate to provide unified and seamless services for each such child from the onset of the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention process through the end of his elementary and secondary school career. The bill also would establish a 14-member Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Children's Advisory Subcommittee within the Disability Commission to advise the Commission on the provision of services in the Commonwealth for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

 

Standards of Learning Assessment Scoring HB 808 (O’Quinn) would require the Department of Education, in scoring each individual Standards of Learning assessment, to utilize the highest score achieved by the student on each section of the assessment during any administration of the assessment.

 

Member Proposed House and Senate Budget Amendments

Budget amendments have been proposed by the members of each body.   House Appropriations and Senate Finance will now review these proposals to determine what will be included in each chamber’s proposed amendments to the Governor’s introduced budget.  Budget amendments from both the House and Senate will be released on “Budget Sunday”, February 18^th.  All amendments will be available by noon on February 20^th.  Houses of introduction must then complete work on the Budget Bill by February 22^nd . February 28^th is the last day for each house to complete work on the Budget bill of the other house and appoint conferees by midnight.  NOTE that school division allocations are not available for any of these amendments, the dollar figures reflect statewide totals only.

House Member Proposed Budget

• School Nurses Staffing Ratios: Item 136 #17h (Torian) would provide $41.3 million the first year and $41.9 million the second year from the general fund for the state's share of costs pursuant to the passage of House Bill 1046, which requires every school division to employ at least one full-time school nurse position in each elementary, middle and high school and at least one additional school nurse per 550 students in grades kindergarten through 12. Item 136 #18h (Thomas) would provide $19.4 million the first year and $19.7 million the second year from the general fund for the state's share of costs pursuant to the passage of House Bill 1046, which requires every school division to employ at least one full-time school nurse position in each elementary, middle and high school and at least one additional school nurse per 1,000 students in grades kindergarten through 12.

• Increase Support COCA to 24.61%:  Item 136 #2h (Sickles) would provide $23.9 million the first year and $24.5 million the second year from the general fund to increase the percentage rate for the SOQ funded support positions from 10.61 percent as reflected in new biennial budget fiscal year 2018-2020, to 24.61 percent.

• At-Risk Add-On Supplement:  Item 136 #8h: (Carr) This would add $7.2 million the first year and $7.1 million the second year from the general fund to the At-Risk Add-on supplement by increasing the maximum add-on based on the following percent ranges: from 13.0 percent to 14.0 percent the     first year and from 14.0 percent the second year to 15.0 percent.  Item 136 #9h (Aird) and Item 136 #10h (O’Quinn) would add $35.7 million the first year and $28.5 million the second year from the general fund to the At-Risk Add-on supplement by increasing the maximum add-on based on the following percent ranges: from 13.0 percent the first year and from 14.0 percent the second year to 18.0 percent in both years.    

• At-Risk Add-On Supplement:  Item 136 #8h: (Carr) This would add $7.2 million the first year and $7.1 million the second year from the general fund to the At-Risk Add-on supplement by increasing the maximum add-on based on the following percent ranges: from 13.0 percent to 14.0 percent the first year and from 14.0 percent the second year to 15.0 percent.  Item 136 #9h (Aird) and Item 136 #10h (O’Quinn) would add $35.7 million the first year and $28.5 million the second year from the general fund to the At-Risk Add-on supplement by increasing the maximum add-on based on the following percent ranges: from 13.0 percent the first year and from 14.0 percent the second year to 18.0 percent in both years.    

• Teacher Recruitment & Retention Grant Programs - STEM Teachers in Middle & High Schools:  Item 135 #4h (McQuinn) would add $1.2 million each year from the general fund to the Teacher Recruitment & Retention Grant Programs - STEM Teachers in Middle & High Schools.

• Teacher Residency Program:  Item 135 #5h (McQuinn) would add $5.0 million each year from the general fund to the Teacher Residency Program and expands eligible partnerships to include any other teacher preparation programs and urban school divisions that are not currently participating in the program. Item 135 #10h (Aird) would add$500,000 each year from the general fund to the Teacher Residency Program.  Item 135 #13h (Bourne) would add $1.5 million each year from the general fund to the Teacher Residency Program.

• Project Discovery (Fairfax participates via College Access Fairfax):  Item 135 #6h (Kilgore), Item 135 #7 h (McQuinn) and Item 135 #8h (Orrock) would add $200,000 each year from the general fund to Project Discovery Program and expands eligible school divisions to include Fredericksburg/Spotsylvania partnership. This amendment also eliminates the reporting requirements that were used to determine student success and achievement outcomes due to their involvement in the program.

• Eliminate Project Discovery:  Item 135 #25h (Landes) would save $762,500 each year from the general fund by eliminating the Project Discovery initiative.

• Virginia Student Training & Refurbishment (VA STAR) Program:  Item 135 #9h (Bell, J.) would add $100,000 each year from the general fund to the Virginia Student Training and Refurbishment Program to expand the number of participants through the 2018-2020 biennium.

• New Virginia Teacher Fellowship Program:  Item 135 #11h (Aird) would add $500,000 each year from the general fund to establish the Virginia Teacher Fellowship Program. The two-year fellowship will provide geographically diverse groups of Virginia teachers an opportunity to objectively contribute as well as be informed on critical state policy issues such as teacher shortage, placement, retention, and use of technology in the classroom. In addition, this program will yield data from teachers in Virginia's public schools which can be used in inform policy development, and be externally and independently evaluated.
•  Teacher Scholarship Loan Program:  Item 135 #12h (Carr) would add $1.3 million each year from the general fund to increase the Virginia Teacher Scholarship Program to expand the number of scholarships and loans that may be awarded. The requested additional funding will increase the number of scholarships available to students for the top five critical teaching shortage disciplines and for minorities in any content area.

• Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support (PBIS):  Item 135 #16h (Bourne) would add $2.4 million each year from the general fund to expand the Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support initiative.

• Level Fund Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support (PBIS):  Item 135 #26h (Landes) would save $500,000 each year from the general fund by maintaining the fiscal year 2018 funding level amount for the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports initiative.

• Vision Screening Grants:  Item 135 #20h (Ware) would provide $391,000 each year from the general fund to offset a portion of costs realized by school divisions that provide vision screening tests to eligible students as prescribed in Chapter 312, Acts of Assembly of the 2017 Session.

• New Praxis Assistance for Provisionally Licensed Teachers:  Item 135 #26h (Landes) would save $50,000 the second year from the general fund by adjusting the allocation for the new Praxis Assistance initiative. If this new program is successful during the 2018-2019 school year, then the allocation amount can be reviewed during the 2019 Session for fiscal year 2020 funding considerations.

• Eliminate New Initiative - Principal Retention & Recruitment Bonuses:  Item 135 #24h (Landes) would save $500,000 each year from the general fund by eliminating the new principal retention and recruitment salary bonus allocation.

• Eliminate New Initiative - Cyber Camps:  Item 135 #23h (Landes) would save $480,000 each year from the general fund by eliminating the new cyber camp initiative. 

• Grow Your Own Teacher Program Fund and Programs:  Item 135 #21h (Krizek) would provide $750,000 each year from the federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families block grant for the fiscal impact of House Bill 380 which requires the Department of Education to award grants from such funds to local school boards to establish Grow Your Own Teacher Programs.

• New Praxis Assistance for Provisionally Licensed Teachers:  Item 135 #27h (Landes) would save $50,000 the second year from the general fund by adjusting the allocation for the new Praxis Assistance initiative.  If this new program is successful during the 2018-2019 school year, then the allocation amount can be reviewed during the 2019 Session for fiscal year 2020 funding consideration.

• Wolf Trap Model STEM Program: Item 135 #3h (Sickles) would add $125,000 each year from the general fund to the Wolf Trap Model STEM Program initiative.

• Local Composite Index Hold Harmless Grants:  Item 136 #7h (Bourne) would provide $31.4 million the first year and $20.0 million the second year from the general fund to school divisions to pay for a local composite index hold harmless grant to school divisions such that they would receive a 100% hold harmless grant amount to offset any deduction related to the change in their fiscal year 2018-2020 local composite index as compared to the fiscal year 2016-2018 local composite index in the first year and a 50% hold harmless grant amount to offset any deduction related to the change in the fiscal year 2018-2020 local composite index as compared to the fiscal year 2016-2018 local composite index in the second year. The 'No Loss' allocation of $11.5 million in the first year that was included in the introduced budget is eliminated and the related funds are redirected to offset a portion of the first year cost of this amendment.

• Virginia Preschool Initiative:  Item 136 #5h (Carr) would provide $4.3 million each year from the general fund to the Virginia Preschool Initiative for the state's share of increasing the per pupil amount from the current $6,150 that is reflected in the introduced biennial budget, to $6,500.  Item 136 #25h (Peace) would provide $50,000 the first year from the general fund and requires the Department of Education to develop a plan of action to ensure that the VPI program is effective and beneficial to at-risk four-old children enrolled in it.  Item 136 #26h (Peace) would This provide $250,000 each year from the general fund and require the Department of Education to conduct classroom observations and develop appropriate assessments to determine the quality of all VPI classrooms.

• English as a Second Language:  Item 136 #11h (Kory) would provide $11.0 million the first year and $11.7 million the second year from the general fund to increase the number of funded English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) teachers from 17 to 20 per 1,000 ESL students. These ESL teachers are in addition to the teachers funded through the Basic Aid formula. This amendment request is pursuant to the passage of House Bill 13.) 

• HB 168 Class Size Limits:  Item 136 #12h (Murphy) would provide $6.0 million each year from the general fund for the fiscal impact of House Bill 168, which establishes a maximum class size of 24 students in science laboratory classes in grades six through 12. The funding included in this amendment is contingent on the passage of House Bill 168.  Item 136 #23h (Robinson) would provide $6.1 million the first year and $6.2 million the second year from the general fund for the fiscal impact of House Bill 1380, which establishes a maximum class size of 29 students in grades four through six. The funding included in this amendment would be contingent on the passage of House Bill 1380.

• Expand Use of At-Risk Add-on Program Allocation (language only):  Item 136 #14h (Van Valkenburg) would expand the possible options for school divisions to spend the funding they receive from the At-Risk Add-on supplement to include hiring additional school counselors to reduce the divisions current counselor to student ratio. The new language also requires school divisions to report how the At-Risk Add-on funds are spent each year and requires the Department of Education to report the information to the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees.  Item 136 #22h (Yancey) would expand the possible options for school divisions to spend the funding they receive from the At-Risk Add-on supplement to include hiring additional school counselors to reduce the divisions current counselor to student ratio. The new language would also require school divisions to report how At-Risk Add-on funds are spent each year and requires the Department of Education to report that information to the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees.

• HB 255 Public Preschool Fund and Grant Program Item 136 #14 h (Guzman) would provide $267.7 million the first year and $268.6 million the second year from the general fund for the fiscal impact of House Bill 255 which establishes the Public Preschool Fund and Grant Program for the purpose of funding and providing on a competitive basis grants to local school boards to establish and maintain public preschool programs for children and who will have reached their fourth birthday on or before September 30 in the current school year. The bill would require the Department of Education (DOE) to administer the Public Preschool Grant Program and establish guidelines and procedures for grant applications, awards, and renewals; standards for preschool programs established and maintained by grant recipients, including standards for curriculum, student achievement, attendance, instruction, personnel, and length of school day and school year; and data collection and reporting requirements for grant recipients. The bill would further require the DOE to give priority to grant applicants who propose a plan for the innovative use of facilities in the local school division to house the proposed public preschool program, including community centers and recreation centers. The goal and objective of the proposed legislation would be to enable school divisions and private providers to provide additional classroom space such that all four-year-old children may attend a preschool program, as pursuant to House Bill 255. The proposed funding for this amendment would be contingent on the passage of House Bill 255.

• Virginia Preschool Initiative – Local Definition of At-Risk:  Item 136 # 20h (Heretick) would increase the number slots that are filled based on locally defined at-risk eligibility from 15 percent to 30 percent.

• Extended Enrollment Loss (Language Only):  Item 136 #21h (Rush) would provide $8.4 million the first year from the general fund to eligible small school divisions that have a total membership of less than 10,000 students and have had a ten percent decline or more in their average daily membership from 2008 to 2017. There is a minimum supplement of $75,000 to an eligible school division. For the first year, the COCA instructional rate for Planning District Eight school divisions would be adjusted to fund this supplement.

• Supplemental Lottery Per Pupil Allocation:  Item 136 #24h would provide $43.4 million each year from the general fund to pay for program costs moved out of Lottery-funded program account and funded with general fund dollars. The freed-up $43.4 million each year in Lottery revenues would be added into the Supplemental Lottery Per Pupil Allocation (PPA) account. The additional $43.4 million in Lottery funds would increase the percentage of the Supplemental Lottery Per Pupil Allocation from 32.6 percent to 40.0 percent each year. The revised total amount of the Supplemental Lottery PPA account would equal $234.7 million each year.

• Power Scholars Academy - YMCA BELL:  Item 136 #5h) (Garrett) would provide $1.2 million each year from the general fund for the Power Scholar Academy to expand the number of sites and students served by the program.

• VRS Study:  486 #1h (Torian) would provide $350,000 from the general fund the first year pursuant to the passage of House Joint Resolution 103 of the 2018 General Assembly Session which requires the VRS to study the feasibility and merits of a state-run retirement savings plan for employers and their employees who do not have access to an employer-provided retirement savings plan.

 

Senate Member Proposed Budget Amendments

• School Personnel; School Nurse Ratios:  136 # 16s (Stuart) would provide $3.9 million GF the first year and $4.1 million GF the second year in funding for one full-time school nurse in each elementary school, middle school, and high school in the local school division or at least one full time equivalent school nurse per 550 students in K-12.

• Increase Support COCA to 24.61%: Item 136 #4 (Howell) would provide $23.9 million GF the first year and $24.5 million GF the second year to increase the percentage rate for the SOQ funded support positions from 10.61 percent as reflected in new biennial budget FY 2018-2020, to 24.61 percent.  Item 135 #4s (Black) would provide similar funding to restore at least to 2012-14 levels for FY 2019 and FY 2020 the amount of state SOQ funding to select school divisions (Planning District 8 and certain adjacent school divisions) resulting from the previous elimination of state funding for the cost-of-competing adjustment for support positions.

• At-Risk Add-On:  Item 136 #1s (Norment) would increase the state At-risk Add-on from 1 to 13 percent in the first year to 1 to 14 percent ($7.1 million), and from 1 to 14 percent in the second year (increased in the Governor's introduced budget) to 1 to 15 percent ($7.1 million). The amendment would also add "teacher recruitment programs and incentives" to allowable use of the funds.  Item 136:  #12s (McClellan) would add $50.0 million GF the first year and $42.8 million GF the second year to the At-Risk Add-on supplement by increasing the maximum add-on based on the following percent ranges: from 13.0 percent the first year and from 14.0 percent the second year to 20.0 percent in both years. This amendment would also broaden how these funds may be spent in support of at-risk student.

• 4% Pay Increase for all Public School Teachers:  Item 136 #10s (Sturtevant) would provide funding for a 4.0 percent teacher salary increase July 1, 2018, in lieu of the 2.0 percent increase December 1, 2019 proposed in the budget as introduced.

• VDOE – Support Cap:  Item 136 #14s (McClellan) would provide $349.1 million GF the first year and $349.0 million GF the second year, to eliminate the methodology established in the Appropriation Act that artificially caps the number of state-funded support positions at one-support position for every 4.27 instructional positions, as recommended by the Virginia Board of Education in their 2017 Annual Report on the Condition of Needs of Public Schools in Virginia.

• Teaching Scholarship Loans:  Item #1s (Norment) would increase the number of scholarships available to students for the top five critical teaching shortage disciplines and for minorities in any content area in the amount of $1,300,000 each year.

• STEM Teachers Program:  Item 135 #2s (Norment) would increase the amount of funding available in the Department of Education's STEM Program in the amount of $1,200,000 each year to attract, recruit, and retain high quality diverse individuals to teach science, technology, engineering, or mathematics in Virginia's middle and high schools experiencing difficulty in recruiting qualified teachers.

• Teacher Residency Partnerships:  Item 135 #3s (Norment) would increase the grants by $5 million each year for teacher residency partnerships between university teacher preparation programs to not only the Petersburg, Norfolk, and Richmond City school divisions, but expansion to other school divisions and Virginia colleges and universities that credential teachers.

• Extended Enrollment Loss (COCA Offset) – Language Only:  Item 136 #17s (Carrico) would provide $8.4 million GF the first year to eligible small school divisions that have a total membership of less than 10,000 students and have had a ten percent decline or more in their average daily membership from 2008 to 2017. There would be a minimum supplement of $75,000 to an eligible school division. For the first year, the COCA instructional rate for Planning District 8 school divisions would be adjusted to fund this supplement.

• Local Composite Index Hold Harmless Grants:  Item 136 #9s (McClellan) would provide $31.4 million GF the first year and $20.0 million GF the second year from the general fund to school divisions to pay for a local composite index hold harmless grant to school divisions such that they would receive a 100% hold harmless grant amount to offset any deduction related to the change in their FY 2018-2020 local composite index as compared to the FY 2016-2018 local composite index in the first year and a 50% hold harmless grant amount to offset any deduction related to the change in the FY 2018-2020 local composite index as compared to the FY 2016-2018 local composite index in the second year. The 'No Loss' allocation of $11.5 million in the first year that was included in the introduced budget is eliminated and the related funds are redirected to offset a portion of the first year cost of this amendment.

• Alternatives to Student Suspension, Expulsion, and School-based Delinquency Charges:  Item 135 #6s (McClellan) would increase the funding allocated for Virginia public schools implementing evidence-based and evidence-informed alternatives to school suspension, expulsion, and referrals of students to law enforcement by $2.4 million per year.

• Project Discovery:  Item 135 #8s (Norment) would add $200,000 in funding each year for Project Discovery (post-secondary education access) to assist existing programs and add existing and successful programs that have not heretofore received state support. The amendment would also eliminate language for a requirement that was completed in 2016.

• VECF Integrated Early Childhood Funding Pilot:  Item 135 #9s (Dunnavant) would direct the pass-through/allocation of funds from two existing NGF appropriations (unused Virginia Preschool Initiative funds estimated at $2 million annually and TANF funding of $2.0 million annually) to the Virginia Early Childhood Foundation to be administered/distributed, along with current appropriations in Item # 135 T. 1-3, through community grants as part of an integrated early childhood funding pilot initiative. In addition, this amendment would add $250,000 GF each year to support and increase in early care an education provider enrollment in the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program.

• Virginia Teacher Fellowship Program:  Item 135 #10s (McDougle) would connect educators to state and school division policymakers. The two-year fellowship would provide a geographically diverse group of Virginia teachers an opportunity to objectively inform critical state policy issues such as teacher shortage, placement, retention, and use of technology in the classroom. In addition, this program will yield data from teachers in Virginia's public schools which can be used to inform policy development, and be externally and independently evaluated. The proposed $500,000 per year in public funds dedicated to this program would be supplemented by philanthropic and corporate support.

• District Choice Assessment Program:  Item 135 #12s (Saslaw) would provide $500,000 for a two-year pilot for school divisions to offer the option of a college or career readiness assessment to its 11th grade students. The pilot would be paid for by state funds and be directed to school divisions through a process created by the Department of Education in consultation with school superintendents. Covered assessments would include the ACT test, the SAT, and Work Keys. The intent would be to increase the number of students taking any college or career assessment by providing greater access and equity to school divisions serving students and families that find it difficult to pay independently, with a goal of getting more low-income, first generation students to enroll and persist in post-secondary education whether through a degree or certificate program.

• Virginia Reading Corps:  Item 135 #13s (Dunnavant) would provide additional funding in the amount of $300,000 the first year and would allow the implementation partner to determine and select school division partners.

• Increase Early STEM Model Program:  Item 135 #14s (Howell) would increase the appropriation for Early STEM Model Programs by $125,000 per year to serve a total of 4,500 additional students and teachers in the Commonwealth. Programs would continue to use a professional development-based model to reach students in greatest need, with a particular focus on Head Start, VPI, and VPI+ classrooms.

• Increase VA STAR:  Item 135 # 15s (Surovell) and Item 135 #16s (Vogel) would increase funding by $100,000 per year necessary for VA STAR to continue the program within currently participating school divisions and to expand the number of participants through the 2018-2020 biennium.

• At-Risk Add-On for High School Counselors (Language Only):  Item 136 #13s (McPike) would add language allowing the Department of Education to make equitable distribution of at-risk funds to school divisions that certify to the Department that the funds will be used to provide at least a 1 to 250 ratio of school counselors to student.

• Virginia Preschool Initiative:  Item 136 #2s (Norment) would provide $4.5 million GF each year to increases the allocation formula for the VPI program from $6,125 to $6,500 for full-day programs and from $3,062 to $3,249.50 for half-day programs.

• Legislative Commission on Elementary & Secondary Education: Item 136 #3s (Newman) would provide funding in the amount of $350,000 for a new legislative commission focused on K-12 education, pursuant to proposed legislation.

• CTE Regional Centers Funding:  Item 136 #6s (Wagner) would provide $12.5 million GF the second year as estimated funding in order to fund the 10 regional career and technical education centers, with approximate total enrollment of about 5,000 students, in a manner similar to the 19 regional Governor's Schools. The components of the funding model would be developed by the Virginia Department of Education no later than October 1, 2018 and included in the 2019 proposed budget.

• Loan Fund for CTE Regional Centers:   Item 136 #7s (Wagner) would create a new loan fund to allow regional career and technical education centers a mechanism to borrow money for facility construction, renovation, and updating equipment and labs. Funding would be provided in the second year for approximate debt service on first year issuances of approximately $10.0 million.

• Power Scholars Academy – YMCA: Item 136 #9s (Sturtevant) would provide $1.2 million GF each year for the Power Scholars Academy to expand the number of sites and students served by the program.

• Increased VPI Flexibility Weighting (Language Only):  Item 136 #12s (Spruill) would increase the percentage of Virginia Preschool Initiative slots that can be filled based on locally established criteria so as to meet the unique needs of at-risk children in the community from 15 percent to 30 percent and increase the weight assigned to free lunch from 40 percent to 50 percent to ensure that those areas with the greatest number of at-risk children receive adequate funding.

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STATUS OF BILLS REPORTED IN PREVIOUS WEEKLY UPDATES BY SUBJECT AREA Please note that bills reported in the Legislative Update may appear in more than one subject area.  In addition, bills that are the same or substantially similar to bills included in a previous Update will be added to the appropriate subject area category and are noted with an asterisk.

 

 

BUILDINGS, BUSES, & SAFETY (BBS)

 

• Autism Spectrum Disorders Training Program for School Bus Personnel

ACTIVE:  SB 229 (Hanger)

 

• Complaints of Child Abuse or Neglect

ACTIVE: HB 389 (Keam), HJ 122 (Reid), SB 183 (Favola)

FAILED: SB 182 (Favola)

 

• Display of Advertising Material on School Buses

ACTIVE:  HB 809 (O’Quinn)

 

• Passing Stopped School Bus

ACTIVE: HB 219 (Moorefield), HB 492 (LaRock), HB 1289 (Guzman), SB 381 (Chafin)

CONTNUED TO 2019: SB 700 (Deeds)

 

• Pneumatic Guns on School Property

ACTIVE: HB 1327 (Edmunds)

 

• School Board Employees with Founded Child Abuse or Neglect Reports

ACTIVE: HB 150 (Bulova)

 

• School Bus Driver Training

ACTIVE: HB 810 (O’Quinn), HB 914 (Landes), SB 557 (Hanger)

 

• Passing Stopped School Bus Video Monitoring

CONTINUED TO 2019:  SB 700 (Deeds)

 

• Reporting Crimes to Law Enforcement

ACTIVE: HB 15 (Mullin),  HB 445 (Carroll-Foy), SB 476 (Reeves)

 

• Seat Belts on School Buses

FAILED:  HB 224 (Krizek)

 

• Sexual Misconduct in Elementary and Secondary Schools

ACTIVE: SB 184 (Favola), HB 438 (Bulova), HB 622 (Bell, Richard P.)

 

• Study of Laws and Policies Governing Investigation of Child Abuse

ACTIVE: HJ 122 (Reid)

 

CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE (CD)

 

• Abduction, Reports to Superintendents

ACTIVE:  HB 292 (Collins),

 

• Alternative Education

ACTIVE: HB 688 (McQuinn)

 

• Prohibit K-3 Suspensions  

ACTIVE: HB 296 (Bell, R.P.)*, SB 170 (Stanley)

 

• Reporting Crimes to Law Enforcement

ACTIVE: HB 15 (Mullin), HB 445 (Carroll-Foy), SB 476 (Reeves)

 

• Sunscreen Use of

      ACTIVE: HB 330 (Yancey)

 

 

FINANCE (FIN)

 

• Alternative Education

ACTIVE:  HB 688 (McQuinn)

 

• Calculation of Composite Index-Land Use Valuation

      ACTIVE: SB 537 (Hanger), HJ 91 (Webert)

      FAILED: HB 423 (Gooditis)

 

• Caseload Requirements for Full-Time Special Education Aides

ACTIVE:  HB 253 (Guzman)

 

• Child Services Act Study

ACTIVE: HJ 29 (Bell, Richard P.)

 

• Class Size Limits

ACTIVE:  HB 168 (Murphy), HB 1380 (Robinson)

 

• Education Parity Commission

ACTIVE: HB 711 (Adams)

 

• Posting of Register of Funds Expended

ACTIVE:  SB 751 (Sturtevant)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for Mental Health Counselors

ACTIVE:  HB 252 (Guzman)

 

• School Meal Policies

ACTIVE: HB 50 (Hope), HB 1477 (Roem)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for School Nurses

ACTIVE:  HB 791 (Pogge), HB 1046 (Torian), HB 1254 (Thomas), and SB 366 (Stuart)

 

• Standards of Quality Funding

ACTIVE:  HB 305 (Watts)

 

• Standards of Quality Funding Studies

ACTIVE:  HJ 70 (Bloxom), HJ 112 (Rodman), HJ 115 (LaRock), HJ 126 (Carroll-Foy), SJ 29 (Spruill) and SJ 56 (Sturtevant)*

• Students with Limited English Proficiency

ACTIVE:  HB 13 (Kory)

 

 

INSTRUCTION & STANDARDS OF LEARNING (INS)

 

• Access to Electronic Textbooks and Adequate Connectivity

ACTIVE:  SB 785 (Surovell)

 

• American Sign Language Credit for Foreign Language Course Completion

ACTIVE: HB 84 (Bell, Richard P.)

 

• Career and Technical Education, Accommodations of English learners

ACTIVE: HB 442 (Carroll-Foy)

 

• Career Investigation Courses and Programs of Instruction

ACTIVE:  HB 632 (Bulova)

 

• Class Size Limits

ACTIVE:  HB 168 (Murphy), HB 1380 (Robinson)

 

• Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility

ACTIVE:  HJ 117 (LaRock)

 

• Community Schools

ACTIVE: HB 121 (Rasoul)

 

• Computer Coding Credit for Foreign Language Completion

ACTIVE:  HB 443 (Caroll-Foy) and HB 576 (Davis)

 

• Diploma Seals for Science, Technology, Engineering & Advanced Mathematics (STEAM)

ACTIVE: HB 167 (Miyares)

 

• Driver Education Programs

ACTIVE: SB 126 (Cosgrove)

FAILED: HB 1077 (Filler-Corn)

 

• Dual Enrollment Courses; Quality Standards; Universal Transfer Course Credit

ACTIVE:  HB 3 (Landes), SB 77 (Sturtevant), SB 107 (Suetterlein), and HB 542 (Freitas)

FAILED: HB 535 (Freitas)  HB 1322 (Cole)*

 

• Dual Language Programs

ACTIVE:  HB 507 (Mullin)

 

• Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits for Nonpublic Pre-Kindergarten Program

ACTIVE: HB 1078 (Head), HB 1165 (Landes), SB 172 (Stanley),

FAILED: SB 553 (Dunnavant) (incorporated into SB 172)

 

• Family Life Education

ACTIVE: HB 44 (Filler-Corn), HB 45 (Filler-Corn), HB 159 (Rasoul), HB 1223

(Rodman), SB 101 (McClellan)

FAILED: SB 425 (Wexton) SB 789 (Surovell), SB 843 Favola (all three incorporated into SB 101)

 

• Family Life Education Programs; Student Participation

ACTIVE:  HB 1168 (La Rock)

 

• Governor’s School Admissions Requirements

FAILED:  SB 787 (Surovell)

 

• High School Graduation, Certificates of Program Completion

ACTIVE:  HB 390 (Keam)

 

• High School Graduation Course Load

ACTIVE: HB 329 (Yancey)

 

• High School to Work Partnerships

ACTIVE; HB 544 (Freitas), SB 960 (Suetterlein)*

 

• Home Instruction; Dual Enrollment Courses

FAILED:  HB 497 (Bell, R.B.)

 

• Home Instruction Requirements

ACTIVE HB 1370 (Pogge)

 

• Homework Assignments Requiring an Internet Connection

ACTIVE: HB 694 (Poindexter)

 

• Instructional Time; Recreational Time (recess)

ACTIVE:  HB 1419 (Delaney), SB 273 (Petersen)

 

• Math Intervention Services

ACTIVE:  SB 713 (Dunnavant)

• Online Courses and Virtual Programs

ACTIVE: HB 1579 (Kory),  SB 786 (Surovell)

 

• School Divisions of Innovation

ACTIVE: HB 1278 (LaRock), SB 302 (Favola)*, and SB 437 (Wexton)*

FAILED: HB 652 (Murphy)

 

• School Readiness Tax Credit

ACTIVE: HB 700 (Delaney)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for Librarians

ACTIVE:  SB 261 (Suetterlein)

 

• Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics (STEAM) Program

ACTIVE: HB 1111 (Tran)

 

• Standards of Learning Assessments

ACTIVE:  SB 491 (Sturtevant)*

FAILED: HB 251 (Guzman), HB 537 (Freitas), HB 937 (Lopez), HB 980 (Rodman),  HB 1162 (Pillion)*

 

• Student Voters

FAILED: HB 1116 (VanValkenburg)

 

• Virtual Virginia

ACTIVE: HB 831 (Bagby)

 

• Youth Employment

ACTIVE: HJ 40 (Yancey), SB 600 (Wagner)

 

• Work-Based Learning Experience for Students

ACTIVE:  HB 399 (Keam), and HJ 17 (Filler-Corn)

 

• Worker Retraining Tax Credit; Manufacturing Instruction for Students

ACTIVE: HB 129 (Yancey)

 

 

INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY (IT)

 

• Access to Electronic Textbooks and Adequate Connectivity

ACTIVE:  SB 785 (Surovell)

 

• Broadband Infrastructure

ACTIVE: HB 640 (Boysko), HJ 100 (Toscano)

 

• Data Collection and Dissemination

ACTIVE: SB 580 (Hanger)

 

• Homework Assignments Requiring an Internet Connection

ACTIVE:  HB 694 (Poindexter)

 

• Online Courses and Virtual Programs

ACTIVE: HB 1579 (Kory),  SB 786 (Surovell)

 

• Virtual Virginia

ACTIVE: HB 831 (Bagby)

 

 

PERSONNEL (PER)

 

• Autism Spectrum Disorders Training Program for School Bus Personnel

ACTIVE:   SB 229 (Hanger)

 

• Caseload Requirements for Full-Time Special Education Aides

ACTIVE:  HB 253 (Guzman)

 

• Class Size Limits

ACTIVE:  HB 168 (Murphy), HB 1380 (Robinson)

 

• Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility

ACTIVE:  HJ 117 (LaRock)

 

• Complaints of Child Abuse or Neglect

ACTIVE: HB 389 (Keam) HJ 122 (Reid), SB 183 (Favola)

FAILED: SB 182 (Favola)

 

• Dual Language Programs

ACTIVE:  HB 1156 (Wilt)

 

• Duration of a Substitute’s Teaching Period

ACTIVE:  HB 388 (Boysko) and SB 190 (Favola)

 

• Employment of Certain Individuals-Felonies

ACTIVE: HB 1000 (Gilbert), SB 343 (Peake),

FAILED: SB 928 (Obenshain)* (incorporated by SB 343)

 

• Grow Your Own Teacher Program

ACTIVE: HB 380 (Krizek)

 

• School Board Employees with Founded Child Abuse or Neglect Reports

ACTIVE: HB 150 (Bulova)

 

• School Bus Driver Training

ACTIVE: HB 810 (O’Quinn), HB 914 (Landes), SB 557 (Hanger)

 

• School Climate Survey

ACTIVE: HB 1119 (Van Valkenburg), SB 456 (McClellan)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for Librarians

ACTIVE:  SB 261 (Suetterlein)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for Mental Health Counselors

ACTIVE:  HB 252 (Guzman)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for School Nurses

ACTIVE:  HB 791 (Pogge), HB 1046 (Torian)*, HB 1254 (Thomas), and SB 366 (Stuart),

 

• Sexual Harassment Training

ACTIVE: HB 653 (Murphy)

 

• Sexual Misconduct in Elementary and Secondary Schools

ACTIVE: HB 150 (Bulova), SB 184 (Favola), HB 438 (Bulova), HB 622 (Bell, Richard P.)

 

• State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act; School Boards and School Board Employees

ACTIVE: SB 124 (Black), SB 301 (Favola), SB 345 (Peake)

 

• Study of Laws and Policies Governing Investigation of Child Abuse

ACTIVE: HJ 122 (Reid)

 

• Tax Credit for Teachers

ACTIVE: HB 624 (Ayala)

 

• Teacher Grievance Procedures

ACTIVE: HB 90 (Bell, John J.), HB 1161 (Simon) 

 

• Teacher Licensure

ACTIVE:  HB 215 (Knight), HB 317 (Ward), HB 320 (Ward), HB 334 (Ward), HB 1125 (Landes), HB 1127 (Landes), HB 1416 (Edmunds)*, HJ 88 (Bagby), SB 257 (Suetterlein), SB 349 (Peak), SB 409 (McDougle), SB 548 (Dunnavant)*, SB 551 (Dunnavant)*

 

• Teacher Licensure by Reciprocity

ACTIVE:  HB 80 (Krizek), HB 318 (Ward), HB 1125 (Landes), SB 549 (Dunnavant)*

 

• Teacher Licensure by Reciprocity – Military Spouses

ACTIVE: HB 2 (Bell), SB 103 (Suetterlein),

 

• Teaching Profession in Virginia Study

ACTIVE: HJ 56 (Turpin)

 

 

SCHOOL BOARD/GOVERNANCE (SBG)

 

• Collection of Student Demographic Data

      ACTIVE: SB 238 (DeSteph)

 

• Commission on the Future of Public Education and Secondary Education

      ACTIVE: HB 1176 (Landes), SB 738 (Newman), SJ 62 (Newman)

 

• Education Parity Commission

      ACTIVE: HB 711 (Adams)

 

• Employment of Certain Individuals-Felonies

ACTIVE: HB 1000 (Gilbert), SB 343 (Peake),

FAILED: SB 928 (Obenshain)* (incorporated by SB 343)

 

• Open Enrollment for Military Students

ACTIVE:  HB 1085 (Yancey)

 

• Parental Choice Education Savings Accounts

ACTIVE:  HB 1286 (LaRock)

 

• Providing Student Information to Representatives of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Commonwealth

ACTIVE: HB 349 (Kory)

 

• Regional Charter School Divisions

ACTIVE:  SB 516 (Obenshain)

 

• School Calendar

ACTIVE:  HB 372 (Robinson), HB 1020 (Adams)

FAILED: HB 36 (Kory), HB 38 (Habeeb), HB 354 (Reid),SB 300 (Favola), SB 914 (Chase)

 

• School Climate Survey

ACTIVE: HB 1119 (Van Valkenburg), SB 456 (McClellan)

 

• State and Local Government Conflict of Interests Act: School Boards and School

Board Employees

ACTIVE: SB 124 (Black), SB 301 (Favola), SB 345 (Peake)

 

• Student Voters

FAILED: HB 1116 (Van Valkenburg)

 

• Virginia Freedom of Information Act; Student Directory Information

ACTIVE HB 147 (Hurst), SB 512 (Suetterlein)

 

• Virginia Freedom of Information Act; Right to Speak at Public Meetings

ACTIVE: HB 1101 (Robinson), HB 1247 (Cline), SB 336 (Pogge)

 

 

SPECIAL SERVICES (SS)

 

• American Sign Language Credit for Foreign Language Course Completion

      ACTIVE: HB 84 (Bell, Richard P.)

 

• Caseload Requirements for Full-Time Special Education Aides

ACTIVE:  HB 253 (Guzman)

 

• Child Services Act Study

ACTIVE: HJ 29 (Bell, Richard P.)

 

• Collection of Student Demographic Data

ACTIVE: SB 238 (DeSteph)

 

• Community Schools

ACTIVE: HB 121 (Rasoul)

 

• Data Collection and Dissemination

ACTIVE: SB 580 (Hanger)

 

• Dual Enrollment Courses; Quality Standards; Universal Transfer Course Credit

ACTIVE:  HB 3 (Landes), SB 77 (Sturtevant), SB 107 (Suetterlein), and HB 542 (Freitas)

FAILED: HB 535 (Freitas)  HB 1322 (Cole)*

 

• Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits for Students with a

Disability

ACTIVE: HB 221 (Miyares)

 

• Education Placement Transition of Students with Disabilities

ACTIVE: HB 176 (Bell, Richard P.)

 

• High School Graduation, Certificates of Program Completion

ACTIVE:  HB 390 (Keam)

 

• Home Instruction; Dual Enrollment Courses

FAILED:  HB 497 (Bell, R.B.)

 

• Home Instruction Requirements

ACTIVE: HB 1370 (Pogge)

 

• Language Development for Children Who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing:  Assessment Resources for Parents and Educators

ACTIVE:  HB 118 (Kory),HB 232 (Tyler)* HB 735 (Carr), HB 848 (Ingram), HB 893 (Webert), HB 1410 (Helsel)*, and SB 160 (Favola)

 

• Military Children Tuition

ACTIVE: SB 775 (Locke)

 

• Open Enrollment for Military Students

ACTIVE:  HB 1085 (Yancey)

 

• Providing Student Information to Representatives of the Armed Forces of the United States or the Commonwealth

ACTIVE: HB 349 (Kory)

 

• SAT School Day Fund & Program

ACTIVE: HB 1118 (Van Valkenburg)

 

• School Health Advisory Board

ACTIVE:  SB 80 (Favola)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for Mental Health Counselors

ACTIVE:  HB 252 (Guzman)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for School Nurses

ACTIVE:  HB 791 (Pogge), HB 1046 (Torian), HB 1254 (Thomas), and SB 366 (Stuart)

 

• Special Education Programs for Students with Blindness or Visual Impairment

ACTIVE: HB 336 (Cole)

 

• Student Attendance

ACTIVE: HB 1485 (Filler-Corn), SB 841 (Favola)

 

• Sunscreen Use

ACTIVE: HB 330 (Yancey)

 

• Youth Employment

ACTIVE: HJ 40 (Yancey), SB 600 (Wagner)

 

• Virginia Freedom of Information Act; Student Directory Information

ACTIVE HB 147 (Hurst), SB 512 (Suetterlein)

 

 

STANDARDS OF QUALITY/STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION (SOA)

 

• Calculation of Composite Index-Land Use Valuation

      ACTIVE: SB 537 (Hanger), HJ 91 (Webert)

      FAILED: HB 423 (Gooditis)

 

• Career Investigation Courses and Programs of Instruction

ACTIVE:  HB 632 (Bulova)

 

• Computer coding credit for Foreign Language Completion

ACTIVE:  HB 443 (Caroll-Foy) and HB 576 (Davis)

 

• Diploma Seals for Science, Technology, Engineering and Advanced Mathematics (STEAM)

ACTIVE: HB 167 (Miyares)

 

• Dual Language Programs

ACTIVE:  HB 507 (Mullin)

 

• High School Graduation Course Load

ACTIVE: HB 329 (Yancey)

 

• Math Intervention Services

ACTIVE:  SB 713 (Dunnavant)

 

• Reading Specialist Certification Dyslexia Course Work

ACTIVE: HB 1265 (Cline), SB 368 (Newman)

 

• School Divisions of Innovation

ACTIVE: HB 1278 (LaRock), SB 302 (Favola)*, and SB 437 (Wexton)*

FAILED: HB 652 (Murphy)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for Librarians

ACTIVE:  SB 261 (Suetterlein)

 

• School Staffing Requirements for School Nurses

ACTIVE:  HB 791 (Pogge), HB 1046 (Torian), HB 1254 (Thomas), and SB 366 (Stuart)

 

• Standards of Quality Funding Studies

ACTIVE:  HJ 70 (Bloxom), HJ 112 (Rodman), HJ 115 (LaRock), HJ 126 (Carroll-Foy), SJ 29 (Spruill) and SJ 56 (Sturtevant)*

 

 

STUDENT ACTIVITIES & ATHLETIC PROGRAMS (SA)

 

• Home Instruction; Participation in Interscholastic Programs (Tebow Bill)

ACTIVE:  HB 496 (Bell, R.B.)

 

 

STUDENT TESTING (ST)

 

• Career and Technical Education, Accommodations of English learners

ACTIVE: HB 442 (Carroll-Foy)

 

• Graduation Requirements Clock Hours

      ACTIVE: SB 664 (McPike)

 

• School Divisions of Innovation

ACTIVE: HB 1278 (LaRock), SB 302 (Favola)*, and SB 437 (Wexton)*

FAILED: HB 652 (Murphy)

 

• Standards of Learning Assessments

ACTIVE:  SB 491 (Sturtevant)*

FAILED: HB 251 (Guzman), HB 537 (Freitas), HB 937 (Lopez), HB 980 (Rodman),  HB 1162 (Pillion)*

 

 

TAXATION (TAX)

 

• Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits; Eligibility Requirements and Scholarship Amounts

      ACTIVE: HB 395 (Davis)

 

• Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credits for Student with a Disability

      ACTIVE: HB 221 (Miyares)

 

• Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credits for NonPublic Pre-Kindergarten Program

      ACTIVE: HB 1078 (Head), HB 1165 (Landes), SB 172 (Stanley)

      FAILED: SB 553 (Dunnavant) (incorporated into SB 172)

 

• Equalized Local Taxing Authority

ACTIVE:  HB 302 (Watts) and SB 200 (Favola)

 

• School Readiness Tax Credit

ACTIVE: HB 700 (Delaney)

 

• Tax Credit for Teachers

ACTIVE: HB 624 (Ayala)

 

• Worker Retraining Tax Credit, Manufacturing Instruction for Students

ACTIVE: HB 129 (Yancey)