Virginia Action

Tag Accountability

Education Bills Update 1/29

EDUCATION

OPPOSE – CALL TO ACTION

OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed Implementation of New Public School Accountability System

STATUS: This bill will be voted on in the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee TODAY, 1/29, at 9am in the Senate Room A, Room 305.

This bill directs the Department of Education to delay for one year the implementation of the revised public school accountability system adopted recently by the State Board of Education after robust research and discussion.

Please contact these Senators and tell them to VOTE NO on SB979!

Senate Finance and Appropriations CommitteeDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Senator L. Louise Lucas (D)18(804) 698-7518[email protected]
Senator Jennifer B. Boysko (D)38(804) 698-7538[email protected]
Senator R. Creigh Deeds (D)11(804) 698-7511[email protected]
Senator Adam P. Ebbin (D)39(804) 698-7539[email protected]
Senator Barbara A. Favola (D)40(804) 698-7540[email protected]
Senator Ghazala F. Hashmi (D)15(804) 698-7515[email protected]
Senator Mamie E. Locke (D)23(804) 698-7523[email protected]
Senator David W. Marsden (D)35(804) 698-7535[email protected]
Senator Ryan T. McDougle (R)26(804) 698-7526[email protected]
Senator Jeremy S. McPike (D)29(804) 698-7529[email protected]
Senator Mark D. Obenshain (R)2(804) 698-7502[email protected]
Senator Todd E. Pillion (R)6(804) 698-7506[email protected]
Senator Bryce E. Reeves (R)28(804) 698-7528[email protected]
Senator Richard H. Stuart (R)25(804) 698-7525[email protected]
Senator Scott A. Surovell (D)34(804) 698-7534[email protected]

BILL UPDATE – OPPOSE

OPPOSE: SB1031 – Attack on Religious Exemption for Homeschooling

STATUS: This bill passed the Senate Education and Health Committee and is headed to the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee.

This legislation challenges the core purpose of the religious exemption for homeschooling statute, which was established to safeguard the beliefs of families who conscientiously object to government-run education due to deeply held religious convictions and choose to homeschool their children.

SUPPORT – KILLED

SUPPORT: HB2639 – Education Choice Tax Credits

STATUS: This bill was killed the House Finance Subcommittee 2 on 1/28.

Creates two refundable tax credits empowering parental education choice: Up to $5,000 for homeschool/private school expenses and up to $1,500 for public school expenses. Lower-income families get additional $2,500 credit. Program capped at $25M annually with automatic 10% increase if 90% used. Supports family freedom in education decisions while reducing their tax burden.

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Education Bills Update – 01/24

EDUCATION

BILL UPDATES

OPPOSE

OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed implementation of new Public School Accountability System

Status: This bill PASSED in the Senate Education and Health Committee on January 23rd. It will now be sent to the Senate Floor for a vote.

This bill directs the Department of Education to delay for one year the implementation of the revised public school accountability system adopted recently by the State Board of Education after robust research and discussion.

OPPOSE: SB1031 – Religious Exemption for Education Requirements

Status: This bill was scheduled to receive a vote in the Senate Education and Health Committee today, 1/23. The bill was passed by for the day. The reason provided for the delay was wanting to work towards a compromise between religious liberty and reporting requirements for the homeschool students that utilize the religious exemption for homeschooling (there is now a new amended version of the bill which you can see here). HEAV, a Virginia Association for homeschoolers, has not been approached by legislators about their feedback on any changes to the bill.

SB1031 Attacks the homeschooling religious exemption process by requiring parents to meet educational qualifications, submit annual notices and progress reports, and demonstrate certain instruction methods.

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Education Bills Update – 1/23

EDUCATION

OPPOSE

OPPOSE: SB979 – Delayed implementation of new Public School Accountability System

Status: This bill passed in the Senate Education Subcommittee earlier this week and will be voted on in the full Senate Education and Health Committee, TODAY, 1/23 at 8:30AM in Senate Room A of the General Assembly Building.

This bill directs the Department of Education to delay for one year the implementation of the revised public school accountability system adopted recently by the State Board of Education after robust research and discussion.

OPPOSE: SB1031 – Religious Exemption for Education Requirements

Status: This bill passed in the Senate Education Subcommittee earlier this week and will be voted on in the full Senate Education and Health Committee, TODAY, 1/23 at 8:30AM in Senate Room A of the General Assembly Building.

Attacks the homeschooling religious exemption process by requiring parents to meet educational qualifications, submit annual notices and progress reports, and demonstrate certain instruction methods.

Please contact these Senators and ask them to VOTE NO on SB979 and SB1031.

Senate Education and HealthDistrictPhoneEmail
Chair: Senator Ghazala F. Hashmi (D)15(804) 698-7515[email protected]
Senator Lashrecse D. Aird (D)13(804) 698-7514[email protected]
Senator Lamont Bagby (D)14(804) 698-1092[email protected]
Senator Jennifer B. Boysko (D)38(804) 698-7538[email protected]
Senator Christie New Craig (R)19(804) 698-7519[email protected]
Senator Tara A. Durant (R)27(804) 698-7527[email protected]
Senator Barbara A. Favola (D)40(804) 698-7540[email protected]
Senator Christopher T. Head (R)3(804) 698-7503[email protected]
Senator Mamie E. Locke (D)23(804) 698-7523[email protected]
Senator L. Louise Lucas (D)18(804) 698-7518[email protected]
Senator Mark J. Peake (R)8(804) 698-7508[email protected]
Senator Stella G. Pekarsky (D)36(804) 698-7536[email protected]
Senator Todd E. Pillion (R)6(804) 698-7506[email protected]
Senator David R. Suetterlein (R)4(804) 698-7504[email protected]
Senator Schuyler T. VanValkenburg (D)16(804) 698-7516[email protected]

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