Shelly Simonds Bill Mandating Career Coaches in Every Public High School Halts in House Appropriations

Sep 7, 2026, 6:00 AM ET

RICHMOND, Va. – Legislation aimed at placing a career coach in every public high school across Virginia met its end in the House Appropriations Committee this session. House Bill 138, introduced by Delegate Shelly Simonds of Newport News, sought to require each school board to employ at least one such position in the local school division’s high schools. The measure advanced through the House Education Committee but stalled unanimously in a subcommittee of Appropriations, ultimately left in committee on February 18, 2026.

The bill’s provisions outlined specific duties for the career coaches. They would assist students in securing internships, externships, and credentialing opportunities as outlined in the Profile of a Virginia Graduate. This state framework emphasizes workplace readiness skills, career exploration, and planning to prepare students for success in college, careers, or both. Coaches would also provide information on apprenticeship programs and connect students to career opportunities. Working under the direction of school counselors, these individuals would support direct counseling on college and career readiness. Importantly, the positions would be added on top of existing required school counselor roles, specialized support positions, and other services, without replacing them.

Prefiled on January 5, 2026, and offered January 14, HB138 moved quickly through initial hurdles. The House Education Committee’s K-12 Subcommittee recommended reporting it to the full committee on January 27 by a vote of 7-3. Yeas came from Simonds, Askew, Cousins, LeVere Bolling, Anderson, Dougherty, and Bulova. Nays were Cherry, Tata, and Kent. The full Education Committee followed on January 28, reporting the bill to Appropriations 14-7. Yeas included Rasoul, Simonds, McQuinn, Guzman, Sewell, Convirs-Fowler, Askew, Clark, Cousins, Laufer, LeVere Bolling, Anderson, Dougherty, and Bulova.

However, momentum halted in the Appropriations Committee’s Elementary and Secondary Education Subcommittee on January 30. The panel recommended laying the bill on the table by a unanimous 6-0 vote. With no further action, it died in committee.

A key factor in the bill’s fate appeared to be its fiscal implications. The Department of Planning and Budget issued a statement estimating an additional $17.5 million in general fund expenditures starting in fiscal year 2027 and continuing annually. This figure supports the state share under the new staffing standard in Standard 2 of the Standards of Quality. Localities would face an estimated $12.8 million in matching funds each year, based on their composite index. The actual local impact remains indeterminate, as some divisions might already fund similar roles. The mandate would affect all public high schools, numbering around 310 statewide, potentially adding significant personnel costs at a time when education budgets are under scrutiny.

Proponents argued the coaches would enhance the Profile of a Virginia Graduate, which promotes practical skills like workplace readiness, career planning, and participation in real-world experiences such as apprenticeships. These programs align with efforts to equip students for evolving job markets without sole reliance on four-year degrees, fostering pathways to immediate employment and reducing potential student debt burdens.

The bill’s defeat underscores priorities in managing public education funding. Virginia’s Direct Aid to Public Education would need budget amendments to accommodate the staffing standard, a step not taken this session. Lawmakers in Appropriations, responsible for balancing the state’s biennial budget, opted against the expansion amid ongoing debates over efficient resource allocation in K-12 education.

While HB138 did not advance, Virginia continues to emphasize career readiness through existing initiatives. The Profile of a Virginia Graduate remains a cornerstone, encouraging schools to integrate career exploration from middle school onward. Apprenticeship programs, highlighted in the bill, are expanding via state incentives like reimbursements up to $40,000 for employer training costs in youth apprenticeships. These voluntary efforts allow flexibility for local school divisions to tailor support without statewide mandates.

The session’s outcome reflects a commitment to fiscal discipline, ensuring taxpayer dollars prioritize core educational needs while supporting proven pathways to workforce entry. As the 2026 General Assembly progresses, similar ideas may resurface in budget negotiations or companion legislation, but for now, the career coach requirement remains off the books.

Email the Newport News School Board:
Lisa R. Surles-Law,
Terri L. Best,
Rebecca S. Aman, rebecca.aman@nn.k12.va.us,
Douglas C. Brown,
Maritsa Alger,
Rasheena D. Harris, Rasheena.Harris@nn.k12.va.us,
Gary B. Hunter,

Email Newport News City Council at:
Phillip Jones — mayorsoffice@nnva.gov,
Marcellus Harris — council@nnva.gov,
Curtis Bethany — council@nnva.gov,
Cleon Long — council@nnva.gov,
Robert Coleman — council@nnva.gov,
Tina Vick — council@nnva.gov,
John Eley — council@nnva.gov,

Email the Richmond City Council:
Andrew Breton, andrew.breton@rva.gov,
Katherine Jordan, katherine.jordan@rva.gov,
Kenya Gibson, kenya.gibson@rva.gov,
Sarah Abubaker, sarah.abubaker@rva.gov,
Stephanie Lynch, stephanie.lynch@rva.gov,
Ellen Robertson, ellen.robertson@rva.gov,
Cynthia Newbille, cynthia.newbille@rva.gov,
Reva Trammell, reva.trammell@rva.gov,
Nicole Jones, nicole.jones@rva.gov,

Email the Richmond School Board:
Matthew Percival, mpercival@rvaschools.net,
Kathryn Ricard, kricard@rvaschools.net,
Ali Faruk, afaruk@rvaschools.net,
Wesley Hedgepeth, whedgepeth@rvaschools.net,
Stephanie Rizzi, srizzi@rvaschools.net,
Anne Holton, aholton@rvaschools.net,
Cheryl Burke, cburke2@rvaschools.net,
Emmett Jafari, ejafari@rvaschools.net,
Shavonda Fernandez, sdixon@rvaschools.net,

Newport News Richmond Virginia House of Delegates Adele McClure Alex Askew Alfonso Lopez Ali Faruk Amendments Amy Laufer Andrew Breton Anne Holton Anne Tata Atoosa Reaser Barry Knight Betsy Carr Bill Wiley Bonita Anthony Briana Sewell Buddy Fowler Budget Charlie Schmidt Charniele Herring Cheryl Burke Chris Runion Cia Price Cleon Long Cliff Hayes College Curtis Bethany Cynthia Newbille Dan Helmer David Reid Debra Gardner Debt Delores McQuinn Delores Oates Destiny LeVere Bolling Don Scott Douglas C. Brown Education Elizabeth Bennett-Parker Elizabeth Guzmán Ellen McLaughlin Ellen Robertson Emmett Jafari Eric Phillips Eric Zehr Garrett McGuire Gary B. Hunter Gretchen Bulova High School Hillary Kent Holly Seibold Irene Shin Israel O'Quinn Jackie Glass Jas Jeet Singh Jason Ballard Jay Leftwich Jeion Ward Jessica Anderson John Eley John McAuliff Joseph McNamara Josh Thomas Joshua Cole Justin Pence Kacey Carnegie Karen Hamilton Karen Keys-Gamarra Karrie Delaney Katherine Jordan Kathryn Ricard Kathy Tran Katrina Callsen Keith Hodges Kelly Convirs-Fowler Kenya Gibson Kimberly Pope Adams Laura Cohen Lawmakers Lee Ware Legislation Leslie Mehta Lily Franklin Lindsey Dougherty Lisa R. Surles-Law Luke Torian Madison Whittle Marcellus Harris Marcus Simon Margaret Franklin Maritsa Alger Mark Downey Marty Martinez Matthew Percival May Nivar Michael Feggans Michael Webert Michelle Maldonado Mike Cherry Mitchell Cornett Nadarius Clark Newport News City Council Newport News School Board Nicole Cole Nicole Jones Otto Wachsmann Patrick Hope Paul Krizek Phil Hernandez Phillip Jones Phillip Scott Rae Cousins Rasheena D. Harris Rasoul Rebecca S. Aman Reva Trammell Richmond Richmond City Council Richmond School Board Rip Sullivan Robert Bloxom Robert Coleman Rodney Willett Rozia Henson Sam Rasoul Sarah Abubaker School School Board Schools Scott Wyatt Shavonda Fernandez Shelly Simonds Stacey Carroll Stephanie Lynch Stephanie Rizzi Terri L. Best Terry Austin Terry Kilgore Tim Griffin Tina Vick Tom Garrett Tommy Wright Tony Wilt Virgil Thornton Virginia Virginia House of Delegates Vivian Watts Wendell Walker Wesley Hedgepeth Will Davis Will Morefield Wren Williams