School Boards
- King George school board settles suit, will allow middle school LGBTQ+ student club
(Illustration by mustafahacalaki/Getty Images) King George County Schools will now allow sixth- to eighth-grade students to form non-curricular clubs, including one supporting LGBTQ+ students, after the school board settled with the families of two students who said the school did not allow them to form the LGBTQ+ club previously, according to a Monday announcement.
- Virginia health committee considers mandating licensed nurses in every school
A newly proposed legislative measure would require all school districts in Virginia to employ a licensed nurse in every school.
- Virginia education board approves new rules for local student assessments
Students in a classroom.
- Hampton Roads Voters Face November 1 Percent Sales Tax Votes for School Construction
Norfolk, Newport News, York, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight and neighboring localities put new statewide school-construction sales-tax authority on the Nov. 3 ballot with sunsets near 2046.
- School Construction Sales Tax Could Raise About 1.27 Billion Over Three Years
State estimates show revenue if all 47 localities with November referendums approve a dedicated 1 percent sales tax.
- David Reid House Bill 410 Expands Scholastic Assessment Test Access for High School Students
RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia House of Delegates has advanced HB410, a measure requiring school boards to provide high school students with access to the SAT School Day program. The bill passed the House on February 17, 2026, by a wide margin of 88-8, sending it to the Senate where it now awaits consideration in
- Public Comment at Loudoun County School Board Highlights Concerns Over Renaming Committee Process
The speaker stated that the group is expected to prioritize input coming specifically from this area and put forward recommendations reflective of community sentiments. Concerns were raised about past processes that became highly political, prompting the board to commit to closely monitoring the current effort to ensure it discourages such maneuvering.
- Scott Surovell Advances School Food Waste Legislation
Senator Scott Surovell has put forward legislation that would require Virginia schools to adopt improved methods for managing food waste. The bill targets the incorporation of composting infrastructure particularly in new school buildings. This effort aims to address the volume of food waste generated in educational settings across various localities. During legislative proceedings the proposal […
- Arlington Public Schools Veteran Shares Observations on School System Effectiveness
An individual with 15 years of combined experience as a parent and employee in Arlington Public Schools has presented observations about the education system. The account indicates that the structure does not fully accommodate the needs of certain students. This message is directed toward school boards as a form of review on current practices. The […]
- Fairfax County School Board Approves Salaries and Appointments for 2026-2027
The Fairfax County School Board convened to establish salaries and organizational appointments for the 2026-2027 period. Members reviewed proposals presented by Vice Chair Kyle McDaniel. The session focused on structural updates to ensure compliance with state regulations. These decisions will guide the board’s operations in the coming year. The county in question is Fairfax County, […]
- Virginia House Advances Legislation Establishing At-Risk Program for Public Schools
The Virginia General Assembly is considering important changes to the way public schools receive state funding for supporting students with additional needs. Legislation known as House Bill 92 would establish a dedicated At-Risk Program as part of the Standards of Quality that govern educational services across the commonwealth. This program is designed to provide resources […]
- Virginia Taxpayers Burdened with Sweeping State Employee Raises in New Biennium Budget
The newly finalized Virginia budget for the 2026-2028 biennium places a massive financial burden on hardworking taxpayers to fund sweeping salary increases for government workers. Governor Abigail Spanberger recently signed off on a spending plan that mandates a 3.5 percent annual salary increase for state employees and state-supported local employees across the board. Additionally, the […]
- Virginia’s $770 Million Teacher Pay Hike Sparks Concerns Over Runaway State Spending
Virginia taxpayers are facing a massive financial burden as the state government commits an astonishing $770 million to fund a four percent salary increase for teachers in both fiscal years 2027 and 2028. This sweeping budget allocation doubles the original proposal made by the governor, raising serious concerns among fiscal conservatives about sustainable spending and […]
- Julie Perry Discusses Education Priorities in Congressional Bid
Congressional candidate Julie Perry, a teacher by profession, has outlined her reasons for seeking a seat in Congress with an emphasis on education matters. She advocates for greater accountability among school boards to better serve students and families. Perry stresses the role of parents in shaping educational policies and decisions. Her platform centers on fostering […]
- Virginia Education Budget Balloons with $148.4 Million Spending Hike
Fiscal Concerns Over Ballooning Education Budget Virginia taxpayers are facing another massive expansion of state spending as lawmakers push a staggering $148.4 million budget increase over the upcoming biennium for the Department of Education. This new funding proposal aims to more than double the Special Education Add-On, a program that was only just established during […]
- Virginia Budget Expands State Spending With $500,000 Grant for School Defibrillators
Virginia lawmakers have allocated a substantial half-million dollars from the state general fund for the upcoming fiscal year to equip schools with medical emergency devices. This aggressive spending measure represents a massive expansion of state involvement in local educational infrastructure. While protecting the health and safety of students is a universal priority, fiscal conservatives are […
- Virginia’s $1.4 Billion Education Budget Increase Raises Red Flags for Fiscal Conservatives
The latest Virginia state budget proposal includes a staggering $1.4 billion overall increase in K-12 public education funding compared to the previous budget cycle. Within this massive spending package, lawmakers have allocated $590 million specifically for rebenchmarking, high-need student groups, and, paradoxically, declining enrollment. For fiscally conservative taxpayers, pouring hundreds of
- Virginia Enacts Legislation Updating Teacher Reemployment and Contract Notice Rules
The Virginia General Assembly has enacted legislation that updates the rules governing the employment of public school teachers across the state. House Bill 125, which became law in April 2026, amends section 22.1-304 of the Code of Virginia to address the reemployment of teachers who have not yet received continuing contract status. The measure also […]
- Virginia Budget Hides $400.4 Million in Flexible Slush Funds for Local Schools
The Virginia budget for fiscal year 2027 contains a massive expenditure that should raise immediate red flags for fiscal conservatives and taxpayers across the commonwealth. Lawmakers have approved a staggering $400.4 million allocation designated merely as a one-time flexible payment supplement for local school divisions. By categorizing hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars under such […]
- State Budget Subsidizes Local School Responsibilities With $500,000 AED Grant
Virginia taxpayers are once again footing the bill for local school district expenses as the newly passed state budget allocates $500,000 in the first year of Fiscal Year 2027 for Automated External Defibrillators. The funds, directed through the Department of Education under Direct Aid to Public Education, are meant to assist high-need public elementary and […]
- Virginia’s $400 Million Blank Check: How Flexible School Funding Threatens Fiscal Responsibility
Virginia lawmakers have allocated a staggering $400.4 million from the general fund as a one-time flexible payment to local school divisions across the commonwealth. This massive expenditure, tucked into the latest state budget amendments, comes with the promise of addressing local educational needs without requiring a direct financial match from localities. However, fiscal conservatives are […]
- Virginia Allocates $127 Million for School Construction Amid Taxpayer Concerns Over Waste
The state of Virginia recently announced a massive allocation of one hundred twenty-seven million dollars dedicated to new school construction projects across the commonwealth. While providing safe educational environments is a universal priority, this staggering price tag raises immediate red flags for fiscal conservatives and hardworking taxpayers. Citizens are rightfully questioning whether thi
- Runaway Education Spending: The $98.4 Million Question in Virginia’s Budget
The Virginia state budget now includes a massive $98.4 million one-time supplement to the At-Risk Add-On program for public school divisions across the Commonwealth. This massive injection of taxpayer dollars is earmarked for local operating or capital needs while a legislative subcommittee continues to evaluate ongoing funding requirements. Fiscal conservatives are raising serious alarms over […]
- Franklin City Public Schools Discusses Calendar Approval Consequences
Franklin City Public Schools has addressed the implications of a school board decision not to approve an instructional calendar. The information presented focuses on regulatory requirements and the steps that must follow such an outcome. Compliance with established standards remains a central element in the district’s planning process. State regulations in Virginia include specific benchmarks […]
- House Bill 96 Proposes State Reimbursement for No-Cost School Breakfast in Virginia Public Schools
The Virginia House of Delegates considered legislation during the 2026 regular session aimed at making school breakfast available at no cost to all students in public elementary and secondary schools. House Bill 96 proposes changes to the Code of Virginia to achieve this goal through amendments and repeals of specific sections. Specifically, the bill would […]
- Virginia Enacts New Requirements for Timely School Board Employee Grievance Resolutions
Virginia has taken a significant step toward improving the management of employment relations in its public schools with the enactment of new legislation governing grievance procedures. House Bill 116, which addresses the timing of dispute resolution in school board employee grievance processes, was signed into law on April 6, 2026. The law will become effective […]
- Virginia Lawmakers Enact Reforms to School Board Grievance Procedures
The Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill 116 during the 2026 regular session, a measure that amends the Code of Virginia to require specific timelines for resolving disputes in school board employee grievance procedures. The bill was approved by the Governor on April 6, 2026, and becomes effective on July 1, 2026, as Chapter 67 […]
- Parent Raises Transparency Issues at Franklin City School Board Meeting
During a recent meeting of the Franklin City School Board a local parent participated in the public comment period. The individual expressed strong dissatisfaction with the superintendent describing the leadership as the worst encountered in her experience. The testimony centered on topics of transparency and the overall direction of school administration. School board meetings in […]
- Measure Allowing Localities to Revert Local Election Schedules
Delegate Rob Bloxom has introduced House Bill 51 in the 2026 Virginia House of Delegates session to amend provisions governing the timing of certain local elections. The legislation would alter Section 15.2-1400 of the Code of Virginia and repeal the second enactment clause from Chapter 103 of the 2021 Acts of Assembly. This change targets […]
- Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Delivers Swift Justice: Transgender-Identifying Substitute Teacher Arrested for Alleged ‘Murder Spree’ Threats Against Virginia High School
In a decisive move that underscores the critical importance of community vigilance and strong law enforcement in protecting our children, the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office has arrested 19-year-old Hadyn Dollery of Chantilly on charges of making threats of bodily injury. Dollery, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, was taken into custody off […]
- Hampton Roads mayors want Virginia localities to keep control over collective bargaining
In a show of regional unity, mayors from the seven core cities of Hampton Roads united to oppose a bill that would allow public workers to collectively bargain over wages, benefits, and working conditions without local governments’ approval.
- Youngkin’s education board moves to toughen proficiency standards
Virginia students will soon face tougher academic expectations. Nearly a month after school leaders demanded greater transparency, the State Board of Education voted Thursday to support raising the benchmarks — or cut scores — for math and English, setting off a debate over how the changes will affect classrooms.
- School Boards Are Failing Our Students, and Absenteeism Is Just the Symptom
In Loudoun County and across Virginia, public schools are scrambling to address chronic absenteeism—not because it suddenly became an urgent educational concern, but because state funding is possibly threatened. When Governor Glenn Youngkin linked absenteeism rates to school performance metrics in the 2023–24 academic year, school systems quickly responded—not with improved discipline or engageme
- Virginia schools face federal scrutiny over parental rights laws
The U.S. Department of Education is putting Virginia schools on notice, warning they could lose federal funding and face further investigation if they fail to comply with parental rights laws.
- Limiting children’s social media access: a worthy notion with tremendous practical challenges
Virginia’s General Assembly would be doing our future a great service if it could rein in social media addiction for young people, the inspiration behind legislation it has approved and sent to Gov. Glenn Youngkin for his consideration.
- Plans to restore 1776 Commission recall efforts to revise Virginia’s K-12 history standards
As Virginians prepare for the beginning of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term, Republicans, according to the party’s 2024 platform, plan to reinstate the President’s Advisory 1776 Commission, an initiative created by Trump in 2020 to “better enable a rising generation to understand the history and principles of the founding of the United States in 1776.” […]