Del. Kory’s Bill to Expand Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Fund Eligibility Passes General Assembly Unanimously

RICHMOND, Va. — Delegate Kaye Kory’s HB 1419 to expand eligibility for the Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship Fund to descendants of Virginians who were denied a public education due to Massive Resistance has passed both chambers of the General Assembly unanimously. 

In an effort to evade desegregation, Virginia closed a number of public schools after the 1954 Brown v. Board decision. At present, only students who resided in affected jurisdictions (Arlington County, Charlottesville, Norfolk, Prince Edward County and Warren County) at the time of the school closings are eligible for the scholarship program. Those Virginians are now in their 60’s and 70’s, so there have not been any new applicants since 2019.

“Massive Resistance denied many young Black Virginians an education, which in turn denied many Black families the ability to build generational wealth,” said Delegate Kaye Kory. “We have nearly a million dollars in the scholarship fund right now that are not being used to allow their children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to apply. It is time for educational support.” 

The Virginia Brown v. Board of Education Scholarship was originally funded in part by the Commonwealth and in part by a private donor. Eighty-eight students have received scholarships totaling $1.3 million since the fund’s creation in 2004. 

When the bill is signed into law, effective July 1, 2023, both lineal and collateral descendants of impacted Virginians will be eligible for a scholarship if they currently reside in the Commonwealth. 

HB 1419 now heads to Governor Youngkin’s desk.