Comprehensive K-12 policy plan to ensure every Virginia student has access to high-quality public education

Today, candidate for governor Senator Jennifer McClellan (D-Richmond) announced her K-12 Equitable Education and Investment Plan, calling for a historic $2.3 billion-per-year investment in schools and critical equity policies to ensure every student has equal access to a high quality public education in the Commonwealth. McClellan’s plan would mark the largest investment in education in the history of Virginia.

McClellan also announced “Educators for McClellan” with 21 education leaders from across Virginia endorsing her campaign for governor, including two former Presidents of the Virginia Education Association, the former President of the Arlington Education Association, the former President of the Richmond Education Association, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year, and a former Virginia Secretary of Education and Deputy Secretary of Education. McClellan is a five-time recipient of the VEA’s “Legislative Champion” Award. 

This marks the second of three education policies for McClellan, adding on to her Universal Child Care and Early Childhood Plan. McClellan’s K-12 policy incorporates recommendations of education experts including teachers, staff, and the Virginia Department of Education to fund the necessary, equitable measures so that every Virginia student can receive a high-quality public education. 

The plan includes the following proposals:

• Invest approximately $2.3 billion in new dollars annually into Virginia’s K-12 education system
• Create an Equity Accountability Program to address educational inequities by:
  • Adding a new Director of Inclusion and Diversity under the Secretariat of Education
  • Establishing a new task force to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline
  • Requiring all school districts to set concrete policies to address racism and bias
• Fully implement and fund the Board of Education’s Standards of Quality.
• Providing an additional $350 million to finish lifting the funding cap on school support staff, ensuring a ratio of no more than 250 students per support staff.
• Create a sustainable and dedicated fund to provide localities with resources to build, renovate, and modernize school infrastructure. 

“For generations, underfunding in our K-12 education system has caused lasting disparities in academics and achievement, leaving too many students — especially Black, brown, and low-income students — behind because they weren’t born in the right zip code. It’s time for Virginia to end decades of underfunded schools – and that will be my top priority as governor,” said McClellan via press release.

“The K-12 Equitable Education and Investment Plan will guarantee every student access to a high-quality, public education. Fully funding Virginia schools is a critical investment in our children, teachers, economy, and future as a Commonwealth.”