Gov. Glenn Youngkin has dedicated much of his first few weeks in office to barring school systems across Virginia from mandating masks for students. The political-outsider turned governor issued an executive order on his first day in office that allowed parents to opt-out of mask mandates, but following several legal challenges, Youngkin issued a statement […]
Written by Melissa Ridge The recent attacks against schools in Virginia—targeting everything from masks to library books to equity—are calculated and carefully scripted, and the intent is to disrupt and distract. They are a deliberate response to the push for systemic change in our government, our judicial system, and our schools. Over the last few […]
Bill Will Allow Localities to Utilize Sales Tax to Fix Crumbling Schools Yesterday, the Virginia Senate passed Sen. Jennifer McClellan’s (D-Richmond) bill (SB 472) to allow any Virginia locality to fund school construction and renovation through an up to 1% increase in sales tax passed in a local referendum. McClellan’s bill passed with a strong […]
Governor Glenn Youngkin today announced updated guidelines for parents, educators, and schools per Executive Order 2, which creates a parental opt-out from mask mandates at both public and private schools in the Commonwealth. The guidelines were developed by the Virginia Department of Health and the Department of Education. “I have said all along that we […]
Not long after being sworn-in as Virgina’s 74th governor, Glenn Youngkin has already followed through on his Day One promises by signing nine Executive Orders and two Executive Directives. The first two involved the ban on concepts such as Critical Race Theory in public education, and an executive order affirming the rights of parents to […]
Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin today announced he has chosen Jillian Balow as the next Superintendent of Public Instruction at the Virginia Department of Education, and Elizabeth Schultz as the next Assistant Superintendent of Public Instruction at the Virginia Department of Education. “Jillian and Elizabeth are going to be crucial in helping Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera […]
Our schools in Prince William County are facing a serious employment crisis. We are in the midst of a teacher shortage, a substitute shortage, and a bus driver shortage. These shortages end up placing more stress and workload on our current employees, which exacerbates the shortages as more educators and staff quit or retire. The […]
Major new funding for operations, building construction, creation of first-ever HBCU Opportunity Fund, and increasing Tuition Assistance Grant to $5,000, a 50% increase over the past four years Governor Ralph Northam yesterday continued his ‘Thank You, Virginia’ Tour, announcing that his proposed two-year state budget will increase funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to […]
Next two-year budget will include $2.4 billion increase for grades pre-K through 12; Includes 10% pay raise for teachers, further expanding largest teacher raises in 15 years Governor Ralph Northam today launched his ‘Thank You, Virginia’ Tour, announcing that he will propose a two-year state budget next week that includes record funding for public education, […]
With just a month and a half left in office, Governor Ralph Northam announced on Tuesday that he has appointed Frances Bradford as Secretary of Education following former Secretary Atif Qarni’s decision to leave the administration to accept a position as Managing Director at Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice in Philadelphia. […]
