Current Issues
Capitol Hill - 2010 Update
President O'bama's 2011 budget included a 7 percent increase in education funding. Some of the highlights in the budget include:
- An additional $1 billion contingent upon ESEA reauthorization by Congress
- $250 million increase for IDEA state grants
- $50 million increase for ELL grants
- $989 million increase for Head Start/Early Head Start
To read more about the Presidents budget visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/
To read about the Amercia Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA) visit: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html
AARA provides more than $100 billion in direct education funding for the next two fiscal years and $39 billion in bonding authority and tax credits. Fore more information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/policy.
All of the above information will be posted on the Virginia Department of Education's web site: www.ed.gov/policy.
Richmond - 2010 Winter Update
The 2009 General Assembly added language to Item 140 of the Appropriation Act requiring the Board of Education to review the SOQ and submit a report by November 1, 2009. Specifically, Item 140 states:
“The Board of Education shall review the current Standards of Quality to evaluate the appropriateness of the existing staffing standards for instructional positions and the appropriateness of establishing ratio standards for support positions, with the objective of maximizing resources devoted to the instructional program. The findings of this review, its associated costs, and its final recommendations for rebenchmarking shall be submitted to the Governor, the Chairmen of House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding established pursuant to Item 1, paragraph H. of this Act no later than November 1, 2009.
Public Comment Information
The Board of Education held four public hearings on September 30, 2009 and received comment on the Standards of Quality. A summary of all public comment received during the two public comment periods opened in 2009 is contained in the appendices to the final report dated October 22, 2009.
Review Process Resources
- October 22, 2009 – Final Report – Review of the Standards of Quality (PDF) (Approved by the Virginia Board of Education on October 22, 2009).
For more information, see: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/quality/index.shtml
Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding
At the same time, the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary & Secondary Education Funding will make a similar review of the Standards of Quality. In addition, the Joint Subcommittee plans to take up the following issues in time to make recommendations to the 2010 General Assembly; triennial census bill; retirement incentives; health insurance issues; National Board Certification bonuses; Medicaid Special Education Reimbursement; Composite Index bills; support positions; state-operated programs; and Federal American Recovery & Reinvestment Act funding.
Further information can be found at: http://legis.state.va.us/
Virginia Commission on Youth
The Commission on Youth will meet during the off session to consider issues related to Truancy and School Dropout Prevention, Technical and Career Education Programs and the Collection of Evidence-Based Treatment Modalities for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Needs, 4th Edition. Meeting materials are available at:
http://coy.state.va.us/.