Download VASS 2022-2023 Legislative Platform

While the past few years have challenged school divisions in Virginia as perhaps no other time in recent memory, we have seen these schools rise to the occasion. We have seen and are appreciative of the significant financial support provided schools from both state and federal governments.

As we look to the 2023 General Assembly, there are several unknowns in terms of potential actions from state government. These include:

• New State Executive Administration
• New State Superintendent and five new members of the Virginia Board of Education
• JLARC studies on Dual Enrollment and SOQ Funding
• 2023 elections in both the House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia with new electoral districts
• The results of the HB 938 studies and recommendations

Thus, this year rather than a establishing a set of Legislative goals, we will endeavor to lay out some Legislative Principles or beliefs from which issues from state government can be addressed. 

1. Governance and Budget:
   
   
   1. Full funding of all mandates required by the Commonwealth of Virginia should be provided.
   2. Local school boards should have primary authority in the implementation of these mandates and how resources from State Government are utilized at the local level.
   3. VASS is appreciative of the removal of part of the Support Cap for school personnel. However, a complete removal of this Support Cap is necessary to address the changing needs of students and the support required for teachers (i.e. Increased need for Instructional Aides)
   4. Added state funding is needed to allow school divisions to adjust their career and technical education programs to better meet the changing workforce needs within their communities.
      
      
2. Teacher Shortage: The lack of teachers and need for greater teacher diversity in the classroom have reached a critical stage.
   
   
   1. Teacher salary increases should be maintained at or above inflation.
   2. Teacher licensure requirements should immediately be made more flexible on a statewide basis to enhance the teacher pipeline and address the teacher shortage issue.
   3. Eliminate the VRS requirement that a retiree must have a bona fide break in service of at least 12 consecutive months following the effective date of retirement to be eligible for employment (full 200 day contract) in a critical shortage teacher vacancy. It is further recommended that the State delete the VRS rule/requirement that a retiree who retired with a reduced benefit or participated in an extended work incentive program be ineligible for employment in a critical shortage teacher vacancy.
   4. Teacher salaries should be provided in line with equivalent professionals outside the field of education.
   5. Funding provided for SOQ positions by function, instead of by title/licensure. is critical for school divisions to hire the staff necessary to address current needs.
      
      
3. Assessment:
   
   
   1. VASS supports the use of PALS and SOL tests as the primary tools in the assessment component of school accountability.
   2. Cut scores on SOL assessments should not be changed during the current school year.
   3. VASS is open to exploring a change in the SOL cut scores that are made using evidenced based guidelines. Any change in cut scores should be accompanied by appropriate supports to assist with students meeting these new requirements.
   4. VASS supports the VASCD position - Develop stakeholder assessment and data literacy, efficacy, and engagement. Create a comprehensive accountability system that uses multiple measures of the most essential student learning outcomes. Reduce the number of required proficiency tests to an appropriate level. Improve the quality of data reporting so that they are actionable and can inform instruction. Explicitly align standards, instruction, and assessment throughout the accountability system using two-way development. Create a process for ongoing evaluation, revision, and iteration of assessment and accountability. Increase the value and role of teacher as assessor within the accountability system.
      
      
4. Accreditation:
   
   
   1. With the exception of utilizing chronic absenteeism as an accreditation indicator, VASS supports the current Virginia Standards of Accreditation and the importance using of student growth as a primary factor in measuring progress.
   2. VASS asks that the State Board re-evaluate the use of chronic absenteeism as an accreditation indicator and either remove it or redefine the definition so that all absences are not counted the same.
      
      
5. School Infrastructure and Construction: VASS requests the following changes be made in the Draft School Construction Assistance Program Guidelines:
   
   
   1. Eligible use of grant funds to include school projects completed or initiated within the last ten years.  The Draft Guidelines only allow funding of (i) those projects that are either in the local planning phase or already planned as documented in a currently-approved Capital Improvement Plan (CIP); (ii) those projects that lack sufficient funding to cover the full cost projected for the project; and (iii) those projects for which construction has not yet started.
   2. Eligible use of funds to include debt service payments on school projects that have been completed or initiated within the last ten years. The Draft Guidelines only allow funding for, "project costs" include reasonable project construction costs, including planning, design (architectural and engineering), site acquisition, construction phase costs involving the core building structure and related site work, but do not include financing (such as closing costs, legal counsel and financial advisor costs, and debt service payments for principal and interest), outdoor facilities predominantly used for extracurricular athletic activities, loose equipment, and furniture.
   3. In prioritizing the need criteria for eligibility, consideration be given to consider not only the most recent data on a locality’s local fiscal stress index and local composite index, but also a multi-year average. This is a better indicator of long-term fiscal stress indicators and prevent fluctuations resulting from the unusual nature of the pandemic from distorting true fiscal stress.
      
      
6. Student\School Safety:
   
   
   1. VASS supports requirement of an SRO\SSO in every school if it is fully funded by the State and flexibility is given as to who can fill this position.
   2. Modify VRS requirements so that retired law enforcement officers can return to work sooner.
   3. Increased support for mental health services through such programs as Community in Schools.
      
      
7. Dual Enrollment and the Virginia Community College System: Dual enrollment has become an integral and critical part of education at the secondary level.
   
   
   1. Dedicated funding from the state to the community college system to allow these colleges to provide dual enrollment at no cost to student or the school division.
   2. School divisions need greater flexibility in assigning staff to teach dual enrollment courses at the local high school.