The second half of the 2017 Session is about to begin, and many K-12 education bills remain, though few passed the House or the Senate without amendments. Several issues of major importance to legislators have emerged this year including: School Discipline; Gender Identity; Graduation Requirements; Virtual and Charter Schools; Parent Choice; Class Size; and Student Health. See Update on Priority Education Bills – click the link at bottom
to review these and other bills of primary importance to VASSP.
VASSP has been particularly involved in discipline bills (
see Jan. 27, 2017 report on Discipline Bills) that have commanded press and legislative attention. Several of these bills were defeated, including a bill to restrict principals’ ability to suspend for “disruptive behavior” and a bill to limit when a principal can suspend in cases of assault. Remaining are bills in the House and Senate, with a common theme but differing language, restricting the length of long-term suspensions. Compromise has been reached on some of our major concerns; however, additional amendments are needed to include that assault, including sexual assault, not rising to the level of a criminal offense, constitutes an “aggravating” condition for which principals may recommend a long-term suspension beyond the parameters of the legislation.
Key pieces of education legislation have already failed, many of which VASSP opposed, and include: mandated class-size reductions; seat belts on buses; teaching of the Federalist Papers (added to SOL); gender identity bills; reduction of SOL tests to federal minimum; revised grievance procedures; school calendar bills; and concealed weapons in schools.
This week marks “Crossover,” when the House and Senate vote on member bills and send those that pass over to the other body. The budget reports from the House and Senate money committees will be considered, after which a compromise will be hammered out before February 25. Stay tuned for that report and continue to follow VASSP weekly reports on the web.
Elizabeth 'Bet' Neale
VASSP Director of Government Relations and Lead Lobbyist
