ADVOCACY UPDATES
SPECIAL SESSION - WEEK 1
The Special Session to address COVID-19 and police reform is underway.

Unfortunately, other than $85M for Broadband infrastructure, the Governor's proposed budget doesn't restore the $500M of frozen K-12 funding, funding for school counselors or provide flexible funds to help schools implement COVID safety measures and distance learning.

The state is projecting a $2.7 billion shortfall for the two-year budget cycle, however that may change as the economy recovers. Re-forecasting for the January 2021 session will start in a month.

The Fund Our Schools Coalition and some legislators are calling on Virginia to use it's rainy day funds for schools. Virginia has $1.07 billion in 'rainy day funds' (held in the revenue reserve and revenue stabilization funds) as well as $490.5 million in unspent funds that could be a source of funding for school recovery.

There are several school voucher bills this session that Virginia PTA does not support because they would remove critical funds from our public schools.

TAKE ACTION: Unless there is a loud rally and public call for action, it's unlikely that education will receive funding this session. We urge you to email the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees!
SCHOOL NURSES (SB5004)
The school nurse bill passed the Senate Health & Education Committee and is waiting to be heard by the Senate Finance Committee.

There are also two bills (HB5105/SB5095) that support community health by providing Rapid COVID testing for schools.

TAKE ACTION: Email the Senate Finance Committee. This bill has been heard for years with no action. Therefore, we urge you to also contact your own Delegate and Senator to share your story of why a registered nurse is needed to support the pandemic response within each school as well as chronic and acute student health.
BROADBAND ($85M BUDGET)
This budget proposal is a long term investment to connecting families with high speed internet.

  • The Original budget was $70 million
  • Un-allotted funding resulted in $38M
  • Special session's proposal increases Broadband funding to fund $85M for the biennium ($50 million this year and $35 million next). This equates to being able to connect 100,000 homes or businesses over the 2 years.

There are several broadband related bills this session. Unfortunately, although they support internet expansion and devices for students, they would create an unfunded mandate on local governments. Therefore, we support the direct $85M investment. We look to federal CARES funds and other emergency packages for short term connectivity solutions.

TAKE ACTION: Email the Senate Finance Committee & House Appropriations Committee to support broadband AND ask for flexible pandemic emergency funds to support hotspots and 1:1 devices for this school year. Additionally, email your Board of Supervisors to ask how they will partner with Internet Service Providers to apply for a portion of the $85M to expand broadband for your community.
TEACHER DIVERSITY DATA
(HB5105)
Closing the achievement gap starts with acknowledging the teacher diversity gap. Virginia's School Quality Profiles should provide teacher diversity data for every school❗
TAKE ACTION: This bill is in the House Education Committee. Email your delegate. #Report2Results #EdEquityVA
CHILDCARE, ABSENCE &
SICK LEAVE
CHILDCARE: HB5033 and HB5077 each provide an income tax credit for child and dependent care expenses.

There is a budget amendment that would reallocate $16.6M to support childcare providers.
PAID LEAVE: Bill (HB5078/SB5094) would provide 14 days of paid sick leave for school staff who need to quarantine or have a COVID-19 illness. Bill SB5100 excuses children from school who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have a household member diagnosed with COVID-19.
SCHOOL MEALS
This week the USDA stated that they will NOT extend the area waiver which has allowed children to receive free meals since March without proving they are eligible for free/reduced meals.

Virginia House Bill HB5113 will require eligible schools to utilize the USDA's Community Eligibility Provision which would provide every student in the qualifying school with free school meals.
TAKE ACTION
GET ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
#FundReturn2School #FundNotFreeze
#TakeAction4Kids #VAPTAAdvocacy


CALL OR EMAIL YOUR DELEGATE!
Email the House Appropriations & Senate Finance Committee Members
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO EMAIL
Luke Torian. DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov
Mark Sickles. DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov
Kenneth Plum. DelKPlum@house.virginia.gov
Roslyn Tyler. DelRTyler@house.virginia.gov
David Bulova. DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov
DeloresMcQuinn DelDMcQuinn@house.virginia.gov
Betsy Carr. DelBCarr@house.virginia.gov
Paul Krizek. DelPKrizek@house.virginia.gov
Lashrecse Aird. DelLAird@house.virginia.gov
Cliff Hayes. DelCHayes@house.virginia.gov
Chris Hurst. DelCHurst@house.virginia.gov
Jay Jones. DelJJones@house.virginia.gov
David Reid. Deldreid@house.virginia.gov
Kirk Cox. DelKCox@house.virginia.gov
Barry Knight. DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov
Will Morefield. DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov
Matthew Farriss. DelMFariss@house.virginia.gov
Nick Rush. DelNRush@house.virginia.gov
Glenn Davis. DelGDavis@house.virginia.gov
Terry Austin. DelTAustin@house.virginia.gov
Robert Bloxom. DelRBloxom@house.virginia.gov
Emily Brewer. DelEbrewer@house.virginia.gov
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
MEMBERS TO EMAIL
Janet Howell. district32@senate.virginia.gov
Richard Saslaw. district35@senate.virginia.gov
Thomas Norment. district03@senate.virginia.gov
Emmett Hanger. district24@senate.virginia.gov
L. Louise Lucas. district18@senate.virginia.gov
Stephen Newman. district23@senate.virginia.gov
Frank Ruff. district15@senate.virginia.gov
Jill Vogel. district27@senate.virginia.gov
George Barker. district39@senate.virginia.gov
John Edwards. district21@senate.virginia.gov
Creigh Deeds. district25@senate.virginia.gov
Mamie Locke. district02@senate.virginia.gov
Chap Petersen. district34@senate.virginia.gov
David Marsden. district37@senate.virginia.gov
Adam Ebbin. district30@senate.virginia.gov
Jennifer McClellan.district09@senate.virginia.gov
THIS THURSDAY!
JOIN SECRETARY QARNI THIS THURSDAY EXPLORE WAYS TO SUPPORT OUR
ENGLISH LEARNER FAMILIES!

Thursday, August 27, 2020
7:00pm - 8:30pm

The town hall will be moderated by Secretary Qarni and simulcast in English and Spanish. (There will be a button in Zoom to select your audio language preference)

  • Paul Berry, Chair, Governor's Virginia Latino Advisory Board
  • Pamela Kestner, MSW Chief Deputy, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Dr. Sandy Curwood, VDOE, Director of School Nutrition Programs
  • Maribel Saimre, VDOE, Director of Student Services
  • Dr. Jessica Costa, VDOE, English Learner Specialist
  • Dr. Luciana de Oliveira, Virginia Commonwealth University, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs

Reunión de apoyo a las familias latinas, en el ayuntamiento (Town Hall)
(Jueves 27 de agosto 2020 de 7.00 p.m. a 8.30 p.m.)

Los invitamos a una reunión con el secretario de educación, el senior Atif Qarni, la PTA de Virginia, y Virginia Latino Advisory Board el 27 de agosto desde las 7.00 p.m. hasta las 8.30 p.m., para un ayuntamiento en línea, acerca de la comunidad de apoyo y servicios disponibles para ayudar a que la comunidad latina de Virginia se prepare para los desafíos de la pandemia de la Covid-19 y del año escolar que se aproxima. La reunión será dirigida por el secretario Qarni y transmitida simultáneamente en inglés y español. 

SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT SURVEY
Virginia state legislators asked JLARC to review Virginia’s special education system and to recommend ways that Virginia can better support students with disabilities through special education.

The survey is designed for parents, foster parents, and legal guardians of students who have received K-12 special education services at any time over the past three years.
La encuesta de JLARC para los padres de los alumnos en Virginia que reciben los servicios de educación especial está disponible en español. Para acceder a más información y completar la encuesta.