ADVOCACY UPDATES
VIRTUAL RALLY TOMORROW!!
HELP US RESTORE K-12 FUNDING!
TOMORROW the General Assembly will meet to re-evaluate the Virginia Budget.

We need YOUR help to start a virtual rally to restore K-12 funding.

We're asking you to get active on your PTA and personal social media accounts.

HERE'S SOME BACKGROUND

Prior to the pandemic, historic investments were made in K-12 education that would have reversed Virginia's position as 42nd in the United States for per pupil state spending.

In March, the General Assembly adopted a $135 billion budget which assumed annual revenue growth of 3% and included $8-9 billion annually in direct aid for education.

In April, in anticipation of a revenue shortfall from COVID, the General Assembly unalloted or froze ~$3 billion in spending over the biennium. This included tabling $50 million for School Counselors, unalloting $14 million for Broadband and unalloting $500 million for K-12 education:
  • 2% raises for teachers ($288M);
  • historic expansion of pre-school for at risk 3-4 year olds ($83M);
  • additional funding for high-poverty schools ($61M);
  • lowering the costs of reduced-price lunches ($11M)
  • Cost of Competing Adjustment ($20M)

In July, it was announced that state revenue grew by 2%. This means the projected $1 billion of loss in year one turned out to be a shortfall of $236.5 million, or a 1.1% difference between the budget adopted in March and actual revenue growth.

On August 18th, the General Assembly will convene at noon to start a special session that we re-evaluate the state budget, address the impact of the pandemic and discuss policing reform.

PROJECTIONS TO RE-OPEN BUILDINGS SAFELY

Recent estimates show that federal aid will fall short of providing schools the funding needed to fully meet safety guidelines for physical reopening.

Schools need flexible funding to ensure safety measures are in place to protect students and staff. This includes widespread rapid COVID testing, installation of plexi-glass shields, supplies to clean and sanitize multiple times a day, ability to provide staff and students with PPE and adjustments to transportation and school meal service.

With many students learning at home, it is imperative that the digital gap be addressed by funding devices and Wi-Fi access, while simultaneously accelerating broadband expansion for every Virginian.

The Commonwealth Institute estimates that to meet safety guidance schools will need ~$460 per student, which is a state investment of $600M in flexible pandemic response funds.


HERE'S WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR:

✅ Restoring the $500M of K-12 funding that was unallotted in April

✅ Funding $600M for Flexible K-12 Pandemic Response

✅ Restoring and Expanding funding for High-Speed Broadband 

✅ Restoring $50M for School Counselors

✅ Providing a Registered School Nurse for every school

✅ Improving accessibility of licensed, affordable childcare


THIS IS HOW YOU CAN HELP!!

GET ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Yep.... that's it.
Share or post on your PTA social media pages to raise awareness in your community AND join our #TakeAction4Kids Challenge.
  • Take a picture holding a sign with YOUR top priority or record a 20 second video sharing your "why"
  • Tag 2 Friends and ask that they join the challenge
  • Set your post to 'public' and tag your legislators
  • Use these hashtags: #FundReturn2School #FundNotFreeze #VAPTAAdvocacy #TakeAction4Kids
  • You can also use and share materials from our coalition partner @FundOurSchoolsVA #FundOurSchools

CALL OR EMAIL YOUR DELEGATE!
Legislators respond best to personal stories and asks from their constituents. Letters don't have to be long, just a short statement about what's important to you and why you want your legislator to take a stand for education. If you want to use a template letter, you can use this form letter from our coalition partner, Fund Our Schools.


WRITE A LETER TO THE EDITOR
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper reminding your community why it's important to fund education.
SAVE THE DATE!
JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL TOWN HALL WEBINAR
SUPPORT FOR LATINX FAMILIES

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

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.)

Join Secretary of Education Atif Qarni, the Virginia PTA, and the Virginia Latino Advisory Board on August 27th from 7:00PM to 8:30PM for a virtual town hall discussion about the community of support and services available to help Virginia's Latinx community prepare for the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and upcoming school year. The town hall will be moderated by Secretary Qarni and simulcast in English and Spanish. 

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. 

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

REGISTRATION LINK COMING SOON
Advocacy Afternoon Webinars
Available On-Line
Watch at your own pace. Hear directly from policy makers and specialists about important topics that impact our communities such as mental health; broadband; special education; equitable opportunity; military families and more.