VACo spoke in support of HB 1724 (Krizek) on the floor of the House Education Committee’s Subcommittee #2 on January 16. The bill establishes a pilot program fund administered by the Department of Education to award grants to local school boards to establish Grow Your Own Teacher Pilot Programs. These programs would provide scholarships not exceeding $7,500 per year to students who meet certain conditions to attend Longwood University College of Education and Human Services with the commitment to teach for a minimum of four years at a public high school with at least 50 percent of students that qualify for free or reduced lunch.
VACo supports efforts of the General Assembly to approve and fund strategies addressing teacher shortage in the Commonwealth, including programs aimed at reducing student debt for teaching in public schools.
HB 1724 was recommended to be reported and rereferred to House Appropriations on a 9-1 vote.
VACo Contact: Jeremy Bennett