On January 26, the House Education Committee’s Early Childhood/Innovation Subcommittee met and unanimously recommended to report by a vote of 8-0 HB 879 (Rasoul). This bill would requires the nine-member Board of Education, all of whom are appointed by the Governor, to include at least one member with experience or expertise in local government leadership or policymaking, at least one member with experience or expertise in career and technical education, and at least one member with experience or expertise in early childhood education. Local governments in Virginia provide the majority of funding for K-12 education as compared to state and federal partners, and fund K-12 education in the Commonwealth by more than $4 billion beyond the required local effort. VACo spoke in support of the bill, which give local governments a seat at the table of important education policy making body.
VACo Contact: Jeremy R. Bennett