FAQs Archive - Strong Schools Strong Communities

Q: Protect Public School Funding

With students and schools still recovering from the setbacks of the pandemic, we can’t afford to start shifting investments to unproven programs like vouchers and savings accounts that have poor track records for improving student outcomes. Research is clear that investing in public schools improves student outcomes, graduation rates and postsecondary enrollment. Lawmakers should look to invest in research-backed initiatives that our Board of Education and student-advocacy groups in the state have been pointing to for years, like funding the revised Standards of Quality and lifting the support cap which adds to our current support staff shortages. Voucher and Savings Accounts Fact Sheet || Charter School Fact Sheet || Lab School Fact Sheet

Q: Competitive Educator and Support Professional Pay

While progress was made in the recent budget by providing the state portion of a 5% salary increase for school staff positions, with exceptionally high inflation rates, it is likely many school employees will have reduced spending power compared to their 2021-2022 earnings. Virginia could make meaningful progress and possibly exceed the national teacher pay average by offering an additional raise of 6 percentage points beyond the planned 5% state salary increase for funded school positions next year. We call on the state to increase salaries by 11% in the coming year to reach this goal. Fact Sheet || Fund Our Schools Memo with Technical Details

More adequately fund and support for English Learner services and expand the flexibility of state support. SUPPORT HB 1823, HB1824, SB1118, AND SB 1109.

FACT SHEET More than 1 in 8 Virginia K-12 students are current or former EL students. For state supplemental support of EL [...]

More adequately fund and support for English Learner services and expand the flexibility of state support. SUPPORT HB 1823, HB1824, SB1118, AND SB 1109.fofadmin2023-01-26T20:48:05+00:00

Scale the initial and continuing state supplement for National Board Certification Incentive Awards and cover fees for educators seeking certification to encourage high-quality professional development. SUPPORT HB 1424 AND SB1260.

FACT SHEET Multiple studies demonstrate students with a National Board Certified have learning gains of up to 2 months more than peers [...]

Scale the initial and continuing state supplement for National Board Certification Incentive Awards and cover fees for educators seeking certification to encourage high-quality professional development. SUPPORT HB 1424 AND SB1260.fofadmin2023-01-26T20:47:03+00:00

Provide funding to ensure teacher salaries are at or above the national average and that school employees earn a livable wage. SUPPORT HB 1566 AND SB1215

FACT SHEET At a time of major staffing shortages, we need prudent investments that improve retention and real investment in the education [...]

Provide funding to ensure teacher salaries are at or above the national average and that school employees earn a livable wage. SUPPORT HB 1566 AND SB1215fofadmin2023-01-26T20:46:08+00:00

Fully implement and fund the revised Standards of Quality and Lift the Support Cap. SUPPORT HB 2111 AND SB1325. SUPPORT BUDGET AMENDMENTS 137 #31h & #34h AND 137 #5s.

FACT SHEET Every student needs access to a high-quality education, and we have a clear evidence-based guide developed by the Virginia Board [...]

Fully implement and fund the revised Standards of Quality and Lift the Support Cap. SUPPORT HB 2111 AND SB1325. SUPPORT BUDGET AMENDMENTS 137 #31h & #34h AND 137 #5s.fofadmin2023-01-26T20:45:01+00:00

Protect Public School Funding

we can’t afford to start shifting investments to unproven programs like vouchers and savings accounts that have poor track records for improving student outcomes.

Protect Public School Fundingfofadmin2023-01-18T20:45:25+00:00

Competitive Educator and Support Professional Pay

We call on the state to increase salaries by 11% in the coming year

Competitive Educator and Support Professional Payfofadmin2023-01-18T20:45:55+00:00

Restore Education Funding

Every student needs access to a high-quality education, and we have a clear evidence-based guide developed by the Virginia Board of Education (the SOQs) over the past decades outlining the school staffing levels and professional development needed to provide that high-quality education.

Restore Education Fundingfofadmin2022-11-30T17:10:35+00:00