Special Report: General Assembly Budget Update
February 11, 2021
February 11, 2021
The money committees have completed their work on the Budget Bills (HB1800/SB1100) and here are the details.
The House’s Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education budget proposal reduces “no loss” funding to school divisions to $399.9 million. Still, the proposal provides $355.5 million in additional direct aid to public schools and $145.3 million over the $623.4 million proposed in the original version of HB 1800.
The Senate’s Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education budget proposal maintains $514 million in “no loss” funding, $355.5 million in additional direct aid to public schools, and $127 million above the Governor’s proposal.
The Senate committee inserted alarming policy language into SB1100 on page 169, after line27, which states, “31. Each school division shall offer in-person instruction options to a student if requested by the parent or guardian in the 2021-2022 school year.” This language is very similar to the language in SB1303, which recently passed the Senate and is now awaiting a hearing in the House Education Subcommittee.
Here are the highlights:
House Appropriations Committee Proposed Changes to HB1800.
Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee Proposed Changes to SB1100.
The Senate Subcommittee recommended retaining the following from the Governor’s proposal:
In addition, the Senate Subcommittee proposed:
The Commonwealth Institute has provided an excellent comparison of Governor Northam’s and money committee budget proposals. For more detailed information, go here.
VEA’s Strong Schools, Strong Communities campaign aims to restore public school funding and significantly boost educator pay. It’s time to invest in Virginia students and the staff who prepare them for careers and productive citizenship. We need your support!
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Learn MoreThe average pay of Virginia public school teachers in 2023-24 was $65,830. That is $4,260 below the national average of $70,090.
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