VCC Magazine Winter 2019

10 KATHY BURCHER | GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | 804-651-4192 | kburcher@veanea.org VIRGINIA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | @ VEA4Kids | veanea.org 2019 VEA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA VEA SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT: • Use a teacher evaluation model with multiple measures, reduced reliance on standardized test scores, and an accurate reflection of a teacher’s effectiveness. • Give the Virginia Board of Edu- cation the option to reprimand in professional license action instead of only suspend, cancel, or revoke. • Implement and fully fund a statewide, reliable, nationally- validated school personnel climate survey. • Reinstate state funding dedicat- ed to capital improvements of our public schools. • Establish a duty-free lunch period for all teachers during the regular school day. • Expand Virginia Retirement System membership to include part-time school employees. VEAWILL INITIATE LEGISLATION TO: • Undermines the Virginia Board of Education’s efforts to meet its Constitutional authority to define the standards for a high-quality public education in our Com- monwealth. • Provides public dollars to non-public schools. • Transfers the authority for grant- ing charter schools away from the local school board. • Undermines the health or retirement benefits of school personnel. VEA OPPOSES LEGISLATION THAT: We’ll Keep You Informed Keep up with all the latest legislative news affecting schools by reading VEA’s daily updates during the General Assembly session. You’ll find them at www.veadailyreports.com . • Provides resources to ensure that school employees earn a living wage and that teacher salaries are at or above the national average. • Attracts and retains high-quality teachers and school personnel and improves professional devel- opment opportunities. • Fully funds the revised Standards of Quality (SOQs), as adopted by the Virginia Board of Education, to accurately reflect what it costs to educate Virginia students and support their mental health needs. • Implements and funds school safety measures and the effective use of threat assessment teams. • Maintains designated school property as gun-free zones. • Increases funds directed towards Virginia’s most at-risk students. • Supports the needs of and addresses the inequities in Virginia’s small and rural school divisions. • Implements, improves, and funds programs and staffing to counteract student behaviors that lead to suspensions and expulsions. • Protects professional teaching licenses.