VCC Magazine Winter 2020

KATHY BURCHER | GOVERNMENT RELATIONS | 804-651-4192 | kburcher@veanea.org VIRGINIA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION | @ VEA4Kids | veanea.org 2020 VEA LEGISLATIVE AGENDA VEA SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT: • Restore the probationary period for teachers to three years. • Reduce the total number and type of required Standards of Learning assessments to the minimum federal requirements. • Eliminate the requirement that school principals report to law enforcement certain disciplinary incidents that may constitute a misdemean- or offense. • Open participation in Virgin- ia’s current state employee health insurance program to all school employees. VEAWILL INITIATE LEGISLATION TO: • Undermines the efforts of the Virginia Board of Education to meet its Constitution- al authority to define the standards for a high-quality public education in our Commonwealth. • Provides public dollars to non-public schools. • Transfers the authority for granting charter schools away from the local school board. • Undermines the health or retirement benefits of school personnel. VEA OPPOSES LEGISLATION THAT: • Provides resources to ensure that school employees earn a living wage and that teacher salaries are at or above the national average. • Fully funds the revised Standards of Quality (SOQs), as adopted by the Virginia Board of Education. • Attracts and retains high-quality teachers and school personnel and im- proves professional devel- opment opportunities for all school employees. • Protects professional teaching licenses. • Increases funds directed to programs serving Virginia’s most at-risk students. • Supports the needs of and addresses the inequities in Virginia’s small and rural school divisions. • Improves, implements, and funds programs, resources, and professional develop- ment for educators to support student behaviors that reduce the need for suspensions and expulsions. • Supports and protects the safety and mental health of our public school educators and students. • Maintains designated school property as gun-free zones. 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 . We’ll Keep You Informed