Posts Tagged Virginia Schools
New data shows Virginia continues to lag behind national average on teacher pay
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 3, 2025
As students return to public schools across Virginia, some teachers are struggling to make ends meet. Michael Pope has the numbers.
Also, a note of disclosure – the Virginia Education Association is the primary funding source for Virginia Public Radio.
New data: Public school enrollment will continue to decline in Virginia
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 13, 2025

Public school enrollment is expected to decline in the next decade. Michael Pope has the story.
Here’s the link to the latest data from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. Also, as a note of disclosure, the Virginia Education Association is the primary funding source for Virginia Public Radio.
Why are Virginia’s history standards being delayed?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on March 17, 2025

Teachers across Virginia are waiting for instructional guides on history. But Michael Pope reports that a review of history standards has been delayed for years.
Youngkin appointees strike controversial language from new school overdose notification guidelines
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on February 27, 2025

Overdoses in Virginia’s schools was one of Governor Glenn Youngkin’s top concerns on the campaign trail.
Thursday morning, the state’s Board of Education voted to approve new guidelines for how schools should inform parents when they happen. But some of the language proved to be too controversial for even members appointed by Youngkin. Brad Kutner has more.
Proposed legislation would expand Youngkin’s ban on cell phones in Virginia schools
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on February 24, 2025

School boards across Virginia are about to start cracking down on students using cell phones. Michael Pope has the details.
Virginia Senate allows Youngkin school accountability effort to move forward
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on February 4, 2025

The Senate of Virginia is rejecting an effort to hit the pause button on a major education initiative of the governor. Michael Pope has the latest from the Capitol.
School testing scores improve little, but Youngkin says its coming
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 30, 2025

Governor Glenn Youngkin painted a positive picture of stagnant school test scores Wednesday. The governor pointed to intense tutoring programs and more current testing to suggest a better path was possible, but others questioned his term-long strategy. Brad Kutner has more from Richmond.
Virginia districts face the prospect of ICE agents entering schools
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 29, 2025

The Migration Policy Institute estimates there are more than 730,000 school-aged children living in the U.S. without legal status, and the Trump administration has said federal agents may enter schools to take people into custody. Sandy Hausman reports on the response of some districts here in Virginia.
Virginia Legislature advances social media data bill to catch those making threats
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 21, 2025

In February 2024, Roanoke City closed its public schools after threats against the system circulated online. Difficulty accessing data to find the culprit led to new legislation now being considered by the General Assembly. Brad Kutner has more.
Youngkin announces new education standards
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on November 8, 2024

Governor Glenn Youngkin gave a name to his new education standards Friday morning. Brad Kutner has more on the new effort and some concerns about its roll out.
Changes to Virginia’s school funding formula could be on the horizon
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 12, 2024

State officials are about to take a close look at how public education is funded in Virginia. Michael Pope has this preview.
Board of Ed passes controversial new school standards
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 28, 2024

Governor Glenn Youngkin ran and won on a promise to address COVID-era learning loss. But with Standards of Learning test results staying relatively flat, the state Board of Education is looking to rewrite how Virginia grades schools. Brad Kutner has more from Richmond.
Virginia students face varying levels of funding
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 26, 2024

As students head back to school, they’ll be walking into classrooms that receive different levels of funding based on where they are located. Michael Pope explains.
You can find the VPAP analysis of state data here.
Youngkin celebrates modest increases in Virginia’s SOL scores
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 20, 2024

Governor Glenn Youngkin said he was pleased with Virginia’s 2023-24 SOL results at a press event Tuesday. And, as Brad Kutner found out, numbers show slight increases in test scores in most school divisions.
Some Virginia schools have already been ahead of new state cell phone free learning push
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 19, 2024

Virginia’s Department of Education released a draft policy Thursday that aims to make schools cell phone free for nearly the whole school day. Brad Kutner has more from one school in Richmond that got ahead of the curve and limited cell phone use in schools earlier this year.
New format shows nearly half of Virginia students live in poverty
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 13, 2024

Recent years have seen a dramatic rise in the number of students considered “at-risk” by the Virginia Department of Education. Michael Pope explains that’s because state officials now have better data.
The “summer slump” is a real worry for Virginia teachers and lawmakers
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 8, 2024
School’s out for summer for most of Virginia public schools. And as Michael Pope reports, teachers are worried about learning loss.
A bill banning the ability of school boards to ban books has cleared the state Senate
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 30, 2024

Lawmakers in Richmond are considering legislation that would prohibit school boards from banning books. Michael Pope reports.
Could Virginia soon offer free breakfast and lunch to all students?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 23, 2024

Lawmakers are considering picking up the tab for breakfast and lunch at public schools across Virginia. Michael Pope has the story.
Democrats: Virginia teachers deserve a significant pay raise
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 17, 2024

Education was a topic on the campaign trail last year. Now, members of the General Assembly are debating what to do about it. Michael Pope reports on an effort to pay teachers more.
Efforts to increase teacher pay, decrease school counselor ratio clear first legislative hurdle
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 16, 2024

A pair of bills that aim to increase the quality of Virginia’s schools made it out of a House subcommittee Tuesday morning. Brad Kutner has more.
Virginia legislators look to update outdated school funding formula
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 16, 2024

Virginia has long used a school funding formula that legislators and education advocates argue fails to focus on student outcomes or education equity. A House education committee this week took the first steps to change that. Brad Kutner has more.
Virginia county famous for transgender legal fight passes Youngkin’s ‘model policy’
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on November 16, 2023

Years after a rural Virginia county became the frontline for transgender students’ bathroom use, Governor Glenn Youngkin released a new set of policies he argues ensure privacy, dignity, and respect for students and parents.
Transgender kids and their parents disagree. And Brad Kutner reports local school boards are now trying to find a path forward.
New polling examines opinion on teaching racism among Virginians
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on October 20, 2023
Virginians have differing opinions on the teaching of racism in classrooms. Michael Pope has the latest on polling from Christopher Newport University.
A cap for support staff at Virginia school’s will be up for debate this week
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 1, 2023
Lawmakers will return to Richmond September 6th to pass amendments to the budget. Michael Pope has this preview of one of the issues they’ll address.
Reaction to new state guidance on transgender student policies
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 19, 2023
School boards across Virginia are facing an important decision now that the Virginia Department of Education has issued a new model policy on transgender students. Michael Pope reports.
A calculation error shortchanging Virginia schools still hasn’t been resolved
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 5, 2023
Lawmakers are still deadlocked over budget amendments for a fiscal year that started on July 1st. And as Michael Pope reports, schools may be taking a hit because of the impasse.
More and more Virginia school divisions are starting to unionize
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on March 15, 2023
The Fairfax County School Board recently approved a resolution allowing for collective bargaining among public school employees, and the Falls Church School Board is expected to follow suit sometime soon. As Michael Pope reports, school divisions across Virginia are starting to unionize.
The General Assembly debates controversial books
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on February 9, 2023
Lawmakers in Richmond are debating what kind of books should be allowed in public school libraries. Michael Pope has the story.
State lawmakers are debating several bills related to public school libraries
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 24, 2023
Public school libraries are the focus of several bills in the General Assembly this year. Michael Pope reports.
How should Virginia schools measure student progress?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on October 14, 2022
What should happen to a school that doubles test scores but still does not make the grade? Michael Pope reports.
A new report suggests collective bargaining is a boon for Virginia teachers and schools
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on October 6, 2022
Educators across Virginia are pushing for better wages and working conditions. Michael Pope reports that in some places that could mean collective bargaining.
Click here for the findings from the Commonwealth Institute.
Under changes made in 2017, many Virginia schools are fully accredited
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 26, 2022
School divisions get uneven support from the state
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 25, 2022
As students across Virginia head back to school, Michael Pope reports those schools are not receiving the same amount of financial support from the state.
You can find the Commonwealth Institute analysis here.
Should Virginia teachers be allowed to bring guns into the classroom?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia on August 3, 2022
As concern over school shootings increases, some say teachers should be able to bring guns to the classroom. Michael Pope reports.
Virginia’s Moton Museum added to Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Park
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 2, 2022
In 1954, the Supreme Court did away with legal segregation of schools in Brown versus the Board of Education. Today, there’s a national park in Kansas celebrating that case, but there were other places involved in the lawsuit – one here in Virginia – and Congress has now made it part of the park, as Sandy Hausman reports.
Virginia school boards: striking a balance between transparency and order
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 6, 2022
School boards across Virginia are dealing with sometimes hostile parents and potentially dangerous situations. But as Michael Pope reports, they also have to manage the legal requirements for open meetings.
Lunch debt legislation headed to Youngkin’s desk
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on March 9, 2022
Governor Glenn Youngkin is now considering legislation that’s passed the House and the Senate. As Michael Pope reports, one of those bills is about school lunch debt.
Bill limiting excessive testing in Virginia schools likely to move forward
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on January 18, 2022
Members of the General Assembly are considering a bill to simplify how students are tested in public schools. Michael Pope reports.
Lawmakers will consider how much say school officials have over crime reporting
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on November 24, 2021
How much discretion should school officials have about contacting law enforcement when they suspect a crime has been committed? Michael Pope reports on a bill that would take away some of that discretion.
The pandemic and its impact on instruction is wreaking havoc on some school kids
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on November 23, 2021
Research is still being conducted, but early data suggests about 20% of school children are experiencing moderate to clinical levels of psychological trauma symptoms – things like anxiety, depression or even aggression. Nick Gilmore reports.
Virginia Ranks Towards the Bottom in Education Spending Per Student
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on September 9, 2021
Virginia is one of the wealthiest states in America. But as Michael Pope reports, it also ranks toward the bottom of the pack for education spending.
Concerns Over Distribution of Funds for School HVAC Upgrades Heating Up
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 16, 2021
Schools across Virginia are about to get federal stimulus money to help them pay for upgrades to their HVAC systems. But, some are concerned about how that money will be distributed. Michael Pope reports.
Advocates Lament Lack of Funding for Social Services at Community Schools
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on August 13, 2021
Many advocates across Virginia are hoping local community schools could become a hub for social services. But, they’re dealing with a major setback. Michael Pope reports.
Declining Birth Rates May Transform Virginia Schools
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on July 7, 2021
The declining birth rate is having an influence over planning in school divisions across Virginia. It’s a discussion that’s playing out while lawmakers are trying to figure out what to do with stimulus money. Michael Pope reports.
American Rescue Plan Money is Headed to Virginia; How Should the State Use It?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 16, 2021
The federal government is about to spend millions of dollars to rescue Virginia schools. So how will all that money be spent? Michael Pope reports.
Experts Say Virginia Needs to Hire Many More Teachers and Support Staff
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on June 4, 2021
Students are flocking to Virginia schools. But, those schools are not adding staff to support all those new students. Michael Pope has details.
ARP Funding: How Should Virginia School Divisions Use It?
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on May 24, 2021
School divisions across Virginia are about to come into a large sum of money thanks to the American Rescue Plan. Michael Pope reports on the debate about what to do with all that money.
Virginia Teachers Will Soon Undergo Cultural Competency Training Under New Law
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on March 11, 2021
Virginia history is complicated, and now teachers in Virginia will have help explaining some of the racial elements to students. Michael Pope reports.
Legislation Requiring In-Person Instruction Currently Under Consideration by House of Delegates
Posted by Nick Gilmore in Virginia's News on February 22, 2021
On Monday, some students in Henrico County returned to in-person learning. Governor Northam has asked all schools to have an in-person option by March 15th. A bill in the General Assembly would require it by this summer. Jahd Khalil has this report from Richmond.















