Governor McAuliffe proposed a billion dollar increase in education spending, small tax cuts, and a 2 percent raise for state employees last month; roughly 38% of the total budget will be allotted to education (Department of Planning and Budget).
McAuliffe stated that this proposal is “taking Virginia’s investment in public education to the highest level in the commonwealth’s history.”
Polifact Virginia suggests there McAuliffe is misrepresenting the claim. In raw dollars, it is true that the proposed budget would raise education spending to $6.54 billion next school year and to $6.82 billion during the 2017-18 term (up from the current 6.45 billion), but when adjusted fro inflation, Polifact suggests that the state’s record funding came during the 2008-2009 school year.
Regardless, this proposal will fund about 2,500 new instructional jobs over the biennium and provide a 2 percent pay raise for teachers in July 2017.
Other priorities include:
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Rebenchmarking: Fully funds the cost of rebenchmarking the Standards of Quality and additional updates – $429.8 million
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At Risk Add-On: Provides flexible funding to divisions based on free lunch population to be used for drop-out prevention, parent engagement, English Language Learners, etc. – $50 million
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Cost to Compete: Supports a cost of competing adjustment for school support positions in areas with a high cost of living – $41 million
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High School Innovation: implementation grants and additional innovation grants in support of SOL Innovation Committee to enhance creativity and innovation in high school – $500,000
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Computer Science Training for Teachers: Support for teacher training for computer science to address shortages – $1.1 million
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Credentialing and Equipment for Career and Tech Education: Covers the cost of credential tests and doubles the equipment investment – $5 million
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Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT): One time cost to shorten additional SOL tests by converting to the CAT format – $5 million
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VA Tiered Systems of Support (VTSS)/ Positive Behavior Interventions (PBIS): Direct investment in Classrooms not Courtrooms initiative by expanding this evidenced-based program to divisions with high rates of disciplinary offenses – $1 million
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Breakfast after the Bell: In addition to base funding, will provide resources needed to meet demand – $1.1 million
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Early Childhood Grants: Grants to pilot effective public-private delivery models for high-quality early education and to upskill early education providers – $6.9 million
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Teacher Retirement: Increase general fund contribution to teacher retirement – $30 million