Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Ensuring Bully-Free Environments

Bullying is visible in all social, economic, and cultural groups, and has proven to be extremely detrimental to a child's academic engagement, as well as his/her overall self-esteem and confidence. In 2013 Jennifer introduced legislation that was passed by the General Assembly that defines the term bullying, and requires school boards to develop anti-bullying policies and procedures in the student code of conduct. Additionally, the law requires Virginia's Board of Education to create policies and procedures to education board employee about the need to create a bully-free school environment.

Improving the Funding Formula for School Localities

In order for the Commonwealth to provide a "system of free public elementary and secondary schools for all children of school age throughout the Commonwealth," the General Assembly in the 1970s instituted the Standards of Quality (SOQ). Based on this program, a funding formula was developed called the local composite index (LCI) of ability to pay for education. The Department of Education updates the LCI every two years. In 2010/2011, when the LIC was updated, 70% of school divisions in Virginia, including the City of Richmond and Henrico County, experienced dramatic losses in state funding. Since then, Jennifer has consistently fought for a review of this funding formula. Not updating the formula causes great potential to significantly impact local education funding, most notably classrooms, academic and athletic programs, and the future of Virginia's children.

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