PROPOSED VIRGINIA PTA LEGISLATION
PROPOSED VIRGINIA PTA LEGISLATION
Each year the Virginia PTA petitions the Virginia General Assembly and/or Board of Education to introduce, pass, or defeat specific legislation and/or regulations. These are called Legislative Action Items (LAI). Additionally, the Virginia PTA issues Policy Statements (PS) on general issues that may be used as the basis for addressing issues before the General Assembly or Board of Education. This school year (2003-04), the Virginia PTA proposes three legislative action items and two policy statements.
As a local PTA, we are requested to provide our views on these proposed items. Please read through the items below and be prepared to discuss/vote on them at the October 7th PTA meeting.
LAI #1: Virginia PTA seeks legislation to provide
funding for a stipend for highly qualified teachers and administrators to
provide the opportunity to seek positions in underperforming schools as defined
by the No Child Left Behind Act.
Rationale: The quality of teaching in our classrooms is the most important in-school factor in improving student achievement. Groundbreaking research in Tennessee and Texas found that students whose initial achievement levels were low had vastly different academic outcomes three years later based on the sequence of teachers to which they had been assigned.
Federal policymakers have enacted the No Child Left Behind Act but left states responsible for ensuring compliance. Highly qualified teachers and administrators are a critical component to ensuring Virginia meets these requirements. By providing this funding for contracted periods of time, it is reasonable to expect that student achievement and overall school performance will improve.
LAI #2: Virginia PTA
seeks legislation which provides for K-12 public teachers’ salaries at a level
equal to or greater than the national average.
Rationale: Public school teachers spend an average of 49.3 hours per week to meet their responsibilities, including 11.2 hours per week on non-compensated duties. The job of a teacher is far more complex than it was in the past. Teachers today must modify lessons to meet the needs and abilities of diverse students, from those with learning disabilities to giftedness; educate students from a variety of ethnic backgrounds (approximately 90 different languages spoken in Fairfax County); integrate computer-based technology in the classroom; prepare students for state Standards of Learning tests; and meet new accountability standards and assessments set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2002. Nationally, as many as 30% of new teachers leave within five years. Poor salaries and working conditions impact the decision to leave. Raising teacher salaries equal to or greater than the national average would help retain current teachers and attract additional teachers to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
LAI #3: Virginia PTA
seeks legislation requiring that all minors meet the same permitting and
licensing requirements and that they must complete a drivers’ education course
with a certified instructor to be eligible for obtaining a Virginia driver’s
license.
Rationale: Virginia PTA is committed to promoting transportation safety and the safe operation of motor vehicles by minors. Currently Virginia residents under age 19 must complete a state-approved driver education program, which consists of classroom training and behind-the-wheel driver training at an approved public, private, or commercial driver training school.
Recently passed legislation permits home-schooled students to receive behind-the-wheel driver education by their home-schooling parents, an option that is not available to public and private school students. Prior to the new law, all students received behind-the-wheel driving instruction by a certified instructor in a motor vehicle equipped as required by Board of Education regulation. Since driver education programs are available statewide to students, adults, and out-of-school youths, there is no reason for an alternative permitting and licensing process for home-schooled students.
PS #1: Virginia PTA
seeks enforcement of the General Assembly’s statutory requirement for the
funding of public education.
Rationale: The General Assembly apportions the costs of education between state and local government through its Standards of Quality (SOQ). Currently the state is required by statute to fund 55% of the SOQ’s, but according to the general Assembly’s Joint Legislative Audit Review Commission, the state is not meeting its statutory obligation and is under funding education by $1.06 billion every two years.
PS #2: Virginia PTA
supports full funding provided to all school divisions for a broad-based K-12
curriculum including, but not limited to, the physical sciences, mathematics,
social sciences, language arts, fine and practical arts, health and physical
education, and instructional technology.
Rationale: Update an existing Virginia PTA position to recognize the offerings of a broad-based K-12 curriculum.
updated: September 06, 2003