Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 10/11/2018 - 7:00 PM
Category: New Business and Reports to the Board
Type: Info
Subject: 2019 Proposed Legislative Agenda
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Objective 2.3 Community Engagement
ACPS will actively engage families, students, staff, and community members regarding school programs and activities, volunteer opportunities, and events.
Policy: BBA - School Board Powers and Duties
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
File Attachment:
181011_Memo_2019_Legislative_Agenda.pdf
181011_Draft_2019_Legislative_Agenda.pdf
Agenda Item Summary: The Alexandria City Public Schools believes that local school divisions are best positioned to respond to the needs of students and families with the provision of adequate funding from the state to address mandates. To ensure that Virginia provides sufficient educational funding for its citizens, the Alexandria City School Board supports recognizing the educational needs of low-income students by providing more funding for the At-Risk Add-On in the budget. While the school division benefits from state goals and guidance, local school divisions should have the autonomy and flexibility to determine policies in areas such as grading, instructional spending, school safety, calendar year and student discipline.
Background: Growing enrollment, changing demographics and the student support needs in our schools require competitive teacher salaries, and increased funding to meet the Standards of Quality, particularly in the student services areas of psychology, counseling, nursing and other mental health supports. Given the role of public education in the health of our community and this nation, we oppose the diversion of any public education funds to non-public schools, private virtual programs or use of tuition tax credits, tax deductions, or vouchers, as a means of reimbursing parents for their children’s K-12 education expenses.

ACPS will continue working with similar school divisions in our advocacy for more flexibility in instructional programming, cost of competing, and differential funding for educating students that require special services not in line with the local composite index.
Recommendation: The Superintendent recommends review of the ACPS Proposed Legislative Agenda for 2019.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Final-Clerk of the Board - Proxy