Review Agenda Item
Meeting Date: 11/25/2019 - 7:00 PM
Category: Consent Calendar
Type: Action
Subject: 2020 ACPS Legislative Agenda
ACPS 2025 Strategic Plan Goal:
Objective 1.1 Educational Excellence
ACPS will regularly assess and respond to the needs, interests, and abilities of individual students.
Policy: AD - Educational Philosophy
Funding Source or Fiscal Impact (where applicable)
File Attachment:
191125_Memo_Draft_2020_Legislative_Agenda.pdf
191125_ACPS_2020_Legislative_Agenda.pdf
191125_ACPS_2020_Legislative_Agenda_ADOPTED.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 and student discipline.

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.
Background:
Recommendation: The Superintendent recommends the School Board approve the Legislative Agenda for 2020.
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. - Superintendent
Vote Results:

Original Motion
Member Meagan L. Alderton Moved, Member Margaret Lorber seconded to approve the Original motion 'The Superintendent recommends the School Board approve the Legislative Agenda for 2020.'. Upon a Roll-Call Vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 6 Nay: 0.
The motion Carried 6 - 0
   
Margaret Lorber     Yes
Cindy Anderson     Yes
Veronica R. Nolan     Yes
Jacinta Greene     Yes
Dr. Michelle Rief     Yes
Heather Thornton     Yes