DRAFT 2020 Legislative Program Shawn M. Smith Director of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

DRAFT 2020 Legislative Program Shawn M. Smith Director of Government, Policy & Media Relations December 3, 2019 and December 9, 2019 1

A premier school division Families send their children to Chesterfield schools because they know they will be safe and well-educated by graduation. 2

Points of pride ● 100 percent of Chesterfield County schools are accredited by the Virginia Department of Education. ● On-time graduation rate remained steady last year at 91 percent. State average also was 91 percent. ● Chesterfield County was one of two school divisions in Virginia to earn the College Board’s AP Honor Roll 3

A Fortune 500-like business ● If Chesterfield County Public Schools was a business, it would be one of the largest in the Richmond area -- one of the largest catering operations, transportation systems, human resources operations, etc. ○ $673 million operating budget ○ Nearly 7,300 full-time positions ○ Approximately 9 million miles traveled by buses ○ About 6 million meals served annually ○ Several thousand computer devices to defend 4

Our staff ● Nearly 7,770 employees ○ Includes approximately 4,400 teachers, 870 instructional aides, 550 transportation staff, 450 student services staff, 350 clerical staff, 300 facilities staff, 210 school-based leaders and 50 central office administrators ● 2,515 staff members with a master’s degree, 113 employees with a doctorate and 101 National Board Certified teachers 5

One of the largest systems ● Sept. 30, 2019 enrollment count was 62,626 ○ 67th largest school division in the U.S. ○ Largest prek-12 CCPS student enrollment ever ○ Approximately 1,000 students more than last year ● Nearly 14 percent of our students receive special education services. Another 10 percent receive gifted services. 6

Changing face of CCPS ● A majority-minority school division for the first time ○ Hispanic population has more than doubled during the last 10 years. ○ Nearly 100 languages are spoken at home by students. ● To qualify for the federal free- or reduced-lunch program, a family of four must make less than $46,435 in income. Approximately 38 percent of CCPS’ student population qualifies. That equates to nearly the number of RPS students. 7

1999-2000 2009-10 2019-20 White 74 59 48 Black 21 28 25 Hispanic 2 8 18 Two or more NA NA 5 Asian 3 3 3 Native American <1 1 <1 American Indian <1 1 <1 8

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2020 General Assembly Session ● Internal discussion regarding CCPS 2020 legislative and budget priorities ● Monitoring of legislative study committee(s) meetings and (interim or final) reports being issued ● Board of Education meetings and recommendations ● November 5 – Election Day ● Mid-November — Senate Finance & House Appropriations (respective) Retreats 10

2020 General Assembly Session ● Legislation introduced/(pre)filed ● December 3 – CCPS Legislative Delegation Meeting ● December 9 – School Board meeting — Adoption (vote) on 2020 Legislative Program ● Governor to announce legislative/budget proposals ● December 17 – Governor to announce budget ● January 1 – New CCPS School Board to take office ● Early January — New committee assignments to be 11 announced

2020 General Assembly Session ● January 8, 2020 – 2020 General Assembly Session begins ● Review by CCPS staff of legislation (and fiscal impact) and representation at committee meetings. Regular updates by CCPS staff to School Board and Superintendent ● February — Senate & House announce respective budgets/amendments (and vote later that week) 12

2020 General Assembly Session ● February — Crossover (last day for Senate & House to act on legislation that on legislation to originated in their respective chambers) ● March — 2020 General Assembly Session ends ● April — Veto Session ● CCPS to adapt policy/regulation/procedure to reflect changes effective July 1, 2020 13

Legislative Goals By investing in education, we are preparing students for successful futures – academic and social 14

Legislative Principles Chesterfield parents and community members remain steadfast in their support of safe schools, quality teachers & smaller class sizes. ✓ Oppose any new statutory or regulatory requirements that are not fully funded ✓ Support allowing maximum discretion in developing strategies for budget decisions that will reflect the diverse needs of school divisions ✓ Support flexibility or relaxation of certain mandates 15

School Safety Task Force ● ...recommends that the state amend the Virginia Standards of Quality to establish, and/or CCPS adopt, best practice staffing levels for School Psychologists (1 to 1000), School Social Workers (1 to 1000), School Nurses (1 to 550) and School Counselors (1 to 250). ● Increase funding for additional mental health staffing ● Develop a plan to initially fund and sustain multi-tiered whole child frameworks, pre-K through 12th grade: Social Emotional Learning (SEL), Trauma Informed Care (TIC), Restorative Practices (RP), Positive Behavior Interventions & Support (PBIS) 16

School Safety Task Force ● Request a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) audit to review the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requirements (special education) and VDOE’s mandates regarding IDEA. ● … creation of a school command and emergency systems position and a school safety app that can be used in the school setting. 17

School Safety Task Force ● …anonymous reporting and messaging system for students to alert school personnel to concerns regarding student and/or school safety... ● Provide education, not suspension, for students under the influence 18

Full Funding of K-12 Education ● The Chesterfield County School Board supports full funding of rebenchmarking and flexibility in the Standards of Accreditation/Standards of Quality to allow for local reforms and innovations to long-standing and antiquated practices. ● The Chesterfield County School Board supports increasing public education’s share of the state budget to support innovation, teacher salaries, reduced class 19 size and early childhood programs.

Full Funding of K-12 Education ● The Chesterfield County School Board continues to monitor discussion by the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) of any changes that would lower the annual rate of return on investment, and the financial/local impact of any changes. ● The Chesterfield County School Board supports efforts to attract, train, pay and retain quality teachers , especially in light of Virginia’s current shortage of 20 qualified teachers.

Compensation ● According to the Virginia Education Association, teacher pay in Virginia ranks 34th in the country. ● The average annual teacher salary in Virginia Is $51,265 — more than $9,200 below the national average, according to the association. ● Pay for other professionals typically trails national averages, as well as private industry pay. 21

First-year teacher in Chesterfield $45,817 per year 22

Full Funding of K-12 Education ● The Chesterfield County School Board supports efforts to attract, train, pay and retain quality leaders (specifically principals), especially in light of the Commonwealth’s current shortage of qualified leaders. ● The Chesterfield County School Board supports the elimination of the Commonwealth’s cap on funding of support positions and providing funding for support staff positions (according to a formula that uses 23 numbers of staffing and costs).

Full Funding of K-12 Education ● The Chesterfield County School Board supports full funding of the SOQ requirement for school counselors enacted during the 2019 General Assembly. In addition, there should be flexibility under the school counselor SOQ requirement to hire the individuals (behavioral interventionists, school psychologists and other support positions) that best meet the mental and emotional needs of students and schools. 24

Full Funding of K-12 Education ● The Chesterfield County School Board supports full funding of the Children’s Services Act (CSA) and opposes the shifting of any responsibility that would result in a funding reduction. ● The Chesterfield County School Board supports a study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission of the true cost of education in the Commonwealth 25

Legislative Positions ● Education Reform ● Flexibility or Relaxation of Mandates ● Changes in Graduation Requirements ● Career and Technical Education ● Dual Enrollment and Early College Academies ● Virtual Schools 26

Legislative Positions ● School Health Advisory Board ● School Calendar ● Standards for Student Conduct ● Local Elections 27

DRAFT 2020 Legislative Program Shawn M. Smith Director of Government, Policy & Media Relations December 3, 2019 and December 9, 2019 28