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VEA update

11/24/2014

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From: "Robley Jones"
Date: Nov 24, 2014 10:09:07 AM
Subject: CLI: Senate Finance Committee Retreat: PK-12 Funding Threatened

Virginia's senators gathered in Staunton Thursday and Friday at the annual Senate Finance Committee's Annual Meeting.

The opening remarks from Co-Chairs Colgan and Stosch set the mark for the budget development challenge ahead. The good news is that it appears that revenue may come in at about $150 million over projections. The bad news is that there is a $321.8 million hole to fill.

Stosch asserted that, "... there are areas where we need to refocus our energies. We still lose too many of our young men and women in the education pipeline. We may be losing our competitive edge on educational attainment." He added, "... we may need to take a serious look at our tax policies. Tax preferences that worked in prior decades may no longer be a good fit for our rapidly evolving economy."

George Mason University's Dr. Stephen S. Fuller was the first speaker, and his topic was "The Virginia Economy." He detailed how the cutbacks in federal spending have had a disproportionate negative impact on Virginia's federally dependent economy. The federal cutbacks have hit Northern Virginia, which represents a third of Virginia's economy, particularly hard. He echoed our Governor's call for a New Virginia Economy. To create this "New Economy," we will need to "Increase the capacity of the state's educational and skills training institutions."

Fuller said that between now and 2029 there will be 531,600 net new jobs in Virginia, but that "resident population is only projected to add 371,000 new potential workers." Envisioning states across the nation competing to attract workers, he rhetorically asked, "Who is going to fill the state's workforce requirements?"

Senate Finance Committee (SFC) Staff Director Betsey Daley offered two sobering statements regarding what to expect in the session ahead:

1. "[There is] Little opportunity to make investments in key areas, unless funded through spending reallocations or identification of other resources."
2. She then offered the following as one of the adoptions for addressing the remaining cuts, "Make targeted reductions to those programs that were not included in the reversions, namely K-12 public education and Medicaid."

This assertion from Daley was a contrasting cause for optimism:
"The foundations of Virginia's economy are shifting. To adapt will require the Commonwealth to:
-- Improve educational preparation and attainment to create a competitive workforce.
-- Provide post-secondary education, training, and credentials to further develop the workforce.
-- Maintain a "best for business" environment; encourage entrepreneurship and small firm formation."

Day two of the annual Senate Finance Committee retreat included a presentation entitled "The 'New' Virginia Economy: Not Business as Usual, Translating Education and Workforce Efforts into Economic Success." There was some cause for optimism regarding what was presented. Assertions included, "Virginians will need to further their education from 'cradle to gray,'" and "Elevate the teaching profession by recruiting more of the right people (leading organically to more autonomy/prestige/pay) and making the best use of the most effective teachers."

Some of the demographic information presented reveals challenges for our schools. Between 2004 and 2013 the number of economically disadvantaged students in our schools increased by 45.1% and the number of Limited English Proficiency students increased by 68.5%. It is amazing that our graduation rate and achievement scores have increased during these years.

One thing is clear: some are looking to balance the budget on the backs of Virginia's students when we should be putting kids first. 

Thank you, 
Robley Jones

VEA GR&R
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nea update

11/22/2014

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Weekly update from NEA.
Federal Legislative Updates - News from Capitol Hill
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VEA update

11/19/2014

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November 19, 2014 
As we finish the last of VEA's regional Pre-Legislative dinners, legislative activity is rapidly increasing. Bills are being pre-filed, and the meeting schedule is leaving little time to stop to breathe.

On 11/10, the House Education Committee's Elementary and Secondary Advisory Committee met. Carol Bauer represented you with distinction. I extend kudos to Dr. John Banbury, principal of Oakton High School, for speaking out for Virginia's beleaguered teachers. He asserted that "teachers are tired, beat down, and crushed." He said that the teacher evaluation system is so labor-intensive that it begs the question, "What do you want teachers doing?" Do we want teachers spending their time on these evaluations, or would their time be better spent planning for instruction? He said that teachers in urban settings are leaving after three years, and that in suburban settings they are leaving after five years. He said that we are wearing teachers out, not compensating them adequately, and providing them with little incentive to continue teaching. John was an effective messenger, and it is nice to have a principal echoing what we have been telling the legislators.

On Veteran's Day, Chairman Steve Landes held his first Education Summit hosted by the House Committee on Education. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Steven R. Staples gave the most interesting and informative presentation of the day. Two facts from his presentation are most revealing:

"In FY 2014, General Fund Direct Aid to Public Education is $308,616,613 less than it was in 2007."
"Since 2008, K-12 public education staffing has been reduced by 5,000 positions in Virginia."

I went back to see what has happened with enrollment since 2008. The bottom line is that our schools have 5,000 fewer staff members and over 30,000 more students.

Staples also spoke to student achievement in Virginia. We are not only doing better than our nation, we are outperforming many other nations. He reiterates what I've been saying -- we're giving them the bang, but we're not getting the bucks.

Are more state budget cuts coming? There is a $272 million budget shortfall for FY2016. Although PreK-12 has been cut substantially since 2008, we were spared in the last round of cuts. Some, including Senators Walter Stosch and Bill Carrico, are saying that public education will not be spared in the next round. As Michael Cassidy, President and CEO of the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis has pointed out, "There are a range of options for raising revenue ... including closing ineffective tax loopholes and reforming costly tax credits," which can be utilized to close this gap. The current cuts-only approach is dangerously eroding the quality of education in our Commonwealth. 

Thank you,
 
Robley Jones
, VEA GR&R
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NEA UPDATE

11/16/2014

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Check out the latest news from the NEA! 
http://www.nea.org/home/19449.htm
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