DRAFT
ALEXANDRIA CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ISSUES – 2011 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Legislative Initiatives
· Opening of School Financial Study
· Prohibiting the Manufacture, Distribution, and and/or Possession of Synthetic Marijuana
Funding Issues
· Cost of Competing
· Funding All Tests Required by the No Child Left Behind Act
· Virginia Retirement System
Legislative Issues
· 65% Solution
· Educational Alternatives
· Higher Education for Students Who Are Not Permanent Residents
· Public School Calendar
· Statewide Grading Policy
· Vouchers and Tax Credits
LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES
Opening of School Financial Study
The Alexandria City School Board supports legislation to initiate a study on the financial impact of allowing public schools to open before Labor Day. Included in the study should be such items as:
1. The number of Virginia school divisions where school is presently allowed to open before Labor Day and the dates when those schools open.
2. The number of states that have laws concerning the opening date of the school year and the dates that are designated.
3. In the states where the opening date has changed in the last ten years, the impact, if any, for total summer tourism.
4. The number of high school students employed in Virginia’s summer tourism industry, not including recent graduates or students who are in the United States on work visas.
Legislation to Prohibit the Manufacture, Distribution, and/or Possession of Synthetic Marijuana
The Alexandria City School Board supports the initiation of legislation that would prohibit the manufacture, distribution, and/or possession of synthetic marijuana.
Synthetic marijuana, also known as K-2 or spice, is presently legal in Virginia. It was created by Clemson University graduate students who were conducting research of marijuana. It is being sold in head shops, gas stations and on-line, as well as in tobacco shops. Sales of synthetic marijuana are increasing rapidly, as are emergency room visits for adverse effects of the drug.
FUNDING ISSUES
Cost of Competing
The Alexandria City School Board supports the continuation of fully funding the Cost of Competing factor, which was established to address the higher cost of living and the teacher salary differentials in the Northern Virginia area which result in higher personnel costs.
Funding All Tests Required by the No Child Left Behind Act
The Alexandria City School Board believes that it is the State’s responsibility to fund 100% of the costs of all testing required by either the state accountability program or the federal No Child Left Behind Act, including tests for Limited English Proficient (LEP) students.
While compliance with State and Federal mandates regarding testing is not an option for local school boards, their divisions are required to finance the tests used to meet approved testing of LEP students. All other required tests are funded by the State.
Virginia Retirement System
The Alexandria City School Board opposes the manipulation of VRS rates to balance the State budget in addition to any other measures that result in VRS being underfunded.
LEGISLATIVE ISSUES
65% Solution
The Alexandria City School Board is opposed to legislation that would direct school divisions’ spending of their operating budgets. If, however, such legislation is approved, the Board supports allowing the State Board of Education to define “instructional spending”.
Educational Alternatives
The Alexandria City School Board believes that any decisions to establish alternatives to present forms of publicly funded education should be the sole and exclusive prerogatives of local school boards. The Alexandria City Public Schools have many options for its students that have been designed with the input of the community. As an elected board, the Alexandria Board believes it is able to respond to the needs of its students without state mandates.
Higher Education for Students Who Are Not Permanent Residents
The Alexandria City School Board supports legislation that provides eligibility for in-state tuition to students who are not yet permanent residents if they meet the following criteria:
1. Graduated from a public or private high school in Virginia.
2. Resided in the Commonwealth for at least five years as of the date the individual graduated from high school.
3. Registered as an entering student in an institution of higher education
4. Actively pursuing permanent residency.
5. Either the student or his/her parents have paid Virginia income taxes for at least three years.
Public School Calendar
The Alexandria City School Board support legislation to return control of the public school calendar to local school boards. With increased accountability, some students need more time to meet local, state, and federal standards. School boards should have the flexibility to provide more time for instruction for those students needing it.
Statewide Grading Policy
The Alexandria City School Board opposes any legislation that would create a statewide grading policy. As an elected board, the Alexandria Board believes that it is better able to respond to the needs of students and desires of parents than policies mandated by the state.
Voucher and Tax Credits
The Alexandria City School Board is opposed to any diversion of public education funds to nonpublic schools and specifically opposes the use of tuition tax credits, tax deduction, or vouchers as a means of reimbursing parents for their children’s K-12 education expenses.