Bill Text: VA SB820 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Virginia School Improvement Grant Program; established, report.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-12-31 - Referred to Committee on Education and Health [SB820 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-SB820-Introduced.html
2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25101350D
SENATE BILL NO. 820
Offered January 8, 2025
Prefiled December 31, 2024
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Title 22.1 a chapter numbered 11.3, consisting of sections numbered 22.1-175.10 through 22.1-175.13, relating to public schools; Virginia School Improvement Grant Program; established; report.
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Patron—Favola
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Referred to Committee on Education and Health
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 22.1 a chapter numbered 11.3, consisting of sections numbered 22.1-175.10 through 22.1-175.13, as follows:
CHAPTER 11.3.
VIRGINIA SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
§ 22.1-175.10. Definitions.
As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:
"Eligible school" means any public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth that was identified as "off track" or "needs intensive support" for the immediately preceding school year.
"Needs intensive support" means, for the purposes of measuring public school accountability and performance, the lowest school performance category or tier into which a public school is assigned or under which a public school falls if, pursuant to the applicable school accountability system and performance framework, the Board determines that for the applicable school year, such school does not meet school performance expectations by the most significant margin and indicates a need for intensive state support in order to meet such performance expectations. "Needs intensive support" includes any equivalent school performance category or tier as it may be referred to or named under the most current school accountability system or performance framework.
"Off track" means, for the purposes of measuring public school accountability and performance, the second lowest school performance category or tier into which a public school is assigned or under which a public school falls if, pursuant to the applicable school accountability system and performance framework, the Board determines that for the applicable school year, such school does not meet school performance expectations and indicates a need for additional state support in order to meet such performance expectations. "Off track" includes any equivalent school performance category or tier as it may be referred to or named under the most current school accountability system or performance framework.
"Participating school" means an eligible school selected to receive a grant pursuant to this chapter.
"Program" means the Virginia School Improvement Grant Program.
"School improvement plan" or "SIP" means a detailed plan developed by an eligible school as a condition of receiving grant funds and implemented by a participating school using grant funds awarded pursuant to this chapter outlining specific and targeted strategies for improving academic outcomes and addressing identified performance gaps for such school.
"School performance category or tier" means one of the categories or tiers of the applicable school performance framework or system used for annually evaluating the performance and identifying the support needs of each public school into which or under which a public school is assigned or falls based on the degree to which it meets the school performance expectations, as determined based on the school performance indicators or measurements set forth pursuant to the applicable school accountability system.
§ 22.1-175.11. Virginia School Improvement Grant Program; established; purpose.
With such funds as may be appropriated for such purpose pursuant to the general appropriation act, the Virginia School Improvement Grant Program is established for the purpose of providing additional support to eligible schools by awarding three-year grants for the development and implementation of school improvement plans.
§ 22.1-175.12. Program eligibility and funding.
A. Any eligible school shall be eligible to receive, upon application in accordance with the requirements established by the Department pursuant to § 22.1-175.13 and submission of a school improvement plan pursuant to subsection B, a three-year grant disbursed in annual installments pursuant to this chapter.
B. Each eligible school shall, as a condition of receipt of grants pursuant to this chapter, be required to develop and submit a school improvement plan in accordance with the provisions of subsection B of § 22.1-175.13. Any eligible school identified as "needs intensive support" shall be required to develop such school improvement plan in collaboration with the Office of School Quality.
C. Each participating school shall receive a grant pursuant to this chapter each year for a period of three years in an amount equal to no less than (i) $500 per enrolled student for any participating school identified as "needs intensive support" and (ii) $100 per enrolled student for any participating school identified as "off track." The first annual grant of each three-year grant cycle shall be disbursed not later than January 1 of the year immediately following the application or reapplication deadline established pursuant to subdivision A 1 of § 22.1-175.13 and each subsequent grant shall be disbursed not later than January 1 of each year thereafter until the final year of the three-year grant period.
D. In the event that a participating school is identified as "off track" or "needs intensive support" for the school year coinciding with or immediately following the final year of its initial three-year grant period, such participating school shall be eligible to reapply for another three-year grant pursuant to this chapter in accordance with the requirements established by the Department pursuant to § 22.1-175.13. Any participating school selected for a subsequent three-year grant upon reapplication shall, prior to receiving any grant funds pursuant to this chapter, be required to develop and submit in collaboration with the Office of School Quality a revised school improvement plan in accordance with the provisions of subsection B of § 22.1-175.13. Any revised SIP shall identify areas in which such school needs further improvement, detail how its initial SIP could have been improved, and delineate additional strategies addressing the areas in which such school needs further improvement.
§ 22.1-175.13. Program administration and oversight.
A. The Program shall be administered by the Department. In administering the Program, the Department shall:
1. Develop and make available to each school division informational materials relating to the Program, including Program eligibility and application requirements; and
2. Develop and make available (i) an annual application form; (ii) an application deadline; (iii) any application requirements, or procedures as deemed necessary for the proper administration of the Program, including reapplication requirements, procedures, or deadlines, pursuant to § 22.1-175.12; and (iv) guidelines relating to grant eligibility and application requirements, including reapplication requirements, pursuant to § 22.1-175.12.
B. The Office of School Quality shall be responsible for the implementation and oversight of the Program. In implementing and overseeing the Program, the Office of School Quality shall:
1. Develop standards for the development and implementation of SIPs and revised SIPs pursuant to this chapter. Such standards shall:
a. Require each SIP to include (i) measurable goals relating to improving specific school performance indicators, (ii) a timeline for implementation over the course of the three-year grant period, and (iii) an outline for how the eligible school shall use grant funds in the implementation of such plan;
b. Include methods for evaluating the impact of grant funds on each participating school based on the projected use of grant funds outlined in each eligible school's SIP and each participating school's actual use of grant funds in implementing such SIP over the three-year grant period;
c. Outline potential strategies that an eligible school may include in its SIP, including: (i) reduction of class sizes to provide more personalized attention to students; (ii) implementation of additional professional development for teachers and instructional staff on effective instructional strategies and interventions; (iii) development of new curricular resources aligned with the current Standards of Learning; (iv) development and implementation of targeted intervention programs with math and reading specialists; (v) implementation, improvement, or expansion of services for English language learners to support language acquisition and academic success; (vi) development and implementation of family engagement initiatives to involve the parents of students in the educational process; and (vii) implementation or expansion of wraparound services aligned with student needs, including mental health and behavioral support; and
d. Include specific standards and requirements for revised SIPs submitted by a participating school upon reapplication pursuant to subsection C of § 22.1-175.12.
2. Immediately following the release of the results of the school accountability and performance review for each school and the assignment of each school into the corresponding school performance category or tier each year, notify each eligible school of the opportunity to apply for a grant pursuant to the Program;
3. Assist each participating school with the development and submission of a SIP or revised SIP to ensure that it aligns with the standards developed pursuant to subdivision 1;
4. Monitor the implementation of each SIP and revised SIP by each participating school over the course of the three-year grant period; and
5. Collect data relating to each participating school for the purpose of evaluating (i) each such school's progress in implementing its SIP or revised SIP and improving school academic performance, student growth, and other school performance measures and (ii) the overall effectiveness of SIPs developed and implemented using grant funds pursuant to this chapter in improving the performance of public schools in the Commonwealth identified as "off track" or "needs intensive support."
2. That, except as provided in the fourth enactment of this act, (i) the Department of Education shall begin accepting applications from eligible schools pursuant to the Virginia School Improvement Grant Program established in accordance with Chapter 11.3 (22.1-175.10 et seq.) of Title 22.1 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, by the start of the 2025-2026 school year and (ii) the first annual grants awarded pursuant to subsection C of § 22.1-175.12 shall be disbursed by January 1, 2026.
3. That, except as provided in the fourth enactment of this act, the Office of School Quality, in collaboration with the Department of Education, shall develop and submit to the Chairs of the Senate Committee on Education and Health, the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, and the House Committee on Appropriations by January 1, 2028 a report detailing the impact of the Virginia School Improvement Grant Program (the Program), established pursuant to Chapter 11.3 (22.1-175.10 et seq.) of Title 22.1 of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, on each public school that began participating in the Virginia School Improvement Program in the 2025–2026 school year. Such report shall include (i) data on the progress of each participating school for each preceding school year for which it participated in the Program, beginning with the 2025–2026 school year, including data for each such school relating to (a) its progress in implementing its SIP or revised SIP and (b) changes in any measurable, relevant indicators of school performance; (ii) an evaluation of the overall efficacy and success of the Program in supporting eligible schools in improving their school performance and meeting school performance expectations; and (iii) recommendations, if any, for improving the efficiency or effectiveness of the Program.
4. That the provisions of this act shall not become effective unless and until the Board of Education certifies in writing to the Virginia Code Commission that the school accountability system established pursuant to 8VAC20-132-260 through 8VAC20-132-290 of the Board of Education's Regulations is implemented beginning with the 2025–2026 school year.
