Virginia commits $51.25 million to strengthen education resources for students in need

Richmond, Virginia – Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced a substantial $51.25 million budget investment to bolster education resources for students most in need, as identified by the Virginia Board of Education’s School Performance and Support Framework. This new funding will further enhance the recently introduced Road to Readiness Resource Hub, a data-driven tool designed to improve transparency, track school performance, and provide support for students, educators, and families.

“With this targeted investment, we are strengthening our commitment to deliver for students across the Commonwealth by ensuring resources directly reach those who need them most,” said Governor Youngkin. “Our students cannot wait; therefore, we are making these investments now to accelerate learning and unleash opportunities to succeed.”

Allocation of Funds and Prioritized Areas

The $51.25 million includes a one-time $50 million investment and $1.25 million in ongoing funding for the Virginia Department of Education’s (VDOE) Office of School Quality. Key allocations include:

• $1.25 Million for Regional Support Specialists: The Office of School Quality will receive $250,000 in the first year and $1 million in the second year to recruit specialists focused on math, literacy, and science for schools with significant learning gaps.
• $50 Million for School Support: The FY25 funds will be directed to infrastructure improvements, technical training, and evidence-based programs to aid schools identified as Needs Intensive Support. These funds will be expended by the Virginia Board of Education, in collaboration with the VDOE, to target:
  • Leadership Development: Training and mentorship for principals and instructional leadership.
  • Mastery and Growth Support: Partnerships with nonprofit school improvement organizations, math competency model pilots, and Virginia Literacy Act implementation.
  • Readiness Support: Academic career planning platforms, attendance dashboards, advanced course grants, guidance counselor training, and more.
  • Special Education Enhancements: Development of new Virginia IEP (Individualized Education Program) system modules for better support of students with disabilities.
  • Scaling Best Practices: Partnering with research institutions to learn from high-performing economically disadvantaged schools and apply proven methods to other schools.

Virginia Board of Education President Grace Creasey emphasized the urgency of this initiative: “We must act swiftly to help students now, not years from now.”

Building on Historic Education Investments

This initiative builds upon record-setting investments in education made under the Youngkin Administration. Since 2019, Virginia has increased direct aid to K-12 public schools by $7.3 billion, from $14.3 billion to $21.6 billion. Other notable advancements include:

• An 18% increase in teacher salaries.
• Over $1.6 billion in grants and loans for school construction.
• Enhanced funding for literacy and career readiness programs.

Improving Transparency with the School Performance and Support Framework

The School Performance and Support Framework, introduced as part of Governor Youngkin’s commitment to transparency and accountability, evaluates public schools through three areas: mastery, growth, and readiness.

• Mastery considers students’ performance on the Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, with advanced-level achievements earning additional credit.
• Growth compares expected learning progress with actual year-end results.
• Readiness measures factors like chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and post-secondary readiness through the 3E Framework: Enrollment, Employment, and Enlistment.

Each school type—elementary, middle, and high schools—has tailored weightings for these focus areas. Schools are then categorized into one of four performance tiers:

1. Distinguished: Exceeding state expectations (273 schools).
2. On Track: Meeting state expectations (883 schools).
3. Off Track: Below state expectations, requiring additional support (409 schools).
4. Needs Intensive Support: Significantly below expectations, requiring intensive intervention (208 schools).

Preliminary data suggests that this framework ensures targeted support reaches schools with the most significant needs.

Modernizing Accountability Systems

Virginia’s outdated school accreditation system was replaced in October 2023 after extensive public engagement and feedback. The new accountability model, reflected in the School Performance and Support Framework, offers clarity and transparency for parents, educators, and community leaders. This shift aligns with the state’s mission to prioritize student outcomes and provide meaningful insights into school performance.

Future-Ready Tools for Education

The Road to Readiness Resource Hub, launched in November, complements the framework by offering actionable data to schools, families, and policymakers. It ensures that all stakeholders have access to resources tailored to their unique needs. Today’s announcement marks another milestone in Virginia’s effort to make education equitable and effective across all communities.

Commitment to Education Excellence

Secretary of Education Aimee Guidera highlighted the importance of this investment: “Since day one, we said we would prioritize resources to support the students, schools, and communities that need it the most. Due to the unprecedented amount of actionable information available in the Performance Framework, this major investment makes it possible to provide the schools most in need with tailored resources that are focused on enhancing school performance and ensuring every learner is on track for success.”

This transformative $51.25 million investment underscores Virginia’s dedication to delivering meaningful, student-focused change. It promises to uplift struggling schools, address systemic challenges, and prepare students for lifelong success.