Virginia SB 820: Virginia School Improvement Grant Program; established, report.

Bill Text

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 i