RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) – State lawmakers are taking a closer look at the way Virginia distributes education dollars to public schools across the state.
A new bipartisan panel held its first meeting Monday afternoon, but coming up with a new funding formula won’t be easy.
The framework for Virginia’s current formula has been in place for over 50 years,
“The education system today does not look the same as it did when our funding system was designed,” said Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), Chair of the Joint Subcommittee to Study Elementary & Secondary Education Funding.
And you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who really loves it, but coming up with a viable alternative is easier said than done.
Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke) is the sub-committee’s Vice Chair.
“K-12 is one of the largest components of our state’s budget, making up 30 percent of our general funds so it often impacts how we fund other priorities in the state government,” Rasoul said during the meeting. “For that reason, we will be careful, thoughtful and deliberate as we move through this process to make sure that we get it right.”
The subcommittee also includes Del. Terry Austin (R-Botetourt Co.).
Despite the difficulty of meeting the needs of school districts of different sizes in different parts of the state, lawmakers expressed the hope they can find common ground.
“I always tell constituents we’ve got just problems, things that we ought to be able to work together on and do work very well together on as Republicans and Democrats. And then we’ve got cats and dogs issues, the things we’re supposed to disagree about, reasons we have Democrats and Republicans and liberals and conservatives,” said Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg). “This seems like a problem, something that we ought to be able to work cooperatively on.”
One proposal that’s used in many other states would change Virginia’s system from a staffing-based formula to a student-based funding formula.
Lawmakers say it could take some time, perhaps two to three years, with many opportunities for public involvement.
Copyright 2024 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
