Author: Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury

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U.S. House committee launches antisemitism probe into Fairfax County Public Schools

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
Sign for Fairfax County Public Schools outside the Gatehouse Administration Center (file photo)

Fairfax County Public Schools is one of just three districts nationwide facing a federal investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Education and Workforce, which alleges Jewish students are being harassed and subjected to open antisemitism.

The scrutiny follows the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in more than 250 hostages, and Israel’s subsequent war campaign in Gaza that has left over 60,000 Palestinians dead. Tensions over the conflict have spilled into U.S. schools.

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Fairfax will hire security for its superintendent. Could Va. see this elsewhere?

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
Superintendent Michelle Reid (staff file photo by James Jarvis)

With friction growing between the public and school leaders over policy decisions, Fairfax County Public Schools is in the process of hiring security for its superintendent due to the need for additional protection over safety concerns.

The move has left legislative leaders curious if similar proposals could occur at other school divisions around the region and beyond, as school leaders continue to be challenged by the public and face investigations for their decisions.

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Virginia overhauls SOL testing to boost student achievement

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
Person taking a standardized test (photo via Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash)

In a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on education policy, Virginia leaders have enacted sweeping changes to the state’s K-12 testing system, aiming to raise student performance and make the Standards of Learning (SOL) assessments more meaningful.

Despite ongoing political clashes over broader education policy, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and state lawmakers united earlier this month behind a plan they hope will strengthen student outcomes.

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Va. lawmakers direct researchers to review book bans, court funding methods, storm risk studies

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
The Virginia State Capitol building (file photo)

The General Assembly has given the green light for state researchers to launch studies on removing books in public school libraries, the funding methodology used to determine judicial allocations and the total cost of coastal storm risk management.

The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which conducts analysis and provides oversight of state agencies on behalf of the legislature, is responsible for the studies. Research completed by JLARC often prompts new legislative proposals and changes to governance.

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General Assembly passes bill giving schools more say on classroom phone rules

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
Woman types on smartphone (via freestocks/Unsplash)

Virginia school boards may soon have more control over how cell phones and smart devices are governed in classrooms. Legislation granting local districts the authority to craft their own policies cleared the General Assembly on Friday and now heads to Gov. Glenn Youngkin for consideration.

House Bill 1961, introduced by Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, and its companion measure, Senate Bill 738 by Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax, comes amid growing concerns over the impact of smartphones on children’s health. While research has linked excessive phone use to adverse effects on students’ well-being, advocates also recognize the role devices play in providing educational resources and communication tools.

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School funding showdown looms as legislature sends sales tax bill to Youngkin again

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin announces Alarm.com expansion in Tysons in February 2022 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

For the fourth consecutive year, Virginia lawmakers have sent the governor a bill allowing all localities to impose a 1% sales tax for school construction. Now, all eyes are on Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who has vetoed similar measures before.

Youngkin, who has historically opposed these tax proposals, will once again review the legislation. After the last session, he blocked the measure, citing the state’s existing efforts to fund school construction and concerns over its impact on taxpayers.

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House tables push to add Fairfax to eligible casinos list in Virginia

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
Sen. Scott Surovell presents his bill to make Fairfax County eligible for a casino to a House Appropriations subcommittee in February 2025 (via Virginia General Assembly)

Lawmakers deciding on a controversial bill to develop a casino and entertainment complex in Tysons Corner tabled a decision Wednesday after House leadership moved the bill between House committees for consideration.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell’s Senate Bill 982 would have added Fairfax County to the list of Virginia localities eligible to develop a casino that backers say would bring jobs and revenue for the county and commonwealth.

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Toll breaks for Virginia drivers? Lawmakers weigh costly proposal

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
A sign displays the current cost of using the I-66 Express Lanes from Vaden Drive in Oakton (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

For Virginians who spend hundreds of dollars on tolls each month, relief could be on the horizon — if lawmakers can stomach the price tag.

A proposal to ease toll burdens for frequent drivers and low-income residents cleared a key hurdle in the state legislature this week, as a House Transportation subcommittee advanced the measure for further review.

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Lawmakers target misuse of ‘homeless’ designation in high school sports recruitment

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
Hayfield Secondary School (staff photo)

Virginia lawmakers are moving forward with a bill to crack down on the misuse of the “homeless” designation by school officials to recruit student athletes. House Bill 1656, introduced by Del. Dan Helmer, D-Fairfax, also prohibits officials from accepting money or gifts intended to influence a student’s decision to transfer schools for athletic purposes.

The legislation narrowly advanced to the full House on an 11-10 party-line vote in the House Education Committee. No lawmakers spoke on the bill ahead of the vote.

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Legislation to translate K-12 assessments into multiple languages advances in Virginia

By Nathaniel Cline / Virginia Mercury
A student takes a school test (via Ben Mullins on Unsplash)

Virginia students would be allowed to take the state’s annual learning assessments in a language other than English under a bill that advanced out of a House Education subcommittee on Tuesday.

Del. Laura Jane Cohen, D-Fairfax, introduced the legislation, after the Virginia Board of Education recently made changes to include more testing results from English learners, who have typically been excluded because of the language barrier, into a school’s accountability calculations.

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