Bill Text: VA SJR275 | 2021 | 1st Special Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Constitutional amendment; public schools in the Commonwealth (first reference).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-02-17 - Tabled in Privileges and Elections (11-Y 10-N) [SJR275 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-SJR275-Engrossed.html
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, a majority of the members elected to each house agreeing, That the following amendments to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same hereby are, proposed and referred to the General Assembly at its first regular session held after the next general election of members of the House of Delegates for its concurrence in conformity with the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII of the Constitution of Virginia, namely:
Amend Section 1 and Section 2 of Article VIII of the Constitution of Virginia as follows:
Section 1. Public schools of high quality to be maintained.
The General Assembly shall provide for a system of free public
elementary and secondary schools with [ equal equitable
] educational opportunities for all children of school age throughout
the Commonwealth, and shall seek to ensure that an educational program of high
quality is established and continually maintained.
Section 2. Standards of quality; State and local support of public schools.
Standards of quality for the several school divisions shall be determined and prescribed from time to time by the Board of Education, subject to revision only by the General Assembly.
The General Assembly shall determine the manner in which funds
are to be provided for the cost of maintaining an educational program meeting
the prescribed standards of quality, shall ensure that all children of
school age are provided with [ equal equitable ] educational
opportunities, and shall provide for the apportionment of the cost of such
program between the Commonwealth and the local units of government comprising
such school divisions. Each unit of local government shall provide its portion
of such cost by local taxes or from other available funds.