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Norfolk staff map 2026 legislative priorities, urge caution on immediate SOL cut-score impacts
Summary
Miss Webb, the divisionlegislative affairs lead, told the board the division will use a two-document advocacy package for the 2026 General Assembly and urged phased, transparent implementation for any changes to assessment cut scores.
Miss Webb, the division legislative affairs lead, briefed the board on Norfolk Public Schoolspreparation for the 2026 General Assembly and described two documents the division will use for advocacy: a longer legislative program and a one-page priorities summary. She said the division will share the materials with the Norfolk delegation ahead of pre-file deadlines and that her office will use the legislative program as a guide to determine which bills to support.
Webb summarized the division's priorities: authorizing localities to enact a 1% local sales tax dedicated to school construction (optional for local voters), implementing Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) recommendations for K-12 funding, recalculating certain SOQ (Standards of Quality) assumptions using division averages rather than a linear weighted average, modernizing assessments and accreditation, and supporting teacher recruitment and retention initiatives including mentorship and salary competitiveness.
Webb noted the political context: an unexpected election-night shift made the statepolitical landscape uncertain but likely more favorable to public education priorities, and she said the incoming governor had named transition-team leaders. She also flagged timing: the pre-file deadline for bills is Dec. 1 and the General Assembly convenes Jan. 14; governor Youngkinis scheduled to present his outgoing budget Dec. 17. Webb said the division is tracking potential new assessment vendors and legislative proposals to balance assessment burden and to pursue phased approaches to cut-score implementation.
Board members asked clarifying questions about JLARC updates and timing and requested hard copies of the documents for the planned delegation meeting next week. Webb said she would produce more materials (one-page fact sheets and talking points) for board members to use during Richmond advocacy visits.
"We wanna make sure we get these documents ready and good to go so that we're able to share that with the delegation next week," Webb said.
The board did not take formal action on legislative positions during the workshop but directed staff to finalize materials for the upcoming delegation meeting and to provide additional briefings on budget timing and priorities.
