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Henrico board reviews draft 2026 legislative priorities, urges targeted funding and local control
Summary
Henrico County Public Schools staff presented draft 2026 legislative priorities asking the General Assembly for targeted funding for English learners, dual-enrollment expansion, school safety and broadband, plus protections for local board authority. Board members recommended adding measurable targets, cited local environmental and student-wellness concerns, and asked staff to refine the booklet for a December adoption.
Henrico County Public Schools staff presented a draft set of legislative priorities for 2026 on Tuesday, asking the General Assembly for targeted state funding for academic supports, school safety and modernization, mental-health services, and teacher recruitment and licensure reforms.
"These draft 2026 legislative priorities are driven by the division's strategic plan to 2030," said Ken Blackstone, assistant director of communications and the division's legislative liaison, outlining requests that include additional funding for English-learner services, expansion of dual-enrollment opportunities and funding to modernize Virginia's SOL assessment system. He noted that "more than 10% of HCPS students are English learners," and said funding aligned with the state's performance framework would help expand interventions, tutoring and enrichment.
The booklet also asks for dedicated state investments in school safety personnel and training, modernization and construction of aging facilities, and expanded access to broadband for students and staff. Blackstone described Henrico's decade-long 1-to-1 device program and said reliable home Internet remains a barrier for some families.
Board members broadly endorsed the priorities but urged sharper, measurable language. "Rather than stating support early childhood development, maybe our statement could sound like increased state funding for universal pre-K programs," Board member Atkins said, offering an example and proposing a target to "reduce education staffing gaps by 15% within two years" as a way to make asks actionable for legislators.
Atkins also raised concerns about developments near schools, citing a proposed data center near Baker Elementary and a newly approved asphalt plant near Montrose Elementary, and recommended the division pursue school-health impact assessments and stronger state guidance on environmental risks in line with the Virginia Environmental Justice Act. "Development approvals don't happen in isolation from the schools they impact," she said, urging that school boards retain a formal voice in relevant land-use decisions.
Other topics raised in discussion included removing unfunded administrative burdens on teachers, alternative licensure pathways and scholarships to expand the pool of dual-enrollment instructors, and continued opposition to legislation that would erode local school-board authority or impose unfunded mandates.
Board member Irving urged the board to consider advocacy on youth exposure to social media and online gambling, saying those influences were harming students' social engagement and mental health. "I would like to see advocacy towards banning all social media for children that are under the 16 in the state of Virginia," Irving said. Blackstone told members the division can prepare position statements and testimony on bills that fall outside the listed priorities and will alert members about short-notice committee meetings; board members may also testify remotely.
The board has copies of the draft priorities at their seats. Staff said they will refine the booklet based on the feedback and seek formal adoption at the board's December 18 meeting.
