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Henrico school staff outline draft 2026 legislative priorities focused on funding, safety and teacher pathways
Summary
Henrico County Public Schools staff presented draft 2026 legislative priorities emphasizing funding for targeted interventions, English-learner services, dual-enrollment expansion, school modernization and measures to support recruitment and retention; the board discussed sharper, measurable language and will consider final adoption on Dec. 18.
Henrico County Public Schools staff presented a draft set of legislative priorities for 2026 at the school board’s Nov. 13 work session, urging targeted state funding for student interventions, expanded support for English learners and greater flexibility for Virginia’s Standards of Learning assessments.
Ken Blackstone, the division’s assistant director of communications and legislative liaison, said the priorities were developed using the division’s Journey to 2030 strategic plan and with subject-matter staff input. He said the priorities include academic achievement (expanded tutoring and intervention programs), additional funding for English-learner services, increased high school dual-enrollment opportunities and “flexibility on SOL assessments and funding to modernize Virginia’s balanced assessment system.”
The draft also asks legislators to support school safety, modernization and equitable access to technology, and calls for funding to expand school-based mental-health supports. On staffing, the priorities urge investments in compensation, licensure pathways and workload relief to improve recruitment and retention.
Board members generally praised the draft and suggested sharpening some proposals into measurable asks. School Board Member Mister Young suggested the board be kept informed of opportunities for member advocacy and explicitly listed his priorities as “full funding of SOQ, mental-health legislation and quicker pathways for dual-enrollment instructors.” Miss Atkins urged turning aspirational wording into measurable targets, offering sample language such as “increase state funding for universal pre-K” and an illustrative goal of “reduce staffing gaps by 15% within two years,” offered as an example for how to make advocacy more actionable.
Board members and staff discussed tactical approaches for the General Assembly session: preparing testimony, meeting with legislators, testifying remotely at committee meetings and hosting legislative breakfasts. Staff said the board will be asked to adopt final priorities at the Dec. 18 meeting and will receive position statements and advice from the communications team during the session.
The board did not take formal action on Nov. 13; staff will return with a final draft in December.
