A Year Into COVID, Virginia School Reopenings Still in Doubt
Cassie Gilboy is a Richmond Public Schools teacher. As state leaders continue to push school districts to open for in-person learning, some teachers, including Gilboy, are conflicted, unsure what s best for their students. (Photo: Scott Elmquist)
This article by Emma Davis is posted as part of VPM s partnership with the Virginia Center for Investigative Journalism
Jessica Delk has been waiting months for Henrico Public Schools to open back up for in-person learning.
Delk’s three children spent nearly a year in the virtual world of online classes during the Covid-19 pandemic. They were ready, Delk said, when they started to go back to school in February.
The reduced rate broadband would be eligible for students who qualify for child nutrition programs and other programs that are recognized by the school board as a measure to identify at-risk students. That means programs that are funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, such as the schools’ breakfast, lunch and after school snack programs. U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen says an estimated 18% of students around the country have no access to internet and 17% don’t have a home computer. News4 Investigative Reporter Jodie Fleischer explains the challenges this presents as classes go online because of the coronavirus.
Broadband Access For Low-Income Students Gets Boost In Richmond patch.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from patch.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented effect on public school enrollments, forcing lawmakers to grapple with how to supplement a funding formula based on enrollments. (Photo: Tima Miroshnichenko)
This story was updated after legislators released a new budget draft.
Schools throughout Virginia have seen a decrease in student enrollment during the pandemic, as many students face attendance barriers, and some parents withdraw their children from the public education system in favor of homeschooling or private schools.
The sudden enrollment declines automatically triggered budget reductions to a range of critical school programs. Gov. Ralph Northam’s proposed budget, put forth in December, suggests cutting around $27 million statewide for special education, $20 million for English language learners and $6 million for prevention, intervention and remediation programs over the next two years.
An overview of the James River running through Richmond. (Photo: Alex Scribner/VPM News)
Lawmakers on a House Labor and Commerce subcommittee considered a slew of bills on electric utility regulation today, covering clean energy, broadband connectivity and transportation.
Among the bills that were recommended is HB 1834 from Del. Suhas Subramanyam (D-Loudoun). It would give workers at fossil fuel facilities across the state advanced warning when their employers are preparing to close their workplaces. Fossil fuel infrastructure is being retired as global demand drops, and the commonwealth shifts to all renewable energy, through a process laid out in Virginia’s Clean Economy Act. Every present subcommittee member voted for the measure.