I have been very pleased to add a new committee to my list of legislative responsibilities this session. The Speaker appointed me to the Committee on Education, which provides me with a direct opportunity to impact education issues brought before the General Assembly. Bills are initially heard in Committee so their fate is often decided at that level. Education has always been a policy priority for me and is, of course, the fundamental core issue of the Commonwealth as outlined in the Virginia Constitution, and it takes up almost 45% of the entire budget.

This year education issues take on an even more critical weight with the gravity of our fiscal situation. During the past three years we have sustained significant budget shortfalls that required cuts to all state services and have jeopardized our schools and colleges. Some elementary schools do not have a full-time principal even though there is strong evidence that the school principal establishes and sets the tone for quality and standards in a school. Many schools do not have art, music or physical education programs, even though studies prove that art and music programs can increase general aptitude and enhance critical thinking, and physical education could play a positive role in addressing the alarming problem of child obesity.

I am dismayed that so many of my colleagues in the House of Delegates suggest we should maintain this minimal level we have reached. Our educational system--elementary, secondary and college level--is of vital concern to the economic strength of the Commonwealth by affecting employment, business stability, property values, and quality of life. I believe strongly it is irresponsible to ignore the critical needs of, first, the state's children and second, the state's very economic future.

Additionally, the threat to Virginia's Triple A bond rating, set by Moody's Investor Services, poses a monumental hazard to our localities and specifically our schools. With the potential loss of the AAA rating, all present and future building or major renovation will cost considerably more. Already the Commonwealth fails to meet its full financial responsibility to local schools. Further burdening their limited budgets with higher interest rates harms every child in Virginia. Of course the bond rating goes far beyond an impact on school construction. Most families across Virginia would feel the effect in higher costs for any state related service—i.e. roads, security, health care.

There are positive economic signs on the horizon but it appears clear we cannot use projected economic improvements to raise the necessary revenue to cover the $1.2 billion shortfall facing the Commonwealth. The legislative money committees requested an assessment from the New York financial firm that advises the state Treasury Board. Their testimony included a statement from the representative: “Moody's is convinced the state can't grow its way out of revenue problems.” An optimistic appraisal of our future growth is 6%. The state needs more than 8% just to meet its basic obligations. The best solution will be genuine tax reform and restructuring that requires more reductions in our already lean budget AND increased tax revenues.

Certainly the budget is not the only significant educational issue to come before the Education Committee. As an Education Committee member I try to focus on what I believe is best for the public system in general to ensure well-educated students at every level. One proposal before the Committee would have required teachers to pass the SOL tests. Not only would this mean siphoning educational funds and time from other school programs and adding to already overburdened administrative duties, it is also an affront to our teachers in general. If there are ineffective and unproductive teachers in a school division that should be addressed individually, without undermining our confidence in the vast majority of those professionals in the classroom. I was pleased the bill was soundly defeated in the Committee.

Revisions to regulations for Charter Schools were back before the legislature with yet another proposal to change standards. While there has been no rush throughout the state to create new Charter Schools the ones that are in operation appear to be running effectively under current guidelines and I opposed the measure because I think it further drains resources and energy from our core responsibility to our public schools.

Delegate Dillard, chair of the Education Committee has a bill that I strongly endorse. It will provide additional assistance to local school divisions and specifically target the at-risk student population. Rural school divisions report that 30% of their students are eligible for the free lunch program—one benchmark in accessing at-risk students. There is a clear connection with poverty levels and the pass rate for SOL tests. In addition the quality and salaries of teachers affect the SOL scores. Schools that have a high percentage of at-risk students and hire a high percentage of unqualified or inexperienced teachers have the lowest SOL test scores. Delegate Dillard's bill has a financial impact even though it would meet less than ¾ of what the state is mandated to put into local coffers. The price tag jeopardizes its chances of passing in the House, but it is exactly the kind of support and resources we should be sending to our localities.

I have a bill that attempts to equalize a different kind of teacher inequity. Retired teachers in Virginia receive less in retirement health benefits than other retired state employees. This actually creates a double blow for rural teachers because their salaries tend to be at the low end of the retirement spectrum. My bill would bring the two employee groups into balance. Because of the fiscal impact on the state's retirement system, the members of the House Appropriations Committee, while sympathetic, refused to endorse the change. Instead the fiscal implications will be assessed in the coming year, with an eye toward remedying the situation as funding becomes possible. I well appreciate the hesitancy to add obligations to the state, but I regret the loss to our retired teachers and hope the inequity can be addressed soon.

The Education Committee considered 97 House bills and passed 61 onto the full Senate. Next week we will begin hearing Senate bills and I look forward to the issues that the Senate is sending our way. I hope if you have questions or concerns about legislation mentioned in this column, or any legislative matter, you will contact me at any of the following addresses.