Efforts to remove Virginia’s cap on state-funded support positions for K-12 public schools remain in budget negotiations despite legislative setbacks. Lawmakers are advocating for increased funding to support schools, including additional resources for special education and at-risk students.
Proposed Budget and Funding Allocations
The Senate budget proposal includes $758.1 million for K-12 education, with an additional $208.8 million allocated over the current biennium budget. To eliminate the cap on support staff funding, $222.9 million has been proposed from the general fund, alongside $52.8 million for special education.
Sen. Mamie Locke (D-Hampton) emphasized that these investments aim to provide more resources for schools, allowing teachers to focus on instruction rather than administrative tasks.
Background: The K-12 Support Staff Cap
The support staff cap was introduced in 2009 during the Great Recession as a cost-cutting measure, limiting state funding for non-teaching positions. Before that, school funding followed a 55% state and 45% local funding split. However, studies show that Virginia’s local governments now bear a disproportionate share of K-12 education costs.
Legislative Roadblocks and Ongoing Efforts
On Feb. 2, the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee rejected House Bill 1954, sponsored by Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), which sought to provide additional support for special needs students and create programs for low-income and English language learners.
Earlier in the session, the House merged two similar bills into Rasoul’s proposal, but the Senate version also failed in committee on Feb. 5. Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D-Richmond) highlighted that Virginia schools have been underfunded by $6.6 billion in recent years due to the cap.
While Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s administration opposes immediate removal of the cap, the governor has called for a broader overhaul of the education funding formula.
Budget Provisions and Adjustments
Despite these challenges, the House budget bill redirects $50 million from the Virginia Opportunity Scholarship Program—a controversial school voucher initiative—to increase support staff funding. The adjustment raises the funding ratio from 24 support positions per 1,000 students to 27.89 per 1,000 students.
Opponents of the voucher program argue that funds should be used to strengthen public schools rather than subsidizing private education expenses.
Support for K-12 Investment
Education advocates, including Dean Lynch, executive director of the Virginia Association of Counties, support the proposed budget, calling the elimination of the 15-year-old cap a “transformative step” for improving school resources.
Lynch noted that increased special education funding and staff compensation will significantly enhance student outcomes across Virginia.
Next Steps in the Budget Process
The Senate and House budget bills are expected to pass and move to Gov. Youngkin for review. However, Youngkin’s current budget proposal does not include provisions to remove the cap, leaving its fate uncertain.
Lawmakers and education advocates continue to push for reforms that ensure adequate funding for public schools, addressing both staffing shortages and special education needs.
