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Henrico County Public Schools

The Right to Achieve. The Support to Succeed.

Legislative Priorities

2026 Legislative Priorities

The Henrico County School Board’s 2026 Legislative Priorities are driven by the division’s strategic plan, Journey to 2030, and our core values: Student-Focused, Belonging, Collaboration, Innovation, and Equity. These values guide every decision we make, from budget priorities and classroom instruction to employee supports and community partnerships.

Board members firmly believe that any legislation affecting education should be thoughtfully considered to maintain high standards and reasonable workloads, ensuring that educators can devote their time and energy to meaningful teaching and learning. As such, the School Board’s 2026 Legislative Priorities, formally approved on Dec. 18, 2025, are more than abstract policy goals; they are practical pathways to ensuring that all schools have the necessary funding, resources and systems to be successful.

    • HCPS urges the General Assembly to provide targeted state funding aligned with the framework to help divisions expand intervention, tutoring, enrichment and early childhood learning opportunities that directly impact student outcomes.
    • HCPS supports additional funding for English learner services.
    • HCPS calls for the expansion of high school dual enrollment opportunities and the creation of new pathways for teachers to become dual enrollment instructors.
    • HCPS requests flexibility on Standards of Learning assessments and related funding to modernize and protect Virginia’s balanced assessment system.

    • HCPS asks lawmakers to prioritize legislation and increases to state funding for school safety, technology access and to address aging school facilities through necessary infrastructure updates and construction that is environmentally sustainable.
    • HCPS supports state investments to expand broadband internet access and appropriate technology for all students and school communities in Virginia.
    • HCPS calls on lawmakers to hold public school divisions harmless from the negative impacts of federal funding shifts.

    • HCPS urges legislators to invest in school-based mental health professionals, school counselors, school social workers and school psychologists, and programs that extend beyond the classroom.
    • HCPS supports legislation to remove unnecessary - and often unfunded - classroom and administrative burdens, allowing educators to focus on our core mission: teaching and learning.

    • HCPS urges the General Assembly to prioritize investments in compensation, licensure pathways and staff workload relief that strengthen the profession and sustain the education workforce.
    • HCPS calls on legislators to revise Virginia’s K-12 funding formula to promote full SOQ funding.
    • HCPS encourages lawmakers to seek and fund alternative pathways into the teaching profession while removing existing barriers to teacher licensure attainment.
    • HCPS requests legislators identify funding to support innovative division programs to reduce employee turnover in high-need schools.

    • HCPS strongly opposes any legislation that would erode local authority or impose unfunded mandates on school divisions.

In addition to these 2026 Legislative Priorities, the Board holds continuing positions that support a wide variety of other areas to enhance K-12 education in Henrico County and across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

For the 2026 legislative session, a summary of each week's action relevant to the Henrico County School Board's Legislative Priorities will be published on our new Weekly Legislative Updates page.

Here is a look at the results of the 2026 legislative session as related to the board’s priorities: 2026 Legislative Wrap Up

For information related to the HCPS legislative agenda, please contact Ken Blackstone, Government Relations Manager.

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