Previous Work: HB2305
Legislative Initiative
During the 2020 Virginia General Assembly Session, we supported House Bill 2305. This bill would have directed the Virginia Board of Education to issue guidance on equity issues affecting academic year Governor’s Schools. This would have established a legislative mandate to center the Board’s guidance on the goal of increasing access to historically underserved students. The patron of this bill understood the need to provide guidance not only on more equitable admissions policies, but also on diversity, equity, and inclusion training; how best to promote the availability of such programs to all feeder middle schools; and strengthening and preparing a robust pipeline of students from those schools. Stakeholders from all feeder districts would have had a voice in developing this guidance as well. Unfortunately, even after a strong showing of public support—including compelling support from current students—we were dismayed to watch this bill passed over in a Senate subcommittee by politicians who failed to embrace an anti-racist approach. We continue to look for ways to support efforts that would empower year-round Governor’s Schools to, at the very least, learn about the strategies they could adopt to better serve the Black and Brown students of our region.