summary
Introduced
01/13/2025
01/13/2025
In Committee
01/13/2025
01/13/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/22/2025
02/22/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Public schools; Virginia Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program established. Establishes the Virginia Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program, to be administered and managed by the Department of the Treasury pursuant to guidelines developed by the Board of Education in collaboration with the Department of the Treasury, for the purpose of ensuring that all children in the Commonwealth have access to quality educational opportunities by annually awarding a grant in the amount of $5,000 per eligible student, as that term is outlined in the bill, for up to 10,000 eligible students each year. The bill requires the grant funds awarded pursuant to the Program to be used to support qualified educational expenses of attending an accredited private school in the Commonwealth, as enumerated by the bill. The bill also (i) directs the Board of Education, in collaboration with the Department of the Treasury, to develop guidelines for the implementation and administration of the Program; (ii) requires the Board of Education to develop and make available to each school board and each school board to make available to parents at the start of each school year informational materials relating to the Program; and (iii) requires the Department of Education to annually collect data on and include as a part of the Board of Education's Annual Report on the Condition and Needs of Public Schools in Virginia the total student participation in the Program.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the Virginia Opportunity Scholarship Grant Program, a state-funded initiative designed to provide financial assistance to low-income students who wish to attend private schools. The program will offer annual grants of $5,000 to up to 10,000 eligible students, beginning in the fiscal year starting July 1, 2026. To qualify, students must be Virginia residents, eligible to enroll in public elementary or secondary schools, have attended a public school for at least one year (or be entering kindergarten or first grade), and come from households with incomes at or below 200% of the federal free school meals income limit. The grant funds can be used for various educational expenses including tuition, fees, textbooks, uniforms, transportation, and other qualified educational costs at accredited private schools in Virginia. The Board of Education, in collaboration with the Department of the Treasury, will develop program guidelines, manage eligibility requirements, and create informational materials for school boards to distribute to parents. The Department of Education will track and report annual program participation by region, and the grant funds will not be considered taxable income for parents, making private school education more accessible for lower-income families.
Committee Categories
Education, Health and Social Services
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Passed by indefinitely in Education and Health (9-Y 6-N) (on 01/23/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1346 |
| BillText | https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1346/text/SB1346 |
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