Bill > HB1041

Introduced Session

Department of Corrections; establishment of general system of schools for incarcerated individuals; Virginia Prison Education Task Force established; report. Requires the Superintendent employed by the Director of Corrections to (i) include in the functional literacy program for inmates developed pursuant to applicable law evidence-based literacy instruction, as defined in accordance with applicable law; (ii) share data with (a) the state entity that oversees the management, direction, and governance of the Commonwealth's education and workforce data for the purpose of developing educational, health, social service, and employment outcome data and improving the efficacy of state services and (b) the Virginia Community College System necessary for comprehensive community colleges to apply for and maintain eligibility as Federal Pell Grant-eligible prison education programs; and (iii) track and publicly report at least annually the number of incarcerated individuals eligible for, enrolled in, and waitlisted for the literacy and education programs. The bill also establishes the Virginia Prison Education Task Force for the purpose of implementing a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities operated by the Department. The bill requires the Task Force to submit an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1 and to complete its work by July 1, 2029. Finally, the bill requires the Department of Education to, by November 1, 2026, (a) review and update the salary schedules for teachers licensed by the Board of Education and employed by the Department of Corrections to provide instruction in the schools of the correctional centers to be competitive with those in effect for the school division in which the correctional facility is located and (b) make recommendations for the inclusion of such teacher salary increases in the appropriation act.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Betsy Carr (D)*,  Rae Cousins (D),  Jackie Glass (D),  Marcia Price (D),  Marcus Simon (D),  Virgil Thornton (D), 

Senate Rehabilitation and Social Services Hearing (08:00:00 2/27/2026 Senate Room A, Room 305, General Assembly Building) (on 02/27/2026)

Official Document