Legislative Program. Loudoun County Public Schools. Adopted November 11, Andrew Davis, LCPS 2014 Principal of the Year

Transcription

1 2015 Legislative Program Andrew Davis, LCPS 2014 Principal of the Year Loudoun County Public Schools Adopted November 11, 2014 Allison Alison, LCPS 2014 Teacher of the Year Loudoun County Public Schools Legislative Program

2 Loudoun County School Board Eric Hornberger, Chairman Ashburn District Jill Turgeon, Vice Chairman Blue Ridge District Debbie Rose Algonkian District Kevin Kuesters Broad Run District Jennifer Bergel Catoctin District Jeffrey Morse Dulles District Bill Fox Leesburg District Brenda Sheridan Sterling District Thomas Reed At Large ~~~~ Eric Williams, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools ~~~~ Loudoun County Public Schools Education Court Ashburn, Virginia Web Site: Published by LCPS Department of Planning & Legislative Services 2015 Legislative Program Between 2000 and 2010, the U. S. Census Bureau reported a population increase for Loudoun County, Virginia of 84 percent noting 312,311 persons in residence in April Today, Loudoun has an estimated 2014 population of 351,611 residents. Loudoun s public school enrollment, like the county s population, reflects similar growth. Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) is the third largest of 132 school divisions in Virginia and continues to be one of the fastest growing. LCPS enrollment increased 117 percent between 1990 and 2000; enrollment between 2000 and 2010 increased by 31,416 students (99 percent). On September 30, 2014, LCPS reported membership was 73,461. U. S. Bureau of the Census data, as compiled by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, indicate that nearly 24 percent of the Loudoun s residents are school age (5-19 years of age); another eight percent of the population is under five years of age. In comparison, 19 percent of the Commonwealth s residents are school age (5-19 years of age) with another six percent under the age of five. LCPS student enrollment is forecast to increase to 81,756 by the school year. For the 2015 General Assembly Session, the following priorities are identified and supported by the Loudoun County School Board, the Superintendent of Schools, and the administrative leadership staff of Loudoun County Public Schools. The priorities have been separated into two categories positions relating to local school board authority and those relating to funding. The School Board has also identified proposals for specific legislation during the 2015 General Assembly Session. Loudoun County Public Schools Page Legislative Program

3 I. Positions Relating to Local School Board Authority The Constitution of Virginia provides for local board control and initiative in determining educational programs and policies in conformance with the state guidelines and statutory mandates. The Loudoun County School Board strongly believes that control of public schools is based in the local school board and should not be reduced or restricted by legislative action. To the contrary, there are specific areas in which that control should be expanded. The following legislative positions reflect the Loudoun County School Board s goal to serve the students and parents of Loudoun County by providing the best possible educational program. Opposes legislation that would allow governing bodies to unilaterally assume any of the constitutional responsibilities of the school board or provide for the transfer of such responsibilities to the governing body. Supports maintaining the current Code of Virginia authority of local school boards to adopt regulations permitting a local school board to choose alternative discipline procedures for handling cases of suspension, expulsion, and exclusion. Supports legislation that overhauls student assessment testing for elementary and middle school students while increasing the opportunity of select students to retake Standards of Learning (SOL) exams. Opposes legislation that would require local school boards to implement full day kindergarten. Opposes legislation that requires local school boards to meet proscribed student physical activity requirements to be solely under the supervision of licensed physical education teachers. Supports legislation to permit local school boards control of their academic calendars, including the ability to set the date for the opening of the school year. Supports a legislative study to determine the advantages and disadvantages of fiscal autonomy for elected school boards. Recommends that the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC) conduct a study to determine the impact of non-public student participation in Virginia High School League (VHSL) activities. Loudoun County Public Schools Page Legislative Program

4 II. Positions Relating to Funding The General Assembly must meet the Commonwealth s responsibility to provide required funding for elementary and secondary education. While recent budgets have increased the dollar amount of State funding for K-12 education, the Commonwealth s share has declined from 34.1 percent of the State General Fund to 29.5 percent over the past ten years. Loudoun County and other localities more than meet obligations for K-12 funding by massive contributions from the General Fund and contributions from local tax dollars that far exceed the funding provided by the Commonwealth. The following legislative positions reflect the Loudoun County School Board s concerns regarding funding for elementary and secondary education by the Commonwealth. Requests the General Assembly to determine the financial impacts of legislation on local school districts and to fully compensate school districts for state directed mandates. Supports full funding for the State share of costs to support the Virginia Standards of Quality (SOQ) as adopted by the Virginia Board of Education. Supports the continued use of the Cost of Competing factor in the reimbursement formula for Planning District Eight. Opposes legislation that requires a local school board to transfer all or a portion of a local funding share to another school division if a student enrolls in a full time virtual school outside the school division. Restore funding for support staff positions to the level prior to the 2010 State Budget. Loudoun County Public Schools Page Legislative Program

5 III. Proposals for Specific Legislation Supports legislation to give greater flexibility in the gathering of two members of a public body by re-defining the term meetings in the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Supports legislation to remove pneumatic weapons from mandatory expulsions for weapons violations from discipline statutes. Supports legislation to exclude written and oral student statements made as a result of questioning by a school division employee or representative from being used as evidence against the student in a juvenile and/or criminal proceeding unless a parent, guardian, or legal custodian was present. Supports legislation to permit school boards to consider modifying disciplinary actions for students involved in an incident that have not appealed when another student involved in the same incident appealed and received a lesser discipline. Supports legislation that increases student privacy protection for vendor hosted software, platform and infrastructure as a service system. Supports legislation that provides for a bi-literacy seal on diplomas for graduating students who demonstrate appropriate levels of proficiency in two or more languages. Supports modification of Virginia Administrative Code 8VAC to permit school boards to charge fees for student transportation to and from school, for student transportation for extracurricular activities, whether or not required as part of the regular program of instruction, and to also permit school boards to enter into agreements with non-public schools for student transportation for extracurricular activities during the school day. Supports legislation that allows local school boards to retain any fund balance in a school board s operating budget from one fiscal year to the operating budget of the following fiscal year. Supports legislation prohibiting a governing body from appropriating employee and employer self-insurance fund contributions and from using those funds for any purposes other than for their intended purpose notwithstanding the provisions of Section of the Code of Virginia. Supports modification of Virginia Administrative Code 8VAC to allow school boards to charge tuition, up to one half (1/2) the locally funded portion of the district s average cost per pupil, to non-at-risk students participating in full day kindergarten. Supports legislation to give greater local control over the establishment and modification of speed limits at school crossings and within school zones Loudoun County Public Schools Page Legislative Program

6 Loudoun County Public Schools At-A-Glance Total Schools 87 Elementary Schools (K-Gr 5) 55 Elementary Charter Schools (K-Gr 5) 1 Middle Schools (Gr 6-8) 15 High Schools (Gr 9-12) 14 Centers 2 Student Enrollment + (September 2014) 73,461 Elementary School (K-Gr 5) 34,274 Middle School (Gr 6-8) 17,121 High School (Gr 9-12) 21,038 Preschool 1, Student Ethnicity American Indian 0.5% Asian 18.3% Black 6.8% White 53.3% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 0.1% Multiracial 5.1% Hispanic, of any Race 15.9% Support Programs (% of Students) Special Education 11% English Language Learner 9% Gifted & Talented (Gr 4-12) 13% Economically Disadvantaged 15% SAT Test Scores (Class of 2014) Critical Reading 543 Mathematics 541 Writing 527 Class of 2014 Total Graduates 4,457 On-Time Graduation Rate 95.2% Advanced Studies Diplomas 74.1% Scholarships Awarded $43.4 million Four Year College Plans 62.2% Two Year College Plans 27.8% Military Service 1.7% Full-Time Equivalent Employees 9,822 School Based 9,157 Non-School Based 665 Total Classroom Teachers 5,685 Nationally Board Certified 126 Hold Master s Degree 64% Highly Qualified 99% Teacher Salary Range (FY 2015) First Year Teacher $47,500 Bachelor s with 30+ Years Experience $92,381 Master s with 30+ Years Experience $98,225 Average Class Size ( School Year) Elementary School (K-Gr 5) 23.0 Middle School (Gr 6-8) 23.6 High School (Gr 9-12) 27.9 FY 2015 Operating Budget Total Operating Budget $912.0 million (increase of $68.3 million or 8.1% from FY 2014) Projected Cost Per Pupil $12,195 FY 2015 Funding Sources (less debt service) County Operating 65.9% State 23.3% State Sales Tax 7.2% Federal 1.6% Other 2.0% Student Transportation Students Transported Daily (Avg) 53,072 Bus Miles Traveled Annually 8.73 million Buses in Use Daily 764 Maintenance ( School Year) Structured Square Footage 10,411,091 Acreage Maintained 2,755 + Differs from that reported to VDOE for the September 30 financial membership report. Loudoun County Public Schools Page Legislative Program