Latest news with #Youngkin
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Va. education department plans to launch Office of Excellence and Best Practices
Students in a classroom. (Photo by Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images) The Virginia Department of Education is preparing to launch a new Office of Excellence and Best Practices by hiring an executive director who will be responsible for fostering innovation, highlighting high-performing schools, and directing resources toward initiatives with a proven track record of improving student outcomes. The agency posted an advertisement for the opening last week. Superintendent of Public Instruction Emily Anne Gullickson, who began in March, said it has been challenging for the agency to track and share successful educational practices and resources across school divisions, despite significant funding. She believes the office will help. 'One of the things we're really working hard at in the department is breaking down silos, including on data sharing, real impact, proven resources that are quickly scalable and usable from the field,' said Gullickson. 'We have made progress, but we have a lot more to do to really better support our educators with this data.' Some Democratic state legislators, including Senate Education and Health Committee Chair Ghazala Hashmi, D-Richmond, are concerned about the timing of the agency's decision to fill a senior position. Since Youngkin completes his term in January, the next governor's administration may have different ideas about the new office and its leadership. 'If this role is truly essential to the department's mission, the decision should be left to the next administration, which will be responsible for setting future education policy and direction,' Hashmi said. 'Rushing to fill it now appears to be more about entrenching a political agenda than serving Virginia's students.' The governor's administration and Democrats have not seen eye-to-eye on many education priorities with few exceptions, including their work to improve assessment testing and increase teacher pay. In 2022, Youngkin laid out his legislative priorities including his administration's efforts to'restore excellence in education,' after pointing to the state's 'low' proficiency standards and parents' battles with school divisions over their rights and concerns. The governor also called for investing in charter schools and developing more lab schools. Democrats have sparred with the administration over most of the governor's initiatives that involved public education funding and equity, curriculum changes and his scholarship program proposal. The administration, lawmakers and educators also disagreed over the administration's process for revising school history and social science standards, which determine what students need to know in those subjects before graduating. The Office of Excellence and Best Practices director, once hired, will work in tandem with the Road to Readiness School Performance and Support Framework Resource Hub, which offers free educational resources to families and educators. The application process closes on June 11. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Youngkin signs Virginia law limiting 'bell-to-bell' cellphone use in public schools
Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill into law Friday limiting cellphone use for all Virginia public elementary, middle and high school students. Youngkin, who built his political career championing parents' rights in education, ceremoniously signed two versions of the bill, HB1961 and SB738, at the Carter G. Woodson Middle School in Hopewell, Virginia. Youngkin said it was a fitting location for a day filled with such "hope." "When we come together — elected officials, administrators, teachers, parents and all of you — we can move mountains, and we can change something that needs to be changed, and that is to find freedom, freedom from cellphones," said Youngkin, who was flanked by his wife, Virginia first lady Suzanne S. Youngkin; public school students; education advocates; and local politicians. "We come together in order to move a mountain," Youngkin said, as he highlighted the negative effect of cellphones in schools on mental illness, conduct in class, academic performance and interpersonal relationships. Teens Spend More Than A Quarter Of Their Time At School On Phones, New Study Finds The bill strictly limits the use of phones in classrooms to reduce distractions and disruptions, codifying Youngkin's executive order signed last year "to protect the health and safety of students in Virginia's K-12 public schools by issuing guidance on the establishment of cellphone-free education policies and procedures." Read On The Fox News App Dc Council Proposes Bill To Ban Cellphones In District's Public Schools "We are building on the foundation laid by Executive Order 33 to make Virginia the national leader in restoring focus, academic excellence in the classroom and restoring health and safety in our schools. This legislation ensures that every school division adopts a full bell-to-bell policy and removes cellphones from classrooms, creating a distraction-free learning environment," Youngkin said as he signed the bill into law. Research indicates using cellphones in the classroom can have a negative effect on students' grades, social skills, emotional development and mental health. In a 2024 Pew Research Center study, more than 70% of high school teachers said cellphones distracting students in the classroom is a major problem. "This wasn't just an issue. It's a crisis. And when we have a crisis, we have a unified call for action, and that's what this gathering is all about, this unified call for action," Youngkin said Friday. Hopewell City Public Schools adopted a "pouch system" in its secondary schools at the start of the 2022-2023 school year, which has been used as a case study and potential model for the Virginia Department of Education's cellphone-free education rollout. "I want to add my appreciation for Hopewell's leadership because it was your leadership that inspired the executive order that I wrote last summer," Youngkin said. The statewide legislation requires school boards to develop and public schools to enact policies to restrict student cellphone use during the school day. The law includes exceptions for students with individualized education plans, Section 504 plans or health conditions, so cellphones can be used when medically necessary. The law also prohibits schools from suspending, expelling or removing students from class for violating cellphone policies. Florida became the first state to pass a law regulating cellphone use in schools in 2023. More than half of all states now have similar laws in article source: Youngkin signs Virginia law limiting 'bell-to-bell' cellphone use in public schools
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Youngkin to set special election for Connolly's seat amid primary season juggle
U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Fairfax, speaks at a press conference outside of USAID headquarters on Monday, Feb. 3, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Elon Musk, tech billionaire and head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), said in a social media post that he and U.S. President Donald Trump were shutting down the foreign assistance agency. (Photo by) As Fairfax County laid to rest longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly Tuesday, attention shifted to the fast-moving process of replacing him in Congress — a decision that rests with Gov. Glenn Youngkin and could reshape the calendar for both parties in the politically vital 11th District. Connolly, 75, died last week after a resurgence of cancer, just weeks after announcing he would not seek reelection. His passing leaves a vacancy in a district anchored in Fairfax that leans heavily Democratic and is home to tens of thousands of federal workers. A spokesperson for Youngkin on Tuesday declined to say whether the governor has made a decision on when to schedule a special election. Under Virginia law, the governor is required to issue a writ of election to fill a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives. However, there is no mandated timeline for doing so. But state law also stipulates that special elections must be held on a Tuesday and cannot occur within 55 days prior to a general or primary election. With the June 17 primaries approaching, the earliest possible date for the special election would be June 24. Manisha Singh, chair of the 11th District Democratic Committee, acknowledged the challenges ahead. 'We do have to juggle a lot of things, and with the primary less than 20 days away, it is a lot,' Singh said in a phone interview Tuesday. She emphasized that once Youngkin sets the date, her committee's job is not to pick a candidate but to oversee a transparent and accessible process. 'Our committee is just responsible for the process of voting and not dictating who should or should not be filling these shoes.' State Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia, said the party is prepared to proceed with urgency. 'We don't have a process yet, because (we) didn't want to get ahead of the governor's announcement,' he said. 'I'm going to encourage a process that offers the most amount of time for voters to be able to cast their vote and the most voters to be able to be engaged.' Singh echoed that goal, saying the local party's plan 'is to organize our process and move swiftly' while ensuring that 'everybody … is going to have a fair and open process, all inclusive.' She added, 'Our voters will have plenty of opportunity to have their voice heard.' Democrats are considering a 'firehouse primary' in July to pick their nominee, assuming a late-summer special election date. The Fairfax County Democratic Committee has already begun lining up voting sites, with plans for at least one per magisterial district. A handful of candidates have already expressed interest in the Democratic nomination, including: Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw, a former Connolly chief of staff who has received the late congressman's endorsement; state Sen. Stella Pekarsky, D-Fairfax; Fairfax Planning Commissioner Candice Bennett; and attorney Amy Roma, a Vienna resident and global energy policy expert. Singh acknowledged the magnitude of the moment for Democrats in her district after Connolly's death. 'It is a humongous void that we are feeling right now, and it's some really big shoes to fill,' she said. But she expressed confidence in the field of contenders. 'We have some excellent candidates who I am very sure are up to the challenge.' On the Republican side, Mike Van Meter, who lost to Connolly 67-33% last year, is running again. No other GOP candidate has announced a bid. Political analyst Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington warned that delays in setting the election date can serve partisan ends. 'One of the problems with vacant congressional seats is that some governors use the timing for partisan advantage,' he said. 'Democrats are very likely to win the seat, and so as long as it remains vacant, that creates a slight advantage for the narrow Republican majority in Congress.' Farnsworth said governors from both parties have taken advantage of timing in tight political environments. 'The country would be much better off if we had very firm rules about elections being called as soon as possible when there are vacancies,' he said. He added that the 11th District's deep-blue profile gives Democrats flexibility to nominate a progressive candidate. 'In Virginia 11, if you have a Democratic nomination in one hand and a pulse on the other, you're more or less going to be elected.' And Singh said Connolly's legacy will loom large in the coming campaign. 'Fairfax is quite progressive, and Gerry Connolly has always reflected the sentiments of his constituents,' she said. 'He has never been afraid to stand by his principles and what his district needs.' 'What we will need is a leader who, irrespective of where their belief is, is always putting the district before themselves or anything else,' Singh added. 'I know the voters in the district will do us proud and will make sure Gerry Connolly's legacy lives on.' Connolly's career bridged international policy and local governance. Born in Boston, he worked for a decade on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, overseeing issues such as narcotics, global economics, and U.N. affairs. He later moved into the private sector with firms like SRI International and SAIC. He was first elected to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in 1995 and became chair in 2003, leading efforts around smart growth and environmental stewardship. In 2008, Connolly won election to Congress and quickly gained a reputation as a detail-oriented policymaker focused on government accountability. Last month, he announced his plan to retire, writing, 'With pride in what we've accomplished together over 30 years, my loving family and staff sustain me. My extended family — you all have been a joy to serve.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Virginia governor vetoed bill to make Black history classes count towards graduation. What's next?
Black members of the 1887-88 Virginia General Assembly. Then-state Sen. John Robinson is pictured on the far left of the back row. (Photo courtesy of Encyclopedia of Virginia) A Northern Virginia faith leader and parent said she will continue asking state lawmakers to make two African-American history courses count towards the state's graduation requirements for history, after the governor — who vetoed the measure and whose four-year term is sunsetting — leaves office. Pastor Michelle Thomas, president of the NAACP Loudoun Branch, and Robin Reaves Burke of the Loudoun Freedom Center proposed the concept to state Del. David Reid, D-Loudoun, shortly after the commonwealth added African American History and AP African American Studies to the list of courses permitted to be taught in public high schools. Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, and Reid successfully passed the proposal through the General Assembly with some amendments. On March 24, Gov. Glenn Youngkin proposed an amendment requiring the General Assembly to pass the proposal again in 2026, but lawmakers did not accept it. Youngkin then vetoed the bill, stating that it would cause students to miss 'key concepts essential to understanding how historical world events have shaped our modern economy, government, and international relations.' Thomas was surprised and disappointed by the decision, she said. 'You can't divorce African American history from the founding of America. It is the absolute foundation of American history, and so to try to marginalize this and say students shouldn't be learning it, or it's not as important as mainstream history, or the history that he's trying to tell is absolutely ridiculous,' Thomas said in a statement last week. Thomas said she first considered proposing the legislation after her daughter was interested in taking an African American studies course and seeking flexibility with her class schedule towards meeting her graduation requirements. Under Virginia's standard diploma requirements, students are required to take U.S. History, Virginia and U.S. Government, and either World History or Geography. The bill would have given the students the option to substitute African American History or AP African American Studies studies with World History or Geography. Virginia's diploma requirements concerning history Standard Diploma US History Virginia and U.S. Government One other course in World History or Geography Advanced diploma All four are required. Proposed standard diploma (House Bill 1824 in the 2025 GA session – vetoed by governor) US History Virginia and U.S. Government World History or Geography or African American Studies or AP African American Studies 'While I am supportive of expanding choices in what classes students may take to satisfy graduation requirements, we must ensure that classes that replace others are germane to the comprehensive goals of high school education standards,' Youngkin wrote in his veto statement. But Thomas defended the proposal. 'We're not saying 'do away' or 'you can take this or that.' You can take all of them,' Thomas said. 'You can take World History II, if parents feel like World History I and World History II are important. But for those parents (and students) who believe African American history is also and equally important, allow them to get graduation credit for it.' She said she also believes the governor's decision falls in line with a national agenda to minimize or remove public references to Black history, and could align with his future political plans. The curriculum has been continually debated by the public, education leaders and Youngkin's administration during the governor's entire time in office, which concludes in January. The first AP African American studies course was added last year, but not without controversy — Youngkin's education department proposed dozens of revisions before its approval, the Washington Post reported. Reid said in a statement that he was disappointed by the governor's decision and plans to reintroduce the bill at the next session, beginning in January. 'The governor chose to ignore the very values he outlined in Executive Order One on his first day in office — his stated commitment to teach the full story of American history,' said Reid. 'Instead, he allowed political fear to override principle and missed an opportunity to give parents and students more choice in how they learn our shared history.' He also said Virginia history and African American history are important parts of America's origin story, citing the significance of the first House of Burgesses — the first democratically-elected legislative body in what would become America — and the arrival of the first Africans in present-day Hampton, both defining events that took place in Virginia roughly two weeks and 40 miles apart. 'Virginia history is African American history, is American history,' Reid said. 'Our children deserve to learn the truth of our shared story — and they deserve the freedom to choose how they learn it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Maritime festival, a supercharged Harborfest, planned in Norfolk for America's 250th birthday
NORFOLK — Surrounded by tugboats blaring their horns, sprays of water and the tall ship American Rover, Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Friday kicked off a one-year countdown to a massive maritime festival. During a news conference at the Waterside dock, Youngkin and city and state officials announced plans for the Sail250 festival to celebrate the United States' 250th anniversary. Addressing the City Council this week, Karen Scherberger, Sail250 executive director, described the event as a supercharged version of Norfolk's annual Harborfest festival. Scheduled for the Juneteenth weekend in 2026, it will feature more than 60 tall ships and military vessels from at least 20 countries that are expected to dock in Norfolk as the city and country celebrates the United States' sesquicentennial. Youngkin highlighted Virginia's historic role in American independence during his remarks Friday, noting iconic Revolutionary War scenes in Virginia such as Hanover County's Patrick Henry proclaiming, 'Give me liberty, or give me death.' 'America was really founded by Virginians,' Youngkin said. 'This story is one that we have to remind ourselves is not just part of our national narrative, but Virginia's.' Events during the weekend will include a June 19 boat parade, fireworks and ship tours, among others. Scherberger said Tuesday that 22 tall ships confirmed they will be at the event, and another 24 have been invited. Scherberger said the last big maritime celebration of this scope was OpSail 2012, when vessels paraded and docked in Norfolk to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812. She said the event could draw more than 3 million visitors to Virginia over a 10-day period in 11 cities, as well as $150 million in visitor spending. Alexandria, Cape Charles, Chesapeake, Hampton, Onancock, Portsmouth, Richmond, Smithfield, Virginia Beach and Yorktown also will be participate. Across the country, Sail250 events also are planned for New Orleans, Baltimore, New York and Boston. On Tuesday, after hearing a presentation from Scherberger, Norfolk City Council members debated the logistics of holding the event along with a Juneteenth celebration. Council member Mamie Johnson, who is co-chairing a city planning committee for a celebration in Town Point Park, said she and co-chair Jeremy McGee were navigating how the events could be celebrated at the same time. However, council member John 'JP' Page said he thought mixing Juneteenth celebrations with the maritime event was a horrible idea. Mayor Kenny Alexander said he was concerned Juneteenth would be lost amid the Sail250 celebrations. He hoped members of the Juneteenth committee would sign off on coordinating with the Sail250 event. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345,
