Local government; appropriation of local school funds to families for compulsory student attendance.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify if the reserved funds must exactly match what would be spent per pupil in public schools.

Local School Funds for Nonpublic Attendance

This bill allows local governments to give money from school funds directly to parents if their children attend nonpublic schools.

What This Bill Does

• Allows local governing bodies to reserve part of the money they receive for public schools and give it to parents whose kids go to private or other non-public schools instead of public ones.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local governing bodies
• Parents with children attending nonpublic schools

Terms To Know

Standards of Quality (SOQ)

The state's guidelines for what public schools must provide to meet educational standards.

Compulsory attendance

A law that requires children to attend school until a certain age or grade level.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how much money can be given to parents.
• The bill has been enacted but does not have an effective date yet.

Official Summary Text

Local governing bodies; appropriations of local school funds to families for compulsory student attendance in nonpublic school settings.
Permits any local governing body to reserve per pupil amounts of apportioned Standards of Quality costs and appropriate such amounts to the parents of students in the local school division for the satisfaction of the compulsory attendance of their children in nonpublic school settings.

Current Bill Text

A BILL to amend and reenact §
22.1-94
of the Code of Virginia, relating to local governing bodies; appropriations of local school funds to families for compulsory student attendance in nonpublic school settings.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §
22.1-94
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§
22.1-94
. Appropriations by local governing body for public schools and students.

A governing body may make appropriations to a school board from the funds derived from local levies and from any other funds available, for operation, capital outlay
,
and debt service in the public schools. Such appropriations shall be not less than the cost apportioned to the governing body for maintaining an educational program meeting the standards of quality for the several school divisions prescribed as provided by law
, provided, however, that the governing body may rese
rve
per pupil amounts of
such
apportioned costs and instead appropriate such amounts
to the parents of students i
n the local school division for the satisfaction of
the
compulsory attendance
of their children
in nonpublic school settings as set forth in
§
22.1-254
. The amount appropriated by the governing body for public schools shall relate to its total only or to such major classifications prescribed by the Board of Education pursuant to §
22.1-115
. The appropriations may be made on the same periodic basis as the governing body makes appropriations to other departments and agencies.