EDUCATION BILLS - 2025
PENDING BILLS
​
HB2158 Department of Corrections; establishment of general system of schools for incarcerated individuals; Virginia Prison Education Task Force.
Introduced by Betsy B. Carr [D]
View the bill here.
Requires the Superintendent employed by the Department of Corrections (the Department) to oversee the operation of all educational and vocational programs in all institutions and community-based programs for adults operated by the Department to implement a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities that shall include a (i) functional literacy program for inmates testing below a selected grade level, which shall be at least at the eighth grade level and include evidence-based literacy instruction; (ii) secondary and adult education program for inmates testing between an eighth and twelfth grade level that includes a program to prepare for the high school equivalency examination established by the Board of Education; and (iii) postsecondary education program that provides access to coursework sufficient to earn a Uniform Certificate of General Studies; an associate degree; and postsecondary credentials, certifications, and licenses.
The bill also requires the Director of the Department to enter into interagency agreements with the Chief Information Officer of the Virginia Information Technologies Agency, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System to support the development, implementation, and administration of the education programs.
The bill requires the Department of Corrections to (a) eliminate the waitlists for the education programs within five years of the programs' implementation; (b) implement the postsecondary education program in every state correctional facility by July 1, 2030; (c) implement the functional literacy program by January 1, 2026; and (d) enter into the interagency agreements required by the bill by January 1, 2026.
Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Human Resource Management to, by November 1, 2025, (1) 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 (2) make recommendations for the inclusion of such teacher salary increases in the appropriation act.
The bill also establishes the Virginia Prison Education Task Force for the purpose of implementing a consistent education program across all state correctional facilities. The bill requires the Task Force to complete its work by July 1, 2030.
1/7/2025 House Committee Referral Pending
FAILED BILLS
HB 1121 Online educational courses; DOC to establish, etc., an educational program for prisoners.
Introduced by: Betsy B. Carr [D]
Department of Corrections; online educational courses. Requires the Director of the Department of Corrections to establish, develop, and implement an educational program with the Online Virginia Network Authority for the purposes of providing a means for prisoners to earn degrees and postsecondary education credentials through accessing online degree and credential programs that are offered by George Mason University, Old Dominion University, James Madison University, and comprehensive community colleges.
View the bill here.
02/01/24 House: Subcommittee recommends continuing to 2025 by voice vote
02/02/24 House: Continued to 2025 in Public Safety by voice vote
11/18/24 House: Left in Rules