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Dear Friend,
This week’s newsletter highlights my participation in two back-to-back conferences in Washington, DC: the K-12 School Finance Thinkers Meeting and the Education Commission of the States’ 2024 National Forum on Education Policy . I also highlight some recent community events. Thank you for reading this newsletter and staying informed.
Two Conferences in Washington, DC
Although I was not a participant in the gathering of the Heads of States for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), I certainly felt as though I was in the middle of it as I attended two conferences close to the White House: the K-12 School Finance Thinkers Meeting and the Education Commission of the States’ 2024 National Forum on Education Policy.
As Chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, I am a newly appointed Commissioner to the Education Commission of the States [[link removed]] , an organization that was created after the Compact for Education in 1965 highlighted the need for an organizational structure to connect state policymakers and support education policymaking in all 50 states. The workshops provided throughout this week have been tremendously helpful, giving me the opportunity to bring back ideas for potential policy impacting revisions to our K-12 funding, teaching and learning of mathematics, effective models for multi-language learners, community colleges and workforce development, challenges facing higher education, and more.
The 2024 National Forum on Education Policy opened with a keynote address from Virginia’s own and inspiring Annie Ray, the 2024 Grammy Music Educator Award Winner. Annie is Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department Chair at Annandale High School.
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Ms. Ray’s comments highlighted the passion that she brings to the classroom every day and how the real value of education in music and performing arts extends into every aspect of students’ lives. Her recent interview [[link removed]] highlights some of the vision that she shared with us at the National Forum.
The collaborative discussions with other legislators and state leaders in education policy are helpful as I and others consider what next steps Virginia should be taking to continue to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all of our students, regardless of their zip code.
Special Session Next Thursday
On Thursday, July 18, members of the Senate and House of Delegates will return to Richmond and the State Capitol for a Special Session to vote on legislation impacting the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program [[link removed]] (VMSDEP). The final draft language will be posted on the Legislative Information System [[link removed]] (LIS) by Wednesday. As always, the convening of the two Chambers is open to the public, both in-person and through livestream for the Senate [[link removed]] and the House of Delegates [[link removed]] .
Select Community Engagements
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On Sunday, June 30, I visited with members of the broader US Ahmadiyya community. Ahmadiyya leadership selected Richmond as its host city for the 74th Annual Jalsa Salana. Participants traveled from around the US and the world for this three-day convention. The event attracted nearly 10,000 visitors to Richmond, giving the city an opportunity to highlight its own history, restaurants, local businesses, and attractions.
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On Tuesday, July 2, the Japan-Virginia Society [[link removed]] held its 35th Anniversary Celebration at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. I was honored to meet His Excellency Shigeo Yamada, Ambassador to the United States. The Japan-Virginia Society has established a strong collaboration that has mutually benefited Japan and our Commonwealth by advancing economic, cultural, and academic opportunities.
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On our nation's 248th birthday, I attended the annual Fourth of July Naturalization Ceremony at the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Numerous community members packed the auditorium as well as the overflow room for this joyous event as we witnessed 95 individuals from 46 different countries become new citizens of the United States. The Honorable Roger Gregory, Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, delivered the Oath of Allegiance to the United States, and Richmond’s own Lisa Edward Burrs provided a beautiful rendition of the national anthem.
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That same evening, I also attended the VA250 Commission's [[link removed]] Independence Day celebration that featured Mr. Jefferson, speeches, a variety of music, and a splendid light show provided by drones over the State Capitol.
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Following the holiday weekend, on Monday evening, I attended the Henrico County Democratic Committee for its monthly meeting. Every year, our local committees play such a pivotal role in turning out voters, supporting candidates and campaigns, and supporting civic engagement.
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In between my sessions at the Education Commission of the States, I was able to join a packed committee meeting of the Arlington Democrats on Wednesday night. The meeting attracted many committee members as well as visitors. The work of the various committees and the Young Democrats of Arlington was inspiring to hear.
Connecting With My Office
My office can be reached at the following:
Email: [email protected] [gmail.com]
Phone: 804.698.7515
If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here [[link removed]] .
— Ghazala
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