Dear Friend,
This week’s newsletter discusses how the Trump administration’s actions could negatively impact Virginia’s public education system, provides updates from the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) and the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA), shares information on our final Summer Mobile Office Hours, welcomes Jake to my office for the school year, and reflects on select community engagements from this past week. Thank you for reading this newsletter and for staying informed.
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Federal Actions Impacting Public Education in Virginia
As we begin a new school year, public education in Virginia faces emerging challenges because of the actions being taken at the federal level. From the dismantling of the US Department of Education (USED) to the arbitrary threats of the freezing of federal funds to the efforts to defund public schools in order to shift taxpayer dollars into private hands, public education is under historic assault. Through its legislature and budget, Virginia will have to make critical decisions under new statewide leadership following the November elections.
Two areas of special concern are the impacts of the federal government’s actions on our English language learner (ELL) populations and our students with special needs. For both student populations, the reduction of federal funding, removal of federal oversight, and creation of instability with USED restructuring poses significant challenges.
Potential Impacts on English Language Learners
A few weeks ago, the Trump administration rescinded federal guidance for the support of English learners. While the move does not change underlying federal laws, it has the potential to reduce the quality of services and enforcement of protections that are currently mandated by law. Previously, the administration had proposed eliminating Title III funds altogether; these federal dollars help states and localities support English language instruction. Although the July funding freeze was eventually lifted because of a lawsuit, the administration’s action created instability for state education departments.
Additionally, the administration is scaling back multilingual resources across federal agencies which has the potential to discourage the use of translation and interpretation services in schools for students and families. With federal funding and oversight potentially weakening, Virginia's existing disparities may worsen. School districts with lower local tax bases will struggle to make up for lost federal resources. Potential Impacts on Special Education Students
The administration’s actions with regard to special education has also created confusion and disruption. The Trump team previously proposed moving special education enforcement out of the Department of Education and to the Department of Justice, and that shift may still occur. Currently, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights is a key pathway for families to report violations of federal law. A disruption in the enforcement process will likely reduce accountability.
Additionally, the potential dismantling of the Department of Education could lead to a loss of research, resources, and technical assistance that support educators and programs that serve students with disabilities. While the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) may or may not be rewritten, any reduction or restructuring of federal funding could disrupt state and local budgets. In Virginia, where localities already bear the majority of special education costs, this would exacerbate existing funding gaps.
Virginia’s Responses
At the state level, we can take steps to decrease the impact of the chaos and disruptions of federal actions, but it may require a substantial commitment of state and local resources. -
Increase state funding: Fortunately, the General Assembly under Democratic leadership has been moving towards an overhaul of the public education funding formula; this revision of the funding formula is based on the report findings of the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Council (JLARC). Over the past two Sessions, we have begun increased investments in these particular student populations.
- Boost local support: Because much of Virginia's education funding comes from local dollars, districts may need to increase their own revenue to maintain services.
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Addressing gaps in Virginia law: We will likely need to address gaps in Virginia law that may emerge because of the restructuring or dismantling of federal-level regulations or departments. Since March I have initiated conversations with a variety of stakeholders to evaluate potential legislative language that is necessary to protect access for Virginia students.
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Joint Commission on Technology and Science
On Wednesday, the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) received presentations on a variety of issues; these presentations will help us as we develop legislative priorities for the 2026 session. The Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine's (VASEM) presentation highlighted the organization’s Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Policy Fellowship program and new Undergraduate Policy Program. COVES Fellows span across multiple agencies to support research and agency work as they gain skills in policy development and knowledge about state government. COVES Fellows engage in critical areas of importance to our Commonwealth, including the rapidly-expanding roles of artificial intelligence and challenges within emerging technologies. The work of VASEM, as well as the research support of the COVES Fellows, assist JCOTS and its members in developing policy. The meeting of JCOTS concluded with a Commission staff report on AI Chatbots and their proliferation into our daily lives. These innovative tools, with their increased features and functions, have brought to the forefront several unique challenges as we work to identify policy measures that will ensure consumer safety, privacy, security, and transparency while also supporting innovative solutions and growth.
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Final Mobile Office Hours: Wednesday, August 27
Wednesday, August 27, my staff will host our final Mobile Office Hours of the summer at Chester Library from 11:30AM until 1:00PM. Staff will be able to assist with casework involving state agencies, discuss legislative concerns, and receive feedback from constituents on issues that matter to them. Registration is open. ¿Necesita servicios en español? Haga clic aquí. Future community events will be announced in this newsletter, as well as on my Facebook, Instagram, and X.
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Welcome, Jake!
This week, we welcomed Jake to our office as he begins a semester-long mentoring program. A student at Maggie Walker Governor’s School in Richmond, Jake sought out a mentorship with my office to learn about the functions of state government and to gain firsthand experience in policy research and development. We look forward to hosting Jake and providing guidance, support, and opportunities for him to flourish through public service.
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Select Community Engagements
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On Monday morning, I traveled to Williamsburg to join the third meeting of The Hunt Policy Institute’s inaugural cohort of Virginia Hunt State Policy Fellows for a discussion on state policy and higher education in Virginia. I spoke about the efforts to support community colleges, HBCUs, internships and workplace learning, college affordability, and more. The State Policy Fellows are a bipartisan group of emerging education policymakers, local elected officials, and community leaders in Virginia. We had a robust and engaging discussion during this session.
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On Monday, my staff joined community members of the Shady Hill Mobile Home Park and advocates such as the Legal Aid Justice Center to learn about the mobile park owners' proposals to address Chesterfield County requirements for health and safety standards. My office continues to monitor the situation and will work with federal, state, and local partners to ensure that residents receive necessary resources and support throughout this process. |
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My campaign team and I have been busy these past several weeks as we head into the final stretch of this state-wide campaign. With travels to localities in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Southwest Virginia and elsewhere, I continue to meet with Virginians all across the Commonwealth. These conversations highlight the concerns of our citizens: housing affordability, childcare, education, health care, the loss of federal jobs, and more. The campaign will continue to intensify as we near the start of early voting. More details about the campaign are available at ghazalaforvirginia.com.
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Connecting With My Office My office can be reached at the following:
Email: [email protected] Phone: 804.698.7515 If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here. — Ghazala |
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