Virginia 2020 Regular Session Status: Enacted

SB 238 — Public schools; increases kindergarten instructional time.

Last action — Approved by Governor-Chapter 582 (effective - see bill)

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Senate
  4. ✓
    Passed House of Delegates
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 02, 2020. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 6 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Public schools; kindergarten instructional time. Increases from 540 hours to 990 hours the minimum instructional hoursin a school year for students in kindergarten, beginning July 1,2022. The bill directs the Board of Education to adopt regulationsby July 1, 2022, establishing standards for accreditation that includea requirement that the standard school day for students in kindergartenaverage at least 5.5 instructional hours in order to qualify forfull accreditation.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

86 added · 77 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendments to Bill SB 238 primarily removed specific references to past sessions of the Virginia Acts of Assembly and did not change the core provisions related to school schedules. It still allows schools to adopt a four-day week as long as they meet minimum instructional hours for all grades, including kindergarten. Importantly, this maintains the flexibility for school divisions to adjust their calendar, which could help them better manage resources and respond to community needs.

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SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version VIRGINIA ACTS OF ASSEMBLY -- CHAPTER An Act to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-79.1 and 22.1-253.13:2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools;
SESSION history | hilite | pdf | print version CHAPTER 582 An Act to amend and reenact §§ 22.1-79.1 and 22.1-253.13:2 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools;
[S 238] Approved   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
[S 238] Approved March 31, 2020   Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
Individual schools may propose, and local school boards may approve, pursuant to guidelines developed by the Board of Education, alternative school schedule plans providing for the operation of schools on a four-day weekly calendar, so long as a minimum of 990 hours of instructional time is provided for grades one kindergarten through 12 and hours for kindergarten.
Individual schools may propose, and local school boards may approve, pursuant to guidelines developed by the Board of Education, alternative school schedule plans providing for the operation of schools on a four-day weekly calendar, so long as a minimum of 990 hours of instructional time is provided for grades one kindergarten through 12 and 540 hours for kindergarten.
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View plain text versions (3)
  • Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0582) View text Current html March 31, 2020
  • Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB238ER) View text html March 04, 2020
  • Impact statement from DPB (SB238) View text html January 02, 2020

Action History

  1. Approved by Governor-Chapter 582 (effective - see bill)

  2. Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 11, 2020

  3. Enrolled Bill Communicated to Governor on March 12, 2020

  4. Signed by Speaker

  5. Signed by President

  6. Impact statement from DPB (SB238ER)

  7. Enrolled

  8. VOTE: Passage (94-Y 6-N)

  9. Passed House (94-Y 6-N)

  10. Read third time

  11. Read second time

  12. Reported from Education (18-Y 4-N)

  13. Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)

  14. Assigned Education sub: SOL and SOQ

  15. Referred to Committee on Education

  16. Read first time

  17. Placed on Calendar

  18. Read third time and passed Senate (32-Y 6-N)

  19. Read second time and engrossed

  20. Constitutional reading dispensed (37-Y 0-N)

  21. Impact statement from DPB (SB238)

  22. Reported from Education and Health (12-Y 2-N 1-A)

  23. Referred to Committee on Education and Health

  24. Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/20 20103301D

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 9 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (147)

147 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

VOTE: Passage (94-Y 6-N)

Passed 93 Yea · 6 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 93600
Total 93600
% of votes cast 94%6%0%0%
How each member voted (99)
Member Party Vote
Brewer, Emily M. — Yea
Collins, Christopher E. — Yea
Lindsey, Joseph C. — Yea
Adams, Dawn M. — Yea
Adams, Les R. — Nay
Aird, Lashrecse D. — Yea
Alfonso H. Lopez — Yea
Askew, Alex Q. — Yea
Avoli, G. "John" — Yea
Ayala, Hala S. — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Bell, Robert B. — Yea
Betsy B. Carr — Yea
Bourne, Jeffrey M. — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
Byron, Kathy J. — Yea
C.E. Cliff Hayes, Jr. — Yea
Campbell, Jeffrey L. — Yea
Campbell, Ronnie R. — Yea
Carroll Foy, Jennifer D. — Yea
Carter, Lee J. — Yea
Charniele L. Herring — Yea
Chris S. Runion — Yea
Christopher T. Head — Yea
Cole, Mark L. — Nay
Convirs-Fowler, Kelly K. — Yea
Cox, M. Kirkland — Yea
Coyner, Carrie E. — Yea
Dan I. Helmer — Yea
Danica A. Roem — Yea
David A. Reid — Yea
Davis, Glenn R. — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Don Scott — Yea
Edmunds, James E., II — Yea
Fariss, C. Matthew — Yea
Fowler, Hyland F."Buddy," Jr. — Yea
Freitas, Nicholas J. — Nay
Gilbert, C. Todd — Nay
Gooditis, Wendy W. — Yea
Guy, Nancy D. — Yea
Guzman, Elizabeth R. — Yea
Heretick, Steve E. — Yea
Hudson, Sally L. — Yea
Hurst, Chris L. — Yea
Israel D. O'Quinn — Yea
James A. "Jay" Leftwich — Yea
James W. Morefield — Yea
Jeion A. Ward — Yea
Jenkins, Clinton L. — Yea
Jones, Jerrauld C. "Jay" — Yea
Joseph P. McNamara — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Karrie K. Delaney — Yea
Kathy K.L. Tran — Yea
Keam, Mark L. — Yea
Knight, Barry D. — Yea
Kory, Kaye — Yea
LaRock, Dave A. — Nay
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Levine, Mark H. — Yea
Luke E. Torian — Yea
M. Keith Hodges — Yea
Marcia S. "Cia" Price — Yea
Marcus B. Simon — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Yea
Michael J. Webert — Yea
Miyares, Jason S. — Yea
Mugler, Martha M. — Yea
Mullin, Michael P. — Yea
Murphy, Kathleen — Yea
Orrock, Robert D., Sr. — Yea
Patrick A. Hope — Yea
Paul E. Krizek — Yea
Plum, Kenneth R. — Yea
Poindexter, Charles D. — Yea
R. Lee Ware — Yea
Ransone, Margaret B. — Yea
Richard C. "Rip" Sullivan, Jr. — Yea
Robert S. Bloxom, Jr. — Yea
Robinson, Roxann L. — Yea
Rodney T. Willett — Yea
Rush, Nick — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Samirah, Ibraheem S. — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Scott A. Wyatt — Yea
Shelly A. Simonds — Yea
Sickles, Mark D. — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
Terry G. Kilgore — Yea
Terry L. Austin — Yea
Thomas C. Wright, Jr. — Yea
Tony O. Wilt — Yea
Tyler, Roslyn C. — Yea
Vivian E. Watts — Yea
Wampler, William C., III — Yea
Wendell S. Walker — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Education (18-Y 4-N)

Passed 18 Yea · 4 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 18400
Total 18400
% of votes cast 82%18%0%0%
How each member voted (22)
Member Party Vote
Collins, Christopher E. — Nay
Avoli, G. "John" — Yea
Batten, Amanda E. — Nay
Bourne, Jeffrey M. — Yea
Bulova, David L. — Yea
Cole, Mark L. — Nay
Davis, Glenn R. — Yea
Delores L. McQuinn — Yea
Guy, Nancy D. — Yea
Guzman, Elizabeth R. — Yea
Joshua G. Cole — Yea
Keam, Mark L. — Yea
Lamont Bagby — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
McGuire, John J., III — Nay
Mugler, Martha M. — Yea
Robinson, Roxann L. — Yea
Sam Rasoul — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
Tyler, Roslyn C. — Yea
Wampler, William C., III — Yea

Official roll call →

Subcommittee recommends reporting (8-Y 0-N)

Passed 8 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 8001
Total 8001
% of votes cast 89%0%0%11%
How each member voted (9)
Member Party Vote
Bulova, David L. — Yea
Davis, Glenn R. — Yea
Guy, Nancy D. — Yea
Guzman, Elizabeth R. — Yea
Marshall, Daniel W., III — Yea
Robinson, Roxann L. — Yea
Schuyler T. VanValkenburg — Yea
Subramanyam, Suhas — Yea
Tyler, Roslyn C. — Not Voting

Official roll call →

Read third time and passed Senate (32-Y 6-N)

Passed 32 Yea · 6 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 32602
Total 32602
% of votes cast 80%15%0%5%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Nay
Chase, Amanda F. — Nay
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Nay
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Not Voting
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. — Yea
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Yea
Newman, Stephen D. — Nay
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Yea
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Yea
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Spruill, Lionell, Sr. — Yea
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Nay
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Nay
Mark J. Peake — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Yea
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Yea
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Not Voting

Official roll call →

Constitutional reading dispensed (37-Y 0-N)

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 37003
Total 37003
% of votes cast 93%0%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Barker, George L. — Yea
Bell, John J. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Yea
Chase, Amanda F. — Yea
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Yea
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. — Yea
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Kiggans, Jennifer A. — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Mason, T. Montgomery "Monty" — Yea
McClellan, Jennifer L. — Yea
Morrissey, Joseph D. — Not Voting
Newman, Stephen D. — Yea
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. — Yea
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. — Yea
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Spruill, Lionell, Sr. — Yea
Vogel, Jill Holtzman — Yea
Adam P. Ebbin — Yea
Barbara A. Favola — Yea
Bill DeSteph — Yea
Bryce E. Reeves — Yea
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
David W. Marsden — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
Jennifer B. Boysko — Yea
Jeremy S. McPike — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark D. Obenshain — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea
R. Creigh Deeds — Yea
Richard H. Stuart — Not Voting
Ryan T. McDougle — Yea
Scott A. Surovell — Yea
Todd E. Pillion — Not Voting
William M. Stanley, Jr. — Yea

Official roll call →

Reported from Education and Health (12-Y 2-N 1-A)

Passed 12 Yea · 2 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 12201
Total 12201
% of votes cast 80%13%0%7%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Petersen, J. Chapman — Yea
Newman, Stephen D. — Nay
Howell, Janet D. — Yea
Saslaw, Richard L. — Yea
Cosgrove, John A., Jr. — Nay
Dunnavant, Siobhan S. — Yea
Barker, George L. — Yea
Lewis, Lynwood W., Jr. — Yea
Edwards, John S. — Yea
Chafin, A. Benton "Ben" — Not Voting
David R. Suetterlein — Yea
Ghazala F. Hashmi — Yea
L. Louise Lucas — Yea
Mamie E. Locke — Yea
Mark J. Peake — Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
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Frequently asked questions

What does SB 238 do?
Public schools; kindergarten instructional time. Increases from 540 hours to 990 hours the minimum instructional hoursin a school year for students in kindergarten, beginning July 1,2022. The bill directs the Board of Education to adopt regulationsby July 1, 2022, establishing standards for accreditation that includea requirement that the standard school day for students in kindergartenaverage at least 5.5 instructional hours in order to qualify forfull accreditation.
Who sponsors SB 238?
SB 238 is sponsored by Barker, George L..
What is the current status of SB 238?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 02, 2020. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 238?
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