SB 421 — Foster Child Scholarship Program; established, report.

1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 147 not signed on · 5 voted No

"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.

Frequently asked questions

What does SB 421 do?

Foster Child Scholarship Program; established. Establishes the Foster Child Scholarship Program (the Program), to be administered by the Department of Education, for the purpose of providing school-age children in foster care the option to attend the participating public or private school of their caregiver's choice. The bill provides that any student is eligible to participate in the Program who (i) is a foster child, (ii) resides in a school division in the Commonwealth, (iii) is subject to compulsory attendance requirements, and (iv) is entering kindergarten or was eligible to enroll at a public elementary or secondary school in the Commonwealth during the semester immediately preceding the semester or term for which the child's parent initially applies for the Program or who is entering kindergarten. The bill provides that the caregiver of any eligible student may apply for the Program and, upon approval of such application, receive an annual scholarship, through quarterly disbursements into such eligible student's Foster Child Scholarship Account (FCSA), for the purposes of paying for education-related expenses, as set forth in the bill, at the participating school of the caregiver's choice in which the eligible student enrolls under the Program. The bill contains provisions relating to (a) the Department's powers and duties in administering the Program, including establishing and implementing policies and procedures for reviewing and approving applications, conducting public awareness campaigns, establishing procedures for audit and review of FCSAs and of participating schools, and establishing procedures and requirements for the management of and disbursing of funds into FCSAs; (b) the duties of participating schools in the Program relating to the acceptance of eligible students participating in the Program; (c) requirements for the division superintendent of each school division to report each year to the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction to report each year to the Governor and the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations, on data relating to participation in the Program by eligible students and participating schools; and (d) the conditions and limitations to which caregivers of eligible students must agree in order to participate in the Program.

Who sponsors SB 421?

SB 421 is sponsored by Glen H. Sturtevant, Jr..

What is the current status of SB 421?

This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

Where can I track SB 421?

Track SB 421 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.