Virginia is the 10th wealthiest state in the U.S., yet Virginia ranks 41st nationwide in per-pupil funding by the state. Join us for our First Tuesday Talk on Aug. 2nd at 11:45 a.m. to learn about the LWV-VA’s statewide analysis of funding for public education in Virginia.

The Washington County [Abingdon] League will join us for the presentation and then each League will separately discuss and reach consensus on the study’s recommendations for improving educational equity statewide.  This will be the first sharing of the League study before an August 27statewide presentation.

Our two Leagues proposed the study a year ago when rural and small school systems across the state mounted a campaign to publicize the 50+-year-old school buildings, the leaking roofs and the lack of technology that had resulted in a $25 billion backlog of school construction needs statewide.

Several members of our Montgomery County League took a lead in the statewide study. Larkin Dudley and Margaret Christle headed two of the study’s three subcommittees.  Wayne “Dempsey” Worner, who authored our League study of school funding in Montgomery County, played a leadership role.  Former League President Beth Obenshain and LWV-Washington County League President Merry Jennings were co-chairs of the study. Other active LWV-Montgomery County study members include Gunin Kiran, Connie Froggatt, Ann Fisher and Charity Boyette.

Read an executive summary here.

The full study is available at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1d7eLxJ4bCYNf16jZGLrAbyhcvznTr2Fy/view?usp=sharing