SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1997 SESSION

971819836
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 535
Offered January 20, 1997
Requesting the Board of Education to examine the feasibility of providing mandatory training in the secondary schools to assist young people in a successful transition to independence.
----------

Patrons-- Jones, J.C., Cantor, Darner, Deeds and Hamilton; Senator: Miller, Y.B.
----------
Referred to Committee on Rules
----------

WHEREAS, national statistics verify that the average age of the homeless is becoming increasingly younger; and

WHEREAS, many young adults leave high school with very few skills to enable them to find and retain jobs and permanent housing and to manage budgets; and

WHEREAS, during the first few months of independence, young people are the most vulnerable to incurring debt and to losing their residences; and

WHEREAS, once a young person becomes homeless, there are many financial obstacles to securing permanent and stable housing and employment; and

WHEREAS, secondary school education does not routinely provide information on money management, job search and retention skills and home maintenance; and

WHEREAS, the training of young people in these basic daily skills saves young people from experiencing homelessness; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Board of Education be requested to examine the feasibility of providing mandatory training in the secondary schools to assist young people in a successful transition to independence. The Board shall examine training skills needed to successfully handle personal finances, employment and other issues arising from the transition to independence. The Board shall address curriculum components and different options to ensure that the information on these skills is provided at the secondary school level across the Commonwealth.

Staff support for the study shall be provided by the Department of Education. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Board for this study, upon request.

The Board shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Commission on the Future of Public Education by November 15, 1997, for inclusion in the Commission's final report to the Governor and the 1998 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.