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2021 SESSION
21101789DPatrons-- Wilt, Byron, Cole, M.L., Marshall, Runion, Simon, Walker and Wiley; Senator: Ruff
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Title 22.1 a chapter numbered 3.1, consisting of sections numbered 22.1-24.1 through 22.1-24.6, as follows:
§ 22.1-24.1. Pandemic Remediation Task Force; purpose.
The Pandemic Remediation Task Force (the task force) is established as an advisory task force in the executive branch of state government. The task force shall be administered by the Department of Education. The purpose of the task force is to make recommendations on strategies for improving public education in the Commonwealth in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that can be implemented in each region and local school division in order to achieve a measure of uniformity in such improvements across the Commonwealth.
§ 22.1-24.2. Membership; terms; quorum; meetings.
The task force shall have a total membership of 22 members that shall consist of six legislative members, 14 nonlegislative citizen members, and two ex officio members. Members shall be appointed as follows: four members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates and to include members from both major political parties; two members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and to include members from both major political parties; 14 nonlegislative citizen members, including two division superintendents, two school board members, two public elementary or secondary school teachers, two representatives of higher education in the Commonwealth, and two parents of school-aged children in the Commonwealth, to be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The Secretary of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, or their designees, shall serve ex officio with nonvoting privileges. Nonlegislative citizen members of the task force shall be citizens of the Commonwealth.
Legislative members and ex officio members of the task force shall serve terms coincident with their terms of office.
Appointments to fill vacancies, other than by expiration of a term, shall be for the unexpired terms. Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments. All members may be reappointed.
No House member shall serve more than four consecutive two-year terms, no Senate member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms, and no nonlegislative citizen member shall serve more than two consecutive four-year terms. The remainder of any term to which a member is appointed to fill a vacancy shall not constitute a term in determining the member's eligibility for reappointment.
The task force shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its membership. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum. The task force shall meet at least four times each year. The meetings of the task force shall be held at the call of the chairman or whenever the majority of the members so request.
§ 22.1-24.3. Compensation; expenses.
Legislative members of the task force shall receive such compensation as provided in § 30-19.12, and nonlegislative citizen members shall receive such compensation for the performance of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2813. All members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in §§ 2.2-2813 and 2.2-2825. Funding for the costs of compensation and expenses of the members shall be provided by the Department of Education.
§ 22.1-24.4. Powers and duties of the task force.
The task force shall have the following powers and duties:
1. Develop recommendations for policies and funding that would assist public elementary and secondary school students impacted by school closures and the remote learning environment during the COVID-19 pandemic to adequately obtain core educational material that they may not have otherwise successfully retained during the course of such pandemic.
2. Develop a uniform strategy for public elementary and secondary schools to effectively (i) identify students in need of remediation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and (ii) provide remediation coursework and resources to such students. In developing such strategy, the task force may (a) examine the effectiveness of standardized testing, including Standards of Learning testing, at measuring educational progress and deficiencies and (b) review existing statutory and regulatory course and credit requirements and determine the appropriateness of waiving or modifying any such requirement in favor of remediation coursework or services.
3. Consider the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student achievement gaps and make recommendations on the interventions and additional services, such as tutoring, mentoring, and services from private educational service providers, that may be necessary to ensure that such gaps do not widen further beyond pre-pandemic levels.
4. Submit to the Governor and the General Assembly, no later than December 1, an annual report for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports. The chairman shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an annual executive summary of the interim activity and work of the task force no later than the first day of each regular session of the General Assembly. The executive summary shall be submitted for publication as a report document as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
§ 22.1-24.5. Staffing.
The Department of Education shall provide staff support to the task force. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the task force, upon request.
§ 22.1-24.6. Sunset.
This chapter shall expire on July 1, 2024.