GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto House Bill 958, which mandates the Commission on Civic Education to develop model guidance on student participation in the work of local school boards, including a process and structure for adding a student representative to the local school board.

Increasing student participation in civic life as a form of civic education is commendable and should be a goal of all local school divisions. While some local school boards may currently choose to incorporate some student representation, the Commonwealth should not establish a model that implies a state mandate.

Accordingly, I veto the bill.