The Virginia House Committee on Education advanced more than two dozen bills, including contested measures on January 6 insurrection instruction, career coaches in every public school, and alternative graduation pathways, while also receiving an introductory address from Secretary Smith on workforce-aligned education priorities. Several bills passed on split 14–7 and 13–7 votes, and HB 85 on post-secondary transition counselor certification was continued to 2027.
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Delores L. McQuinn raised concern that no VCU representatives were present for a bill she described as 'a major configuration in terms of the board.' Betsy B. Carr responded that VCU representatives had contacted the chair, were 'iced in and could not get out of their driveway,' and gave 'big, big thumbs up' to the bill.
“At the end of the day, it's a backwards design. What are the high demand, high wage jobs and careers? And then what are the pathways that we are providing our young people and those educational opportunities in order to move toward those high demand, high wage jobs and careers?”
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Sign in to subscribeGood morning, everyone. The House Committee on Education will come to order. Clerk may take the role. Clerkshaw closed the roll. A quorum is present. Good morning, everyone. It's great to be with you. We are very fortunate this morning to be joined by a number of guests, special guests, all of you are special, but one in particular we would like to welcome to share some thoughts and greetings about his term. As we proceed. We welcome the new Secretary of Education, Secretary Smith, to come on up and introduce himself to the committee. Good morning. So let me just really begin by saying good morning and thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to really introduce myself. For those who, let's say, individuals that I've not had an opportunity to meet on an individual basis. It's my pleasure to be here and I'm honored to have recently been appointed by our governor to serve as the Commonwealth's Secretary of Education for the past two years. It's difficult to believe for the past two years I thought it was retirement, but not really retirement. So. For the past two years, I served as the…
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