WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 1204

Local government; appropriation of local school funds to families for compulsory student attendance.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Scott

Virginia bill would redirect K-12 school funding to individual families based on student attendance, replacing traditional school district appropriations.

Assigned HED sub: K-12 Subcommittee
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 1204

Legislative bill overview

HB 1204 proposes allowing local governments to appropriate school funding directly to families rather than to school districts, conditioned on student attendance. The bill would fundamentally alter how K-12 education funding flows in Virginia by enabling per-pupil funding mechanisms tied to individual student enrollment and attendance requirements.

Why is this important

This represents a significant shift in education financing philosophy, potentially affecting how approximately $17+ billion in annual Virginia K-12 funding is distributed. The change could impact school district budgets, teacher employment, special education services, and educational equity, while also affecting family access to education services and which students benefit from public funding.

Potential points of contention

  • School funding stability: School districts depend on predictable, consolidated budgets to employ teachers and maintain facilities; per-pupil appropriations could create budget volatility and reduce funding for students with high needs
  • Special education and transportation: Concentrated funding mechanisms may struggle to support expensive services (special education, transportation, meals) that work better at district scale
  • Educational equity: Direct family funding could disadvantage low-income families, students with disabilities, and rural areas where per-pupil models don't cover actual costs of service delivery
  • Implementation mechanics: "Compulsory student attendance" requirements raise questions about enforcement, documentation, and whether funding would be withheld from students with legitimate absences

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.