UPDATED: 2.13.2026

To invest in young people requires investment in schools. This year the Fund Our Schools (FOS) coalition is fighting across four key areas to ensure that this investment becomes a reality.

1. Increase State Revenues for Schools 

The research is clear: money matters in education. Specifically, access to well-funded, high-quality education improves health, economic, and educational attainment outcomes. School funding is especially important in the U.S., where there are higher concentrations of child poverty and less access to social safety nets (i.e., healthcare, housing, early learning opportunities, etc.) compared to other industrialized countries.   

The majority of school funding in the U.S. comes from the state and local levels. Given economic disparities across geographies─ rooted in histories of redlining, racism, and economic disinvestment─ local funding channels, like property taxes, often lead to inequity. This looks like wealthier communities having more money than low-income communities to invest in staff like teachers, curricular materials like books, and infrastructure like school buildings. Therefore, state policymakers are best positioned to address issues of school funding.  

Given that state budgets are tight this year, more money for schools will require generating additional sources of revenue. To do so, FOS, in partnership with the Tax Fairness Coalition, has created the following revenue options.

2. Make Sure the State Pays its Fair Share  

With new potential revenue sources, there is a need to make sure that lawmakers direct the money toward schools. According to the Education Law Center, Virginia is currently rated a D in terms of funding levels and funding effort for pre-K through 12th grade. Funding levels reflect per-pupil funding, and funding effort represents the percentage of state revenues that go toward education. For the latter, Virginia ranks below states like Alabama and Louisiana, given that we are a relatively wealthy state. A 2023 JLARC report on K-12 school funding confirms the State of Virginia is failing to pay its fair share.  

An Example from This Legislative Session: Bills like HB 188 are designed to increase revenue, while making the tax system fairer and ensuring the state contributes more to K-12 and early childhood education. Currently, the state taxes all income above $17,000 at the same rate of 5.75%, but this bill would enact a higher tax rate of 10% for annual income above $1 million. Additionally, 50% of the revenue generated would be allocated to public schools and 30% to the Child Care Subsidy Program. This is one example of how the state could raise revenues and begin to pay its fair share toward education.  

3. Ensure Funding Equity for Students Facing the Greatest Barriers 

Raising revenue at the state level does not automatically ensure that students with the greatest need receive the necessary support. In Virginia, school funding is currently flat, which means students with the fewest barriers receive roughly the same amount as students who need more investment to ensure they succeed.  

HB 92 and SB 90 promote more equitable funding by creating an add-on for students with disabilities, at-risk students (i.e., students in under-resourced communities, unhoused students, etc.), and English language learner students. These bills are important because  such students have been traditionally underserved by Virginia’s school funding systems, and school funding makes a particularly significant difference for this subset of students  

4. Promote Student Thriving through Supportive School Environments  

This session, the FOS coalition is advocating for supportive school environments. This involves:  

• Promoting  restorative justice (HB 298, BA 124 #55h, and BA 124 #10s) 

• Working for  safer communities (BA 394 #15s and BA 394 #3h) 

• Supporting students’ mental health (more below) 

Voices, specifically, is continuing advocacy around improving youth mental health. The commonwealth has failed to invest in this area, with only 6% of the state’s mental health budget in 2025 going directly to youth mental health services. With this lack of investment, it is unsurprising that last year, Virginia ranked 32^nd in youth mental health, according to Mental Health America.   

Schools currently serve as key access points for mental health treatment, and school-based mental health services are proven to reduce mental health issues, substance abuse, and absenteeism. Nationally, one in five public school students accesses mental health services through school-based programming. Despite rising youth mental health needs, Virginia has yet to make meaningful investments in school-based mental health programming. 

There are a number of budget amendments this session that would support school-based mental health access.

• Investing t $30M in school-based health centers, which would provide physical and mental health support through Item 299 #7h and Item 299 #5s 

• Funding two additional employees to increase schools’  capacity to bill Medicaid, when applicable, for services students already receive, through SB 73 and budget amendment 123 #3s.  

These investments increase school capacity and access to mental health support in schools across Virginia, without students having to coordinate transportation to a provider. 

Now is the time to fund our schools 

Virginia has a historic opportunity to improve school funding now, which will have resonating effects in the future. Complete this action alert to use your voice toward that change. 

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