Shirleen Guerra | November 4, 2026 (The Center Square) – Voters opposed additional sales taxes for school construction in 32 of the 47 Virginia cities and counties that put the question on Tuesday’s ballot, according to Virginia Department of Elections results reported Wednesday. Voters favored the tax in 15 localities, including Richmond, Charlottesville and Chesterfield
School Sales Tax Opposed in 32 Virginia Localities Read More »
Esther Wickham | November 2, 2026 (The Center Square) – Families in 16 states could face state taxes and penalties for using what’s called a “529 education savings plan” to pay for expenses approved under federal law, according to a report from the American Legislative Exchange Council. Congress established the 529 education savings plan in
16 States Might Tax Federally Approved Education Plans Read More »
Shirleen Guerra | August 25, 2026 (The Center Square) – Virginia students can head back to class earlier under a change to state law giving local school boards more flexibility over when the school year begins. The change comes as students across the Richmond area return to classrooms this week. The law, which took effect
Virginia Law Lets Schools Start Earlier Read More »
Esther Wickham | August 19, 2026 (The Center Square) – Top teachers union leaders make more than $500,000 a year in pay and benefits, leaving critics to say that taxpayer-funded membership dues allow for the high compensation, an investigation by The Center Square found. While union staff, who never teach in the classroom, take home
Teacher Union Leaders Earn Half a Million Read More »
Shirleen Guerra | August 13, 2026 (The Center Square) – As students begin returning to classrooms across Virginia, the state says a new federal order on childhood vaccines will not change the immunizations required for school. The Virginia Department of Health said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s executive order does not change the commonwealth’s school
Virginia School Vaccine Rules Unchanged After Trump Order Read More »
Morgan Sweeney | August 11, 2026 (The Center Square) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday that changes the federal government’s recommendations for the childhood vaccination schedule, spacing some vaccinations further apart and eliminating others altogether. According to the president, the order reduces the number of childhood core vaccination recommendations to 11, down from the
Trump Executive Order Narrows, Stretches Out Vaccine Schedule Read More »
Esther Wickham | August 3, 2026 (The Center Square) — Thirty-one states have opted in to the federal Education Freedom Scholarship Program, while 19 states and Washington, D.C. have not done so, ahead of the January 2027 deadline. The Trump administration launched the school choice initiative in 2025 through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This created
31 States Join Federal School Choice Program Read More »
Shirleen Guerra | July 13, 2026 (The Center Square) — A Richmond City Council committee voted Thursday to advance a resolution that would let city voters decide whether to approve a new local sales tax dedicated to school construction and major renovation projects. The Education and Human Services Standing Committee recommended the resolution for approval
Richmond School Sales Tax Referendum Advances Read More »
Esther Wickham | June 19, 2026 (The Center Square) — The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is moving civil rights and special education programs to other federal agencies in efforts to continue the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education. In partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department
Federal Education Programs Shift to Other Agencies Read More »
Esther Wickham | May 29, 2026 (The Center Square) – Spending more taxpayer dollars doesn’t make kids smarter, according to experts. As K-12 test scores and student proficiency rates continue to decline nationwide, education experts question whether increased education funding is improving student outcomes or merely contributing to inefficiencies within the public school system. National
WATCH: Experts Say Increased Funding Doesn’t Mean Better Students Read More »
