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2026 Session

Budget Amendments - SB30 (Member Request)

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Chief Patron: Pekarsky
Restorative Schools in Virginia Pilot Program

Item 124 #10s

Item 124 #10s

First Year - FY2027 Second Year - FY2028
Education: Elementary and Secondary
Direct Aid to Public Education FY2027 $1,000,000 FY2028 $0 GF

Language
Page 139, line 40, strike "$52,993,467" and insert "$53,993,467".

Page 152, after line 32, insert:

"EEE.1. Out of this appropriation, $1,000,000 the first year from the general fund is provided to the Department of Education to establish and administer the Restorative Schools in Virginia Pilot Program, a two-year initiative designed to expand the use of evidence-based restorative practices in public schools. The program aims to improve school climate, strengthen student connectedness, reduce reliance on exclusionary discipline, and address racial and disability-based disparities. Funding shall be prioritized to the following school divisions within listed Superintendent's Regions: Region 1: Richmond City, Henrico County, Hanover County, Hopewell City, Petersburg City, Sussex County, and Goochland County; Region 2: Chesapeake City, Newport News City, Isle of Wight County, Franklin City, Northampton County, Southampton County, Norfolk City, and Portsmouth City; Region 3: Lancaster County, Fredericksburg City, and King George County; and Region 8: Amelia County, Prince Edward County, Brunswick County, Mecklenburg County, Buckingham County, and Greensville County.


2. The Department shall convene a Restorative Practices Learning Collaborative composed of participating divisions and community-based organizations to share implementation models, evaluation findings, and best practices, and shall ensure all funded activities align with culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and restorative frameworks and integrate with existing Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) frameworks. The appropriation shall be allocated as follows: $480,000 to support the hiring of one or more Restorative Practice Specialists in each participating division; $219,048 for stipends to school-based restorative liaisons assuming additional restorative practice responsibilities; $160,000 for restorative practices training, coaching, and technical assistance; and $140,952 to the Department for administration, oversight, and evaluation of the pilot.


3. The Department shall submit a final report on pilot implementation and outcomes by December 1, 2027, to the Chairs of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees."



Explanation

(This amendment provides $1.0 million GF the first year for the Department of Education to establish and administer the Restorative Schools in Virginia Pilot Program to expand the use of evidence-based practices in public schools. Language specifies that funding should be prioritized in specific school divisions and requires the Department to convene a Restorative Practices Learning Collaborative to share the implementation, evaluation, and alignment of the pilot program's activities with certain frameworks. The Department must submit a report by December 1, 2027 detailing the pilot program's implementation and outcomes.)