Privately run schools funded with public dollars could have an easier path to opening their doors in urban and suburban localities - and without the support of local school boards - under legislation filed in the Virginia Senate and backed by Gov.-elect Glenn Youngkin's administration.

RICHMOND - A Senate subcommittee on Thursday advanced a measure that would require school boards to use unspent leftover funds from the state to finance capital projects. Senate Bill 276, sponsored by Sen.

FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (WDVM) - College students are back in the classroom, but the roles are reversed this time. Fairfax County Public Schools is hiring college students to fill substitute teacher vacancies in their classrooms. Pre-pandemic, Fairfax County Public Schools' substitute teacher fill rate was around 80%.

MONTEREY - Highland County Public Schools has been dealing with more than just COVID-19 since classes resumed last week. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Schott said students and staff have COVID, stomach flu, colds, sinus infections, and more. "We're just about the full spectrum of viruses and illnesses here," Schott said, adding they have seen all the typical childhood illnesses except chickenpox.

The Fairfax County School Board has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up a former student's sexual assault lawsuit, a move that could reshape how the federal law against sexual violence in schools is interpreted. A petition filed by the school board on Dec.

Education - especially what schools teach about race - helped return Republicans to the governor's mansion and to control the House of Delegates, and legislators expect a slew of bills proposing rules for those lessons in the next few days.

Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin has pledged to rescind the public health order that requires public and private school students to wear masks after he is sworn in on Saturday. However, lawmakers are split on what that will mean for individual school districts that want to do away with local mandates.

With a 4-1 vote Thursday night the Madison County School Board approved a mask-optional policy beginning Tuesday. [ VIDEO: Madison County, Va. School Board discussion on exception to COVID Mitigation Plan. MadRapp video by Chuck Jackson.] New board member Christopher Wingate, who last fall ran on the mask issue being his "No.

As COVID-19 cases surge in the community, the schools are feeling the uptick a well, which is keeping students out of the classroom as well as causing staffing issues. However, Rockingham County Public Schools and Harrisonburg City Public Schools officials say a return to virtual learning is currently not planned.

More than 300 Halifax County Public School students and over 40 employees are currently at home due to isolation or quarantine requirements as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the area.