An Act to amend and reenact §§ 2.2-3705.3 and 22.1-253.13:3, as they are currently effective and as they shall become effective, of the Code of Virginia, relating to Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction; state program to support the improvement of low-performing schools.
HB924 amends Virginia law in two main areas. First, it updates the Virginia Freedom of Information Act exemption in § 2.2-3705.3, which governs records that may be withheld from mandatory public disclosure, including certain investigative records and confidential materials used by state and local agencies. Second, it revises § 22.1-253.13:3, the school accountability statute, to address the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction’s role in a state program designed to support the improvement of low-performing schools.
The bill appears to strengthen and clarify the Commonwealth’s framework for identifying and assisting schools that are underperforming, while also preserving confidentiality for sensitive records connected to investigations and oversight activities. By amending the education statute, it affects the duties of the Board of Education, the Superintendent, and potentially local school divisions that may be subject to state intervention or support measures. The FOIA changes continue to shield specified investigative and audit-related records from public release, including records tied to school-related investigations where applicable.
HB924 changes Virginia’s Code by amending § 2.2-3705.3, which affects public access to certain investigative and oversight records, and § 22.1-253.13:3, which governs school performance and state support for low-performing schools. The practical effect is to preserve or refine confidentiality protections for records used in investigations and audits while updating the statutory basis for a state program aimed at improving struggling schools. The bill primarily affects the Board of Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, school divisions, and agencies that handle sensitive records or school accountability functions.
The available context suggests the bill was noncontroversial and ultimately enacted as Chapter 240. There are no recorded committee transcripts or roll-call votes in the provided material indicating organized opposition. The final approval of the bill suggests general support for both the school-improvement provisions and the records-confidentiality updates.
No specific points of contention are documented in the provided transcripts or voting history. Based on the bill text, any debate would likely have centered on the balance between state intervention in low-performing schools and local control, as well as the scope of FOIA exemptions for investigative records. However, the record provided does not show named opponents or supporters raising those issues publicly.