The U.S. Department of Education is putting Virginia schools on notice, warning they could lose federal funding and face further investigation if they fail to comply with parental rights laws.
On Friday, the department directed Virginia and other states to submit documentation proving compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), specifically regarding key “priority concerns” by April 30.
These concerns include parental rights to inspect and review education records, student safety, annual notification of rights, military recruiter access, and overall compliance.
The directive follows reports that state educational agencies and school divisions are hiding critical information from parents, such as details about a child’s gender transition, or their mental and physical wellbeing.
The Virginia Department of Education said in a statement that it will continue to review all guidance and correspondence from USED to ensure complete compliance.
“Governor Youngkin’s first and second executive orders reiterated and emphasized parents’ rights and directed the removal of inherently divisive concepts from department materials,” the statement said.
“The Department opened its first Office of Parental Engagement in the Fall of 2023 and we maintain multiple model policies which center the rights of parents, including the Model Policies on Privacy, Dignity and Respect for All Students, and the Model Polices on Sexually Explicit-Materials, which allows for parental review of course materials and for accommodations to be made if the parent objects under the law.”
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon directed the SPPO to investigate California and Maine for similar violations, accusing the states of enacting policies that prevent parents from accessing records related to their child’s gender transition.
The federal agency emphasized that laws like FERPA and PPRA override state policies.
“Parents are the most natural protectors of their children. Yet many states and school districts have enacted policies that imply students need protection from their parents,” McMahon said in a March 28 statement.
The department is accusing states and school districts of turning “the concept of privacy on its head” by prioritizing government officials’ concerns over those of parents and families. McMahon noted that moving forward, the correct application of FERPA will be to “empower all parents to protect their children from the radical ideologies that have taken over many schools.”
In Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin has consistently made parental rights a cornerstone of his administration. Along with his Republican colleagues, Youngkin has leaned on a state law asserting that “a parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent’s child.”
His administration has enacted several measures to reinforce these rights, including executive orders that require parents to be notified about drug overdoses and make mask-wearing optional.
The governor also adopted legislation mandating that parents be informed about sexually explicit instructional materials in school libraries. Additionally, a proposal was put forward to require schools to notify parents if a student wishes to change their name, nickname or pronouns as listed in official records.
However, last week, Youngkin proposed an amendment to a bill backed by Democrats, which mandates school boards to send annual notifications to parents regarding the safe storage of prescription drugs and firearms.
His amendment could derail the proposal, as it would require schools to notify at least one parent if a student seeks help from a social worker regarding their gender identity, and gain parental permission before any further action is taken.
The General Assembly is set to take up the amendment during Wednesday’s reconvened session.
Editor’s note: This story was updated with a response from the Virginia Department of Education.
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www.thecentersquare.com – By Jon Styf | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 12:17:00
(The Center Square) – The Washington Commanders $2.7 billion stadium project touted at a Monday press conference as mainly funded by the team actually includes more than $2.5 billion worth of subsidies, according to the stadium financing blog Field of Schemes.
Neil DeMause, who covers publicly funded stadium projects across the country, published the proposed stadium agreement term sheet while adding up those costs beyond the $500 million through Sports Facilities Fee with a tax capture at the stadium that would be created to pay off bonds, along with $175 million for the parking structure. Events DC, which is partially funded through taxpayer money, will put $181 million toward parking garages on the property and D.C. will pay $202 million for utilities infrastructure, roadways and a WMATA transit study.
DeMause detailed the Commanders’ tax savings, including a $429 million property tax break because the city owns the stadium, $1 a year in rent over the 30-year lease term on federal land where the city has control of development that is estimated to be worth $1 billion.
“This is being sold as one of the smallest public contributions to an NFL stadium on a percentage basis,” DeMause told The Center Square. “But, once you count all of the different subsidies including tax breaks and other things like that. First of all, that’s not even true on a percentage basis but, secondly, this could be the easily the largest public subsidy for any stadium deal in history and the public is set to get nothing back.”
While the district will pay for portions of the stadium project, it will not receive any of the revenue from events at the stadium, stadium naming rights, personal seat licenses or parking on the 180-acre site.
The issue with a city taking revenue from a stadium it owns and paid to build has come up in Ohio with a pair of budget office reports on a proposed $600 million subsidy from the state of Ohio, where the office recommended the “state receive revenue-sharing from events commensurate with our property ownership share.”
Despite the claims from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Commanders co-owner Josh Harris and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell at Monday’s press conference, research from economists on stadium projects has consistently shown that those projects do not bring the promised returns to taxpayers.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article leans toward a Center-Left perspective primarily through its critical framing of the Washington Commanders’ stadium funding. The tone and language emphasize the significant public subsidies and tax breaks involved, highlighting concerns about the burden on taxpayers and questioning the claimed minimal public contribution. The inclusion of expert opinions and references to economic research skeptical of stadium-related public investments further signals a critical stance on government spending that benefits private entities. While the article reports factual details and figures, it selects information and frames it in a way that challenges pro-subsidy arguments, a common theme in Center-Left critiques of public funding for private projects.
www.youtube.com – WTVR CBS 6 – 2025-04-30 06:36:53
SUMMARY: On April 30, 2025, a house fire in Chesterfield displaced three people, with firefighters crediting smoke detectors for saving lives. The fire at 4,800 Poppins Court was controlled in under 15 minutes; no injuries were reported, and the cause is under investigation. Displaced residents are receiving Red Cross assistance. Chesterfield firefighters are promoting “Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters,” encouraging red lights at homes and businesses through May 4 to honor fallen firefighters. Weather in Richmond includes humid conditions with clouds, spotty showers, and isolated afternoon thunderstorms expected today through Friday. Cooler, wetter weather is anticipated starting Saturday.
Top stories and weather in Richmond, Virginia on April 30, 2025
A tech company is stepping in where school buses can’t.
HopSkipDrive, a national ridesharing company focused on “safety, equity and care,” is expanding its supplemental school transportation services to Virginia Beach — aiming to help students with complex needs get to class while creating new job opportunities for local drivers.
The company’s network of “CareDrivers” — highly vetted caregivers trained to provide transportation in communities with unique challenges, such as students experiencing homelessness, in foster care or with disabilities — has already been operating in Northern and Central Virginia, and other parts of the country.
“Transportation should never be a barrier that keeps the student from accessing their education, and we’re committed to removing those obstacles,” said Cindy Hamilton, a spokeswoman for HopSkipDrive. “We’re really committed to removing those obstacles, and we’re glad to be able to do so now in Virginia Beach.”
The company also announced in February that wheelchair-accessible vehicles would become available in Northern Virginia, with plans to expand that offering to other cities nationwide for the 2025-26 school year.
School districts typically arrange the service directly through the company.
Shortly after HopSkipDrive’s establishment in 2019, Virginia began seeing its list of bus drivers dwindle following the pandemic. Some of the reasons for the decline include low pay and an increase in driver retirements. The company also found that many drivers contracted COVID-19 or left for jobs in the private sector.
The company surveyed schools nationally about the bus driver shortage and found little improvement. About 91% of respondents reported the shortages had constrained their school transportation operations, an increase from the 88% in 2022.
According to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), the rate of unfilled bus drivers has decreased to 8.7% this school year, compared to 13.6% during the 2021-22 school year.
CareDrivers has also provided opportunities for people living in and around partnership schools. Drivers include parents, grandparents, nurses and former teachers, to name a few.
“Caregivers who tell us they choose to drive with HopSkipDrive do so because of the flexibility it offers and the value of helping kids – or anyone who needs a little extra care – get where they need to go,” Hamilton said.
She said applicants go through a “rigorous” 15-point certification process before driving on the platform and can earn income while creating their own schedules. They also must comply with existing state and local laws and regulations, as well as the platform’s safety features and community guidelines.
“We have designed our platform to be easy to use, enabling CareDrivers in Virginia Beach and across the state to provide safe, reliable rides for students, schools, and families when it works for their schedules,” Hamilton said.
In Virginia, leaders have taken additional steps to help students get to and from school.
Last month, Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed into law a proposal carried by Del. Terry Austin, R-Botetourt, to create a two-year pilot program allowing school divisions to explore alternative transportation options. Schools could partner with nearby colleges or private companies to help transport students.
The legislation states that vehicles must comply with state and federal safety regulations and undergo regular inspections. School boards would also be required to hold a public hearing before adopting the program and must submit an annual report detailing ridership, costs, and bus routes to the Virginia Department of Education.
Austin told the Mercury the bill offers another option for schools in rural areas to cut costs while ensuring students are transported efficiently.
Last summer, the VDOE also amended its school bus specifications to state, “smaller capacity fleet vehicles are some options that can be used in conjunction with customary methods to provide a flexible, efficient, and comprehensive public school pupil transportation solution.”
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Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
This content presents a factual and balanced overview of HopSkipDrive’s expansion in Virginia, addressing a practical solution to school transportation challenges. It highlights the company’s efforts to promote safety, equity, and care without framing the issue in a partisan manner. Additionally, it references bipartisan actions, including legislation by a Republican delegate, further reinforcing a neutral stance focused on community and educational benefits rather than political ideology.
