HB 2196: Restorative Schools in Virginia Pilot Program; established, report, effective date.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Public schools; student discipline; Restorative Schools in Virginia Pilot Program; established. Establishes the Restorative Schools in Virginia Pilot Program (the Program), to be administered by the Department of Education (the Department), for the purpose of addressing school discipline issues and promoting evidence-based restorative practices, as that term is defined in the bill, in public schools in the Commonwealth by awarding grants to a school division in each superintendent's region in the Commonwealth to be used in developing and implementing a comprehensive plan to integrate evidence-based restorative practices in such school divisions in accordance with the provisions of the bill. The bill directs the Department to (i) develop the application process by which a school board may apply to receive funds pursuant to the Program; (ii) establish criteria for the selection and award of grants pursuant to the Program; and (iii) develop a process for evaluating the progress and performance of each school division selected to receive a grant pursuant to the Program in implementing such evidence-based restorative practices and satisfying the Program requirements set forth in the bill. The bill requires any such school division to (a) establish a learning collaborative for the purpose of developing a comprehensive plan for implementing evidence-based restorative practices in accordance with the provisions of the bill and (b) submit to the Department by July 1 of each year immediately following any year for which it receives a grant a report on its progress in implementing such evidence-based restorative practices for the preceding school year. The bill has a delayed effective date of July 1, 2026.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 18

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 14, 2025Passed by indefinitely in Finance and Appropriations (13-Y 1-N)
2. February 14, 2025Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2196)
3. February 13, 2025Committee substitute printed 25107248D-S1
4. February 13, 2025Reported from Education and Health with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (9-Y 6-N)
5. February 10, 2025Assigned Education sub: Public Education
6. February 5, 2025Referred to Committee on Education and Health
7. February 5, 2025Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
8. February 4, 2025Read third time and passed House (51-Y 48-N)
9. February 3, 2025Engrossed by House - committee substitute
10. February 3, 2025Education Substitute agreed to
11. February 3, 2025Read second time
12. January 31, 2025Read first time

Showing 12 most recent of 20 actions. Full history