During the 2023 General Assembly Delegate Amanda Batten authored House Bill 2457 (Chapter 641 Enactment Clause 2) which prohibits any public elementary or secondary school teacher from being required to participate more frequently than once every five years in certain training relating to the appropriate management of student conduct and student offenses in violation of school board policies or relating to secure mandatory test violations. The bill also permits, during the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years, any school board to employ a temporarily employed teacher to fill a vacancy for a period of time not to exceed 180 days during one school year, with certain conditions and limitations. The training described in clause (iii) of subsection A of § 22.1-279.6 (Student Code of Conduct) or relating to secure mandatory test violations as set forth in §§ 22.1-19.1 and 22.1-292.1, unless the school board or division superintendent determines that additional training is necessary to comply with federal or state law or to remediate misconduct. Each such teacher who completes any such training shall sign a written attestation that the teacher has been trained in and understands the relevant subject matter.

The bill requires each local school board to report to the Board of Education and the General Assembly no later than October 1, 2023, on the frequency with which each public elementary and secondary school teacher in the local school division participates in each required training or professional development activity. This bill went into effect July 1st, 2023, so in the fall of 2023 a survey was sent to division superintendents and their designees. The survey asked for two responses from divisions. Per HB2457, the VDOE must collect information on the frequency with which each public elementary and secondary school teacher participates in the following two required training or professional development activities: § 22.1-279.6. Student Code of Conduct Training and § 22.1-19.1. and 22.1-292.1. Test Security Training. The response choices included providing the training once a month to once every 5 years, or an Other (please specify) choice. All 131 divisions responded to the survey. A sample of the survey is at the end of this report.