The 2023 General Assembly directed the Board of Education to convene a stakeholder work group to examine and make recommendations on reducing barriers to access paid work-based learning experiences for English language learners. SB1430 states the following:

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. The Department of Education shall convene a stakeholder work group to make recommendations on reducing barriers to and improving the access of paid work-based learning experiences for English language learner students. In making its recommendations, the work group shall (i) identify best practices that are currently implemented in local school divisions in the Commonwealth to overcome barriers impeding the access of English language learner students to paid work-based learning experiences and (ii) consider strategies to further improve the access of English language learner students to paid work-based learning experiences. The work group shall submit its recommendations to the Governor and the Chairmen of the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee on Education and Health no later than November 1, 2023.

The Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education convened a stakeholder workgroup meeting to identify best practices, barriers to and access of paid work-based learning experiences for English learner students. This report includes recommendations on reducing barriers for English learners and how to improve access to paid work-based learning experiences.