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VSBA Legislative Services VSBA's governmental relations program ensures that the interest of school divisions is represented in formulating state and federal education policy. Educational funding and governance issues are at the top of the VSBA legislative agenda. Through the work of the VSBA board members and staff, local school officials become directly aware of and involved with federal and state activities affecting education. The Association represents the concerns of school divisions during the General Assembly, at meetings of the State Board of Education, and before other state agencies. Concerns on the national level are monitored by the VSBA staff and members of the NSBA Federal Relations Network, which consists of local school board members from each Congressional District of the state and nation. VSBA communicates regularly with members of the General Assembly and Congress on high priority issues such as school financing, standards of quality, etc. Efforts include presenting formal testimony at public hearings, providing comments on specific bills before House and Senate committees, and routinely meeting with individual legislators regarding the needs of local school divisions. The VSBA information network features The Legislative Alert, a weekly update on legislative and congressional activities and analyses of bills that is published during the General Assembly session. The Alert is also published monthly throughout the year. Local school board members are involved in every stage of VSBA's legislative efforts. The Legislative Committee, drawing from issue papers submitted by local school divisions, identifies policies and resolutions to recommend to the VSBA Board of Directors. These recommendations then are voted on by the Delegate Assembly at the Annual Convention and, if approved, become the priorities of the Association.
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