2025 SESSION

ENGROSSED

25104281D

HOUSE BILL NO. 2278

House Amendments in [ ] - January 27, 2025

A BILL to require each school board or division superintendent to review accessibility challenges in the local school division. Report.

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Patron Prior to Engrossment—Delegate Price

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Referred to Committee on Education

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. § 1. Each school board or division superintendent, in consultation with the Virginia [ Board for People with Disabilities Disability Commission ] and such other stakeholders as it deems appropriate, shall review the extent to which (i) public elementary and secondary school buildings and grounds in the local school division present physical accessibility challenges and barriers for individuals with [ physical ] disabilities, including challenges and barriers that may prevent such individuals from fully participating in school activities; (ii) challenges in access to programming and supports exist for individuals with [ physical ] disabilities at public elementary and secondary schools in the local school division; (iii) such schools have begun or plan to address and eliminate all such challenges and barriers; and (iv) state agencies can assist such schools to address and eliminate all such challenges and barriers and fully comply with all applicable state and federal laws. Each school board or division superintendent shall report the findings of such review and any associated recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2025.

2. That, in conducting the review required pursuant to the first enactment of this act, each school board shall consult and may utilize the methodology of the U.S. Government Accountability Office as set forth in its June 2020 report GAO20-448, K-12 Education: School Districts Need Better Information to Help Improve Access for People with Disabilities.