Newport News Education Association

Unfortunately, Gov. Youngkin’s Administration has released intolerant new guidance for
Virginia’s public schools that attempts to remove the important protections for LGBTQ+
students that were implemented under prior Gov. Northam. The NNEA opposes
Youngkin’s bigoted attacks on LGBTQ+ students and reminds school leaders that the
guidance is optional. LGBTQ+ students are a vulnerable population who deserve to be
protected by adults in power instead of bullied and harrassed for political points.
Dr. James Fedderman, President of the Virginia Education Association, released a
statement pointing out that Virginia school boards can choose to ignore the Youngkin
Administration’s guidance. “All school boards and superintendents should remember
that no schools are required to implement this administration-crafted policy and should
think twice before considering this politically divisive debate and exposing themselves to
extensive legal liability. If implemented, these policies would no doubt threaten the
safety and well-being of LGBTQ+ students, open the door for bullying, and set back
their recent civil rights gains in Virginia. This policy targets a student group already
facing significant barriers, offers no measurable benefit, and is simply cruel. These
students deserve the freedom to express their authentic selves, free of harassment.”
In addition, the Youngkin Administration recently announced that it is blocking grants to
help provisionally licensed teachers of color in Virginia receive their full teaching
licenses, despite funding that was already passed by the state legislature. The grants,
which totaled $50,000 per year, had helped minority provisional teachers achieve full
licensure by subsidizing tutoring and test fees for the exams that are required for full
teacher licensure in Virginia. Many teachers do not achieve full licensure because of
barriers like cost and time.
The NNEA condemns these shameless attacks on Virginia’s public schools. Our
educators union will continue to stand up for students, staff, and teachers in Newport
News and across Virginia.

Sources:

• https://www.veanea.org/vea-statement-on-final-transgender-model-policy/
• https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-virginia-glenn-youngkin-trans-
  students-policies-20230719-jbtbj33mknboplbyaihpiwd4se-story.html
• https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/youngkin-administration-
  halts-teacher-diversity-grants-legislators-had-funded/article_79f93f98-24f0-11ee-
  a670-9394c25cc7b7.html
• https://richmond.com/opinion/column/glenn-youngkin-dei-virginia-department-of-
  education/article_8f24152e-27d8-11ee-940a-63d6ab2970da.html