Online petition hopes to minimize state education money cuts

An internet petition hopes to minimize the amount of state budget money cut from Virginia’s public schools.

Through a news release, a group calling itself the “Alliance for Virginia’s Students” says it has more than 2,300 Virginians who’ve signed the petition.

The petition calls for the adoption of Governor Tim Kaine’s proposals to increase state revenues, and for a withdrawal from the state’s rainy day fund.  It also asks the House and Senate to make any cuts temporary, and to preserve programs like the “Virginia Preschool Initiative” that serve low income students.

“Virginia’s low income students are almost twice as likely as middle and upper income students not to graduate on time,” says Sarah Geddes, attorney with the JustChildren Program of the Legal Aid Justice Center, an Alliance coalition partner, in a news release.  “When the state diminishes its investment in education, localities must either make up the difference or cut programs and services. This will only make the graduation gap worse,” Geddes added.

Alliance members delivered the petition to members of the House and Senate money committees Tuesday.

You can check it out here: http://www.vastudents.org