VASN Legislative Priorities 2016-17 and Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) VASN Legislative Committee 2016 Virginia Association of School Nurses Annual Fall Conference Saturday, November 5, 2016

Disclosure Statement Planner, Presenter and Author Disclosures Janet B.Wright Becky Bowers-Lanier We disclose the absence of personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this educational activity within the past 12 months.

Objectives Define the Board of Education (BOE) Standards of Quality (SOQs) Discuss SOQ current standards relating to school nurses Discuss proposed 2016 recommendations to SOQ revisions Discuss Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 Discuss VASN 2017 Legislative Call to Action

Board of Education (BOE) Standards of Quality (SOQ) Constitution of Virginia requires BOE to prescribe the Standards of Quality for public schools. SOQs- Contained in the Code of Virginia Encompass the requirements that all Virginia public schools/school divisions must meet Foundational program for public education in Virginia

Standards of Quality (SOQs) SOQs reviewed by the Board of Education every two years, as required by the Code of Virginia, for necessary revisions. Ensures that Virginia public schools have necessary resources to provide instruction, programs and supports to prepare students for transition to life.

COV§ 22.1-253.13:2. Standard 2. Instructional, administrative, and support personnel O. Each local school board shall provide those support services that are necessary for the efficient and cost- effective operation and maintenance of its public schools. 3. Student support positions, including (i) social workers and social work administrative positions; (ii) guidance administrative positions not included in subdivision H 4; (iii) homebound administrative positions supporting instruction; (iv) attendance support positions related to truancy and dropout prevention; and (v) health and behavioral positions, including school nurses and school psychologists; http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/22.1-253.13:2/ Currently, local school divisions have the discretion to fill these positions as they deem necessary.

Proposed SOQ Recommendations (2016) COV§ 22.1-253.13:2. Standard 2. Instructional, administrative, and support personnel. K. Local school boards shall employ one full-time equivalent school nurse position per 550 students in grades kindergarten through 12. The SOQ recommendations remove school nurse professionals from the support services position category and provides a prescribed ratio in the SOQs. This is a significant step forward for the school nursing profession in Virginia.

Proposed SOQ Recommendations (2016) During FY2015, school divisions employed School Nurses at one position per approximately 600 students. Proposed language- School nurses at one position per approximately 550 students. DOE averaged current data across all school divisions to arrive recommended ratio of one school nurse: 550 students. *Limited data on the number of school nurses employed each school division due to inconsistent reporting among school divisions. Therefore, proposed SOQs for school nurse staffing ratios will not require additional state expenditure of funds.

VASN Response to SOQ Recommendations (2016) VASN Legislative Committee meetings VASN created SOQ response in support of the proposed SOQ revisions recommending- One full time school nurse for every 550 students VASN submitted response in October to Board of Education during public comment period

Proposed SOQ Recommendations (2016) The Board of Education approved the proposed SOQ revisions at its October 27 meeting. Next steps: The Governor will (hopefully) include all proposed SOQ revisions in a bill introduced in the 2017 session. No funds will be appropriated for the revisions until the FY 2018-2020 budget. The price tag will be very much on the minds of legislators during the 2017 session.

NASN Position Statement- School Nurse Workload: Staffing for Safe Care Former staffing ratio of one school nurse to 750 students in a healthy population NASN position statement cited- “limited evidence to support ratios” “one-size-fits-all workload determination is inadequate to fill complex health needs of students” NASN does not recommend a specific staffing ratio; rather, staffing should be determined by SDOH and student health care needs (NASN, 2015) “While VASN understands the NASN position, we are also cognizant that the architecture of the SOQs is the legal means by which Virginia schools employ teacher, administrative, and support personnel and that SOQs are linked to high educational aspirations and outcomes.” (VASN, 2016).

Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) Signed into law December 2015 Replaces the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) amendment, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 Transfers greater accountability to state and local education agencies Includes “Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP)” language throughout the law

What is SISP? Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Includes school social workers, psychologists, school nurses, counselors, speech language pathologists, school librarians and others Direct referral to the school nurse role-new law highlights chronic disease management led by school nurses

Specialized Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) ESSA cites SISP several times as essential for student learning ESSA recognizes the intersection between education and health SISP reduce barriers to learning and help students achieve their academic potential

VASN Members Call to Action in 2017 VASN legislative committee will develop “talking points” in support of the proposed SOQ revisions. We will ask that you contact your legislators to help them understand the value of including school nurses in the SOQ. Recognizes the importance of school nurses in the education of students. The proposed ratio is consistent with current practice among local school divisions. Important to meet with your legislators in December AND to come to VASN legislative day.

References Code of Virginia § 22.1-253.13:2. National Association of School Nurses. (2015). School nurse workload: Staffing for safe care (Position statement). Silver Spring, MD: Author. Virginia Association of School Nurses. (2016). Standards of quality public comment response. Richmond, VA: Author. Virginia Department of Education. (2016). First review of Recommendations to revise the standards of quality. Richmond, VA: Author.

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