RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — The Richmond Education Association (REA) is urging state lawmakers to prioritize funding for public education as the Virginia General Assembly reconvenes this week. The push follows a 2023 study by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC), which found Virgi nia underfunds its K-12 public school divisions compared to the national average. According to the report, school divisions in other states receive about 14% more funding per student than those in Virginia. “It’s not surprising being a teacher and seeing the effect of the underfunding,” said Andrea Bryant, president of the Richmond Education Association and a Richmond Public Schools teacher. “But then for our state to be such a wealthy state compared to others, that part was more surprising... we have money, we have a lot of funds coming in. So why aren’t we focusing on our students and our schools more?” The REA is a labor union representing more than 1,200 Richmond Public Schools employees. Bryant said the funding gaps are evident throughout the district, particularly in aging school buildings. “A lot of our buildings are very old. They need updates,” Bryant said. “For instance, there’s some schools that still have lead paint, asbestos issues, things like that - that it’s going to take millions of dollars to fix.” In 2021, JLARC's Commission on School Construction and Modernization identified a $25 billion backlog in school construction and modernization needs. According to the report, more than 1,000 public schools in Virginia are at least a half-century old. Bryant said underfunding also affects classroom resources, which forces many teachers to rely on donations or personal funds to provide supplies for students. “When we don’t have the materials we need, we are not producing educated citizens,” Bryant said. “So, you know, that affects everyone.” In response, the Richmond Education Association and Richmond Public Schools have partnered together to call for sustained state investments in classroom funding and modern school infrastructure during the upcoming General Assembly session. As part of that effort, they are encouraging community members to get involved through a series of advocacy events, including training sessions designed to help residents engage with lawmakers. “I think they can just expect to get more information to learn more about how they can help, what’s happening, what we want to happen,” Bryant said. “You know, just really helping them become a part of the plan.” The next training meeting called "State Advocacy 101" is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 5 p.m. at Dogwood Middle School. ...read more read less