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The 1997 Session of your Virginia General Assembly will best be remembered for its significant and bipartisan commitment to education and the environmental. Once again, you honored me by your votes to be part of that process.
Education: Funding was made available to determine if firstgraders are ready to read and then, to provide intensive early intervention services to those children identified as falling behind in developing their reading skills. Necessary funding also is provided for instructional materials to support the teaching to Virginia’s new Standards of Learning. Increased funding also is available for Virginia’s school construction fund and for the K-3 class size reduction initiative. Funds were added to the $102 million technology package provided last year. Teacher immunity legislation was approved. $19.7 million were appropriated to provide a four percent teacher salary increase teacher salary increase, effective January 1, 1998. An average salary increase of 5.5 percent also will be received at the college/university level. All new funding for higher education is from the General Fund: there should be no impact on tuition for Virginia undergraduates.
94.5%