Education

Over eight years of serving on council, I have been a fierce champion for RPS students, teachers, and families. I helped deliver $88 million in new funding, funded construction for four new schools, increased salaries for RPS teachers by 15%, ensured every RPS middle school can participate in the NextUp program, and worked with then-Senator Jennifer McClellan in the General Assembly to pass legislation creating the Commission on School Construction and Modernization. I have a proven track record fighting for RPS families, and as mayor, I’ll continue to focus on building a broader support infrastructure that goes beyond the school day and past graduation.

My education priorities are focused on three core areas:

1. Investing in child well-being. Where a child grows up determines their quality of life and paths to success – from housing to food security to health care, safety, and environment. We need to invest in the whole development of a child.

2. Delivering a high-quality education. From our earliest learners and beyond, I’m committed to addressing historic inequities through significant financial investments that ensure the learning experience and outcomes for all students are strong regardless of socioeconomic status.

3. Building up a competitive and capable workforce. Workforce development and job training is also education. Learning doesn’t stop once you graduate high school. We’re doing a disservice to our community if we don’t invest in apprenticeships, career transitions, and industries of the future.

Learning happens at every stage in a child’s life, and early care and education are needed in the first eight years of every child’s life. Every child deserves a strong educational foundation in a setting that works best for them. As Mayor, I will work to ensure all families have access to quality early childhood education and care. This includes aggressively going after state funding to support preschool education and working with providers, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and our Department of Neighborhood and Community Services to ensure our earliest learners have a great head start.

It’s our job as adults to ensure every child is cared for and loved, but there are too many adverse experiences our youth are experiencing today, such as gun violence and violence within the home, hunger, unstable housing, court involvement, and even the loss of a friend or family member.

As Mayor, I will implement Promise Neighborhood plans across the city to holistically support the long-term success for all children in Richmond. My commitment is to improve the health, safety, and overall well-being of youth and families in the city.

*VCU created a plan in 2012 for implementing Promise Neighborhoods and the Urban Institute rolled out an update in 2022 pushing for this as well. We have a valid model for Richmond and I will see it through as mayor.

I believe supporting our students should not stop when the school day ends. Nor should creativity and exploration be available to certain youth. Every student in RPS needs the hours of 3-6 p.m. filled with enriching, positive, and healthy activities that are safe and easily accessible by bus, bike, and walking in all neighborhoods. And for those with limited transportation or additional family caregiving responsibilities, activities should be included in the school day as well.

Our children all need to make plans for tomorrow that aid in their growth and development. I will fund year-round programs like youth sports and athletics, access to the arts, culture, music, and ensuring every neighborhood has access to community centers, libraries, athletic fields, playgrounds, and courts.

According to the Virginia Department of Education, nearly half of all Virginia schools are more than 50-years old, including those in Richmond. This is why I worked with Rep. Jennifer McLellan when she was a state senator to establish the School Construction and Modernization Commission to identify and make available funding streams for school districts to upgrade facilities and build new schools.

As mayor, I will continue to advocate at the General Assembly for funding models that work for Richmond Public Schools. I will also lay the groundwork in securing federal funding and grants so RPS students, teachers, and administrators can learn and work in the best state-of-the-art school settings.

As mayor, I will build on the success of GRASP’s Pathways Scholarship and expand the program to help students build a plan for life after graduation into The Promise Scholarship. The program will engage 10th grade students to show them they have financial support for their future education. The support includes:

Dual enrollment classes with J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in all RPS high schools.
Free postgraduate programs to complete associate degrees, certifications, and apprenticeships.
Financial assistance to complete programs to support focus on completing programs and not having to balance work while learning.
Connect after-school programs in middle schools that align with career options.

As mayor, I’m proposing to build a new and modern workforce development center in Southside for students and adults: trades, skills, apprenticeships, and more with direct hiring access for local businesses and companies. Our energy-efficient future as a city will require experienced electricians, plumbers, welding, and solar installation professionals. Similarly, with caregiving jobs – the fastest growing workforce in the country. These careers should not be seen as a last-ditch option, but as a viable, first-choice career.