STATE OF EDUCATION FUNDING
Virginia
Strong schools build strong communities, and that starts with fair and transparent funding. Our State Ratings Rubric shows how Virginia is doing when it comes to making sure every student gets the resources they need to thrive. Using criteria grounded in research, best practices, and what we know works for students, we rate Virginia across five key areas: whether the state funds students adequately, funds student needs equitably, funds districts appropriately, funds students transparently and effectively, and keeps public dollars in public schools.
To explore ratings across Southern states and learn more about the criteria we use, click here.
State Ratings Rubric:
Hover over ratings for more information.
Last updated: May 2026
| Component | Description | Rating | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| FUND STUDENTS ADEQUATELY | |||
| Funding Adequacy | Per-student funding is at or above the national average ($17,853 for the 2022-23 school year). | Per-student funding was $2,038 less than the national average in the 2022-23 school year. | |
| Yearly Increases | Base funding for all students increases every year to account for inflation. | The per-student amount increased by 12.6% for the 2026-27 school year, from $8,524 to $9,595. | |
| Progressive Tax Policies | The state maintains healthy revenue sources for schools. | The state created a temporary new tax on electricity used by data centers. | |
| FUND STUDENT NEEDS EQUITABLY | |||
| Student-Based Formula | The funding formula is primarily student-based. | Hybrid formula. | |
| Students from Low-Income Backgrounds | The state provides additional funds for students from low-income backgrounds. | 11% weight. | |
| English Learners | The state provides additional funds for English Learners. | Additional funding is provided based on student proficiency, using teacher-student ratios ranging from 1:20 to 1:100. | |
| Students with Disabilities | The state provides additional funds for students with disabilities, based on their needs. | Additional funding is provided based on staffing formulas for different levels of student need and instructional settings. The legislature created two-tier add-on funding in 2026. | |
| FUND DISTRICTS APPROPRIATELY | |||
| Cost Sharing | The state requires local governments to share the cost based on their ability to pay. | Local governments contribute 45% on average, based on property values, resident income, sales tax capacity, and population. | |
| Local Revenue Cap | The state limits wealthy districts from contributing excessively more than other districts. | The state does not set a cap. | |
| Rural Districts | Small districts and districts with few students per square mile (“sparse districts”) receive additional funds. | No additional funding. | |
| Concentrated Poverty | Districts with high concentrations of poverty receive additional funds. | Additional funding based on the district poverty level, up to 37% more per student. In 2026 the legislature passed a one-time fund of $99M to support concentrated poverty. | |
| FUND STUDENTS TRANSPARENTLY & EFFECTIVELY | |||
| Formula Transparency | The funding formula is easy to understand and clearly explained. | The formula is complicated and not clearly explained. | |
| Funding Data | The state shares detailed, timely, and user-friendly public data on districts’ funding. | Data is not shared on Virginia's Department of Education website. | |
| District Spending Plans | The state requires districts to share public reports about how they invest funds to meet students' needs. | No requirement. | |
| Formula Review | The state requires a clear, stakeholder-led process to evaluate the formula and recommend improvements. | A state board committee reviews the formula every two years and invites stakeholders to submit public comment. | |
| FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS EXCLUSIVELY | |||
| Vouchers | The state does not divert public funds to private schools through voucher programs, education savings accounts, or scholarship tax credits. | The Education Improvement Scholarship Tax Credit Program provides vouchers with some income restrictions. | |
Who’s Who
in Virginia
Legislature
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The bicameral body is composed of the House of Delegates with 100 members and the Senate of Virginia with 40 members. The Virginia Senate has a standing committee on Education and Health and the House of Delegates has a standing Education committee.
State Superintendent of Education
The Virginia State Superintendent of Public Instruction is appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The Superintendent is the executive officer of the Virginia Department of Education, which oversees the Commonwealth’s public schools.
State Board of Education
The Virginia Board of Education (BESE) is composed of nine members appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the General Assembly. The members serve four years.
Virginia also has a Secretary of Education, appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the General Assembly, that provides guidance to the Virginia Department of Education and the state’s various postsecondary institutions.
Virginia legislators advance $205 billion budget including new tax on data centers
Senate Budget Invests More in Public Schools with Data Center Revenue
Budget Compromise Takes Initial Action on Data Centers Paying Their Fair Share, Supporting Stronger Investments in Key Areas