RICHMOND, Va. – After a lengthy and impassioned floor debate, the Democrat-controlled Virginia Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would require every local school division to make both virtual and in-person learning available to students.
AdThe chamber passed the bill, which would not take effect until July 1, on a 26-13 bipartisan vote.
At least one similar but more narrow bill aimed at students without adequate internet access failed during last year’s special legislative session.
Virginia currently has a patchwork approach to schooling, with some public and private schools offering in-person learning while others offer only virtual school.
Northam, a Democrat and a physician, recently rolled out new guidance aimed at getting more public schools open for in-person instruction.