Public schools are the cornerstone of our communities and ultimately, our democracy, but Virginia has failed to make the necessary monetary investments to provide a high-quality education and accessible mental health services to all students.  

This legislative session, Virginians have a responsibility to advocate for increased school funding and access to school-based mental health services. Additionally, such investments must be equitably distributed to ensure the needs of all students are met, particularly those living in poverty, English language learners, and students with disabilities, who have historically been underserved by the public education system.  

Money Matters in Education:

The research is clear: money matters in education. School funding is especially important in the U.S., where there are higher concentrations of child poverty and less access to social safety nets (i.e., healthcare, housing, early learning opportunities, etc.) compared to other industrialized countries. Furthermore, the majority of school funding in the U.S. comes from the state and local levels. Given economic disparities across geographies, under this current structure, state policymakers are best positioned to address issues of funding inadequacy and inequity.  

As a state, Virginia is falling short according to a 2023 JLARC report on K-12 school funding. More recent data also supports this claim, with Virginia ranking below the national average for per-pupil funding and earning ratings of C’s and D’s for funding adequacy, fairness, and effort.  

Youth Mental Health and Schools:

Additionally, Virginia has failed to invest in addressing youth mental health, with only 6% of the state’s mental health budget in 2025 going directly to youth mental health services. With this lack of investment, it is unsurprising that last year Virginia ranked 32nd in youth mental health, according to Mental Health America.  

Schools currently serve as key access points for mental health treatment. Nationally, one in five public school students access mental health services through school-based programming. Despite rising youth mental health needs, Virginia has yet to make meaningful investments to address the issue. 

These investments are crucial because increases in school funding boost academic achievement and long-term educational attainment, and when schools are funded equitably, disparities are reduced in achievement and attainment. Furthermore, investments in school-based mental health services can reduce mental health issues, substance abuse, and absenteeism.  

Take Action: 

You can take the following step to advocate for these critical investments:  

Send this action alert to urge your representatives to increase school funding, ensure funding structures meet all students’ needs, and support school-based mental health access.