Virginia voters deliver major victory for students and public schools in legislative elections

WASHINGTON - National Education Association President Lily Eskelsen García released the following statement celebrating the major victory for students and Virginia’s public schools, as voters elected champions for public education in the legislative elections today.

“The voters in Virginia today delivered a major for students and public schools by electing a pro-public education legislative majority today. Across the commonwealth, voters understood that the future of Virginia’s public schools was on the ballot. By electing public school champions, Virginia’s voters spoke loudly in demanding that every student has the opportunity to attend a quality public school and that educators should be respected and paid like professionals.

“This victory is the latest example of how the #RedforEd movement is reshaping the political landscape. Across red states and blue state alike, educators and parents have been coming together to advocate on behalf of students and our neighborhood public schools. Educators are empowered and engaged like never before, and they made their presence felt in this election. They invested their shoe leather marching and going door to door. They spent their nights and weekends on the phone, calling voters. And educators have used their voice, which they found through #RedforEd movement, to help carry pro-public education candidates over the finish line.

“As we look towards the 2020 election, our members will continue building on the momentum to elect champions for our public schools to offices up and down the ballot.”

Specifically, members of the Virginia Education Association and National Education Association:

• Saw an exceptional number of educators volunteering on the campaign and taking leadership roles during this election,
• Organized grassroots events like phone banks, parades, community walks, and neighborhood canvass shifts, providing key volunteer support for the campaigns,
• Educated fellow VEA/NEA members about the issues facing public education in Virginia so they can effectively speak to their communities and ran a targeted member-to-member digital program, empowering members with new digital tools to help them amplify their voices.