| Gov. Robert F. McDonnell |
|---|
| Republican |
| Senate: 22 Democrats 18 Republicans |
| House: 39 Democrats 59 Republicans 2 Independent |
| Enrollment: 1.2 million |
| Virginia | After the discovery of errors in two history textbooks set off a controversy, Virginia lawmakers debated a measure that would have revised adoption procedures, but decided to refer the question to the state board of education, which has authority over textbook approval. The board voted to require publishers to prove that their textbooks have been reviewed for accuracy by qualified experts before being submitted to the state for approval.
The legislature approved a bill requiring state employees to contribute 5 percent of their salaries toward retirement. Gov. Robert F. McDonnell had sought the change, noting that Virginia was one of only a few states that did not require workers to pay into the pension system.
Lawmakers offset the sting of that contribution, however, with a 5 percent raise. Neither change affects teachers, who are district employees, according to a state education department spokesman.
The legislature’s $80 billion biennial budget, which covers fiscal years 2011 and 2012, allots $10.8 billion to precollegiate education. It provides for a slight increase between the first and second years of the biennium, the first hike in several years.
