Virginia's 2026-2028 biennium budget includes a historic $2 billion increase in new public education funding — the largest investment in public education in state history — along with 4% raises for teachers and support staff. The budget also funds childcare and early childhood education. This reflects a central priority of Governor Spanberger and the Democratic-led General Assembly, though debate continues over how to distribute and sustain this funding.
Should Virginia continue increasing state funding for K-12 public education at the current rate?
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$2 billion in new education funding — the largest investment in public education in Virginia history. 4 percent raises for teachers and school support staff, and 3.5 percent raises for state employees in each year.
Over the next four years, I will continue to work with anyone who is serious about delivering for parents, schools, and students.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
Significantly increase K-12 funding beyond the current budget, including universal pre-K and free school meals.
Maintain and build on the record $2B investment in public education with additional future increases.
Keep education funding at current levels and focus on accountability before committing to more spending.
Redirect a portion of education funding increases to school choice and charter school programs instead.
Reduce state education spending and return more control and funding decisions to local governments.
Childcare and early childhood education funding
Virginia's 2026-2028 budget allocates $577 million for childcare and early childhood education, aimed at helping working families afford care and strengthening the workforce pipeline. The investment is one of the largest in this area in Virginia history and is a key piece of Governor Spanberger's affordability agenda.
Should Virginia continue large-scale state investment in childcare and early childhood education?
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$577 million for childcare and early childhood education to help working families and strengthen Virginia's workforce.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
Fund universal, publicly run childcare and pre-K for all Virginia children regardless of income.
Continue and expand the $577M childcare investment to reach more working families.
Maintain current childcare funding levels and improve quality oversight before expanding further.
Focus childcare subsidies on low-income families only and limit eligibility to reduce spending.
Shift childcare support to tax credits for families rather than direct state-run program spending.
Local option sales tax for school construction
Virginia's 2026-2028 budget expands the authority of all cities and counties to impose an additional 1% local option sales tax for school capital projects via voter referendum — a long-sought priority for the Virginia Association of Counties. Previously, only certain localities had this authority. Counties are now evaluating potential November referenda to exercise this new power.
Should Virginia localities be allowed to raise a local sales tax to fund school construction?
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Expands the authority to impose an additional 1 percent local option sales and use tax for school capital via voter referendum to all cities and counties, a long-sought priority for VACo.
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
Allow localities to raise the local sales tax for schools and also increase state capital funding for schools.
Support the new local option sales tax for school capital projects approved by voter referendum.
Allow the local sales tax option but require matching state funds before a referendum can proceed.
Keep school construction funding primarily state-driven; avoid expanding local sales tax authority.
Oppose new sales taxes for school construction; localities should manage school capital within existing budgets.
Public education funding
The finalized 2026-2028 biennium budget includes what officials call a historic roughly $2 billion in new public education funding, teacher and support-staff raises, large childcare/early childhood investments, and additional higher-education and HBCU support. Education spending was a central affordability and workforce priority in budget negotiations between the General Assembly and Governor Spanberger.
How much should Virginia prioritize new state funding for public education?
Tap a point along the line below to show where you stand.
$2 billion in new education funding — the largest investment in public education in Virginia history. 4 percent raises for teachers and school support staff, and 3.5 percent raises for state employees in each year. $577 million for childcare and early childhood education... $349.7 million for higher education funding — including $82.5 million to bring down tuition costs, $65 million in new financial aid, and $50 million to support HBCUs.