Henrico School Board to approve federal funds, changes to number of Title I schools
Table of Contents
The Henrico School Board will meet for a 12:30 p.m. work session and a 6:30 p.m. monthly meeting on Thursday to vote on $13.7 million in federal grant funding for the 2025-2026 school year – a slightly lower amount than what was received last year.
Henrico Schools will receive about $10.8 million in Title I funding (support for low-income students), $1.4 million in Title II funding (support for staff quality), and around $935,000 in Title IV funding (support for academic enrichment). However, this year HCPS will receive around $50,000 less in Title III funding, which supports English Learners, than last year, with a total of $594,000 for 2025-2026.
While Title I funding has remained the same as last year, the number of designated Title I schools – schools with high numbers of low-income students that receive federal funding – would change from 22 schools to 20 schools. Both Charles Johnson Elementary School and Seven Pines Elementary School would no longer be identified as Title I schools.
Title I schools are determined by the percentage of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, with at least 40% of the student body needing to qualify for a school to be Title I. In HCPS, Title I schools receive additional reading coaches, math coaches, remediation and supplemental programming, and support from HCPS family advocates.
The school board will also review a number of division policy changes, including revisions to “Drug Education” policy that would expand drug use prevention in health education classes to include vaping of any flavored (non-nicotine), nicotine, or non-THC substances. Policy regulation also states that students voluntarily seeking help because of substance use should not be subject to drug use consequences in most cases.
Other division policy changes would require more measures to be taken to prevent student athletes from suffering heat-related illnesses during outdoor practices or games, and would require an investigation if a student needed medical attention. Revisions to “Class Scheduling” would also require master schedules to prioritize protecting teacher planning time and keeping to the standard class size ratios.
School board members will also vote on the schematic design for renovating Johnson Elementary, which is set to be completed by December of 2027 and cost about $26.5 million using 2022 Bond Referendum funds. The design would expand parking at the school, build a new main office entrance and security vestibule, and add individual toilets to third, fourth, and fifth grade classrooms.
The school board will also vote on the 2025-2026 Code of Student Conduct, which would implement a bell-to-bell cell phone ban at all schools.
Members of the public are able to comment using the board’s in-person or online public forums.
Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s Report for America Corps member and education reporter. Her position is dependent upon reader support; make a tax-deductible contribution to the Citizen through RFA here.
