Henrico School Board to consider new protections for immigrant students, restrictions on immigration agents at schools
The Henrico County School Board will consider a proposed policy designed to protect students and families from discrimination based on immigration status, along with a capital improvement plan, legislative priorities and changes to academic offerings, during two meetings Nov. 12.
The board's 2 p.m. work session will include its first review of a proposed policy titled "Equal Access to Public Education and Protection of Immigration and Citizenship-Related Information."
The policy is being developed in response to Virginia House Bill 836, which requires school divisions to adopt policies consistent with Virginia Department of Education guidelines by Dec. 31.
Under the proposal, Henrico County Public Schools would prohibit denying or discouraging student enrollment, attendance or participation in school activities based on a student's or parent's actual or perceived immigration or citizenship status.
The policy also would prohibit employees, contractors, volunteers and school resource officers from disclosing or threatening to disclose immigration-related information except as permitted or required by law.
(View the complete Nov. 12, 2026 work session agenda below; the immigration policy proposal begins on page 12)
An accompanying regulation outlines how school employees would respond when immigration or other law-enforcement agents arrive at school facilities.
Employees would be required to request identification and copies of any warrants presented by immigration or other law-enforcement agents. The proposed procedures call for initial review by legal counsel or the superintendent's designee, followed by review under division procedures before school officials could grant law enforcement or immigration agents access to nonpublic areas, students or protected information, except where otherwise required by law.
The proposal would mandate that judicial warrants may authorize access but first must be reviewed by legal counsel, while administrative immigration warrants would not independently authorize access to nonpublic school areas.
Employees also would be prohibited from volunteering information about students' or parents' locations, schedules or immigration status unless required by law. The procedures direct employees not to physically interfere with law-enforcement officers and recognize exceptions for emergency circumstances.
The proposed policy also establishes procedures for complaints, investigations and corrective action.
School Board members are scheduled to review the policy Thursday, with a vote recommended for their Dec. 10 monthly meeting.
Capital projects and legislative priorities
The board also will receive an update on the proposed fiscal year 2028 Capital Improvement Plan, which was initially presented Oct. 22.
The plan outlines the school division's capital needs and priorities. The administration is recommending that the board approve it during Thursday's 6:30 p.m. monthly meeting.
Board members also will review and consider adopting their 2027 legislative priorities, which will guide the division's advocacy during the upcoming Virginia General Assembly session.
Among the proposed priorities are additional state funding for academic intervention, tutoring, early childhood education and services for English learners.
The division also is seeking expanded dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students and changes to Virginia's school accountability system that would place greater emphasis on student growth.
Other proposals call for state guidance and funding related to artificial intelligence in classrooms, balanced student technology use, school safety improvements and modernization of aging school facilities.
The legislative package also seeks increased support for school-based mental health professionals, improvements to teacher compensation and licensure pathways, and protections against reductions or changes in federal education funding.
About 15% of the division's students are English learners who speak 133 different languages, according to school system officials, underscoring the need for additional language-related services.
The board is expected to vote on the legislative priorities during its evening meeting.
The capital improvement plan and legislative priorities are among several items scheduled for approval on the evening meeting's consent agenda, meaning they could be approved together without individual discussion.
Academic changes, grant funding
Board members also will review proposed updates to the division's 2027-2028 Academic and Career Planning Guide, which outlines courses, academic pathways and other information used by students and families when planning their educational programs.
Among the proposed additions are Spanish for Fluent Speakers I for middle-school dual-language immersion students and high-school courses in Small Business Marketing, AP Networking, AP Business with Personal Finance, Hospitality, Tourism & Recreation I and II, Honors Biology II (Anatomy/Physiology), Honors Data Science, and a VCESS Senior Internship.
The guide is scheduled for consideration during the afternoon work session and is among the items scheduled for approval on the evening meeting's consent agenda.
The board also will consider accepting a $65,000 grant from the Virginia Department of Education to introduce screen-free computer science activities at 20 Henrico elementary schools.
The grant would support a project called "Computational Thinking Unplugged: Integrating Tabletop Games to Promote Screen-Free Computer Science and Digital Wellness."
Approximately 10,000 students are expected to participate. The project will use tabletop games to develop computational thinking and related skills, culminating in a divisionwide Thinking Game Expo during the All IN event April 20, 2027, at the Henrico Sports and Events Center.
Grant funding would pay for games, storage equipment, professional development and events.
In addition, the board will consider approving utility and drainage easements at Glen Lea Elementary School to allow the county's East Laburnum Pedestrian Improvement Project to proceed.
(View the complete Nov. 12, 2026 monthly meeting agenda below)
Financial policies and school facilities
During the work session, board members will continue reviewing proposed changes to a number of financial and business policies, including those governing budgeting, fund transfers, amendments to annual financial plans and gifts and bequests.
Several of those policies are scheduled for approval during the evening meeting, while others will receive an initial review ahead of possible action in January.
The board also will receive an overview of the CapTech HVAC Modernization Report. The agenda does not provide details about the report's findings or recommendations.
The evening meeting will include recognition of Varina Elementary School for earning the Virginia Department of Education's Purple Star designation, which recognizes schools for supporting military-connected students and families.
The board also will recognize November as Family and Community Engagement Month.
Both meetings will take place at the New Bridge Learning Center auditorium, 5915 Nine Mile Road. The work session begins at 2 p.m., and the regular monthly meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.
Residents wishing to speak at the evening meeting must register by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, either through the school division's online request form or by calling the School Board clerk at (804) 652-3837. Written comments must be submitted by noon Wednesday.
Both meetings will be livestreamed through the school division's website.
The complete meeting packages are available through the School Board's Diligent One meeting portal. Additional meeting and public participation information is available on the Henrico County School Board website.
