Small, rural school divisions across Virginia continue to face declining student enrollments, difficulty competing for high-quality teachers, inadequate facility and capital projects funding and pressure from unfunded mandates at both state and federal levels, placing them at a significant financial disadvantage with larger and more affluent school divisions.

Areas of Focus

Coalition Flyer 

Coalition of Small and Rural Schools Legislative Priorities for 2023

Videos from Summit

School Construction and Modernization Legislative Panel - Senator McClellan, Senator Dunnavant, Delegate O'Quinn, and Delegate Hurst Moderated by Carol Cash



Impact of School Design on Student Learning - Pete Gretz and Stephan Halsey




Flexible Financing and Federal Funding - Chad Stewart and D.R. Dugan


Impact on New School Facility on Rural Communities Panel Discussion - Haydee Robinson, Dashan Turner, Paul Nichols, and Kevin Siers Moderated by Kristy Midgette 

Previous Advocacy

Virginia’s Moonshot Moment to Modernize Schools

Lawmakers have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to modernize our school infrastructure with one-time discretionary funding from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund.  Read the fact sheet below to find out more.

School Infrastructure and Federal Funding Facts

Resolution to Support an Increase in State Funding for Small and Rural School Divisions

COSARS Legislative Priorities & Talking Points- 2020

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