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R-03-49 A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA SUPPORTING VIRGINIA'S STUDENTS BY URGING THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FULLY FUND THE ACTUAL COSTS OF THE STANDARDS OF QUALITY AND THE LEGISLATIVE GUIDELINES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING. WHEREAS, many students in Virginia's public schools are at risk of not learning what is required to earn a high school diploma, enroll in a college or umversity or enter the job market, and even the successful students who graduate are affected by schools struggling to provide the level of educational quality they need and deserve; and WlqF. REAS, teachers often find they do not have the tools or training necessary to teach the subjects mandated for achievement of state standards, and teachers' salaries and the uncertain state suppor[ of salaries do not provide the kind of incentives that attract and keep the most talented professionals, and WHEREAS, state funding for public education does not reflect the true cost of constructing, staffing, equipping, operating and maintaining schools that perform at the level needed to support the foundation for standards of quality and learning, and the costs of educating at-risk students create additional fiscal pressures on many school systems; and WHEREAS, not only are students being left behind, but taxpayers are seeing the increasing burden of higher local real estate tax rates as local governments try to pay both their share and the state's share of education costs; and WHEREAS, when Virginia's students plan for higher education, they face additional challenges because legislative reports also have verified that appropriate levels of funding have not been achieved for higher education, and one of the worst results of reduced funding for college students is that so many qualified Virginia students are denied admission because the faculty, buildings, and equipment are simply not there to accommodate them, and; WlIEREAS, the effects of being left behind without a high school diploma or a college degree, especially for an at-risk student, are compelling in that Virginians who hold high school diplomas or community college or four-year college degrees as a rule earn more than those who do not hold such diplomas or degrees. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia that it hm'eby urges the General Assembly to provide additional state dollars to fully fund the actual costs of the Standards of Quality and the legislative guidelines for higher education funding.