Richmond, VA - New Virginia Majority issued the following statement on Push for Richmond Education Compact: New Virginia Majority (NVM) is encouraged by recent clarification that the Richmond Education Compact is not an attempt to privatize Richmond City Public Schools, nor is it modeled after other pro-charter school compacts in other cities.

Our city’s public education system will only work for all of its students if run by an informed and publicly elected school board and superintendent.

NVM pushes for high-quality education for all our children. We share Mayor Stoney’s desire to properly serve the needs of all Richmond City Public School students, particularly students of color. Many students face a wide array of challenges outside of the classroom: high rates of violence in our neighborhoods, lack of community resources, and, now, fears of ICE raids and deportations of undocumented residents. NVM encourages greater transparency and collaboration among numerous stakeholders that will improve the lives and educational outcomes of Richmond’s immigrant families, communities of color, and low-income residents.

NVM looks forward to ongoing conversations with Mayor Stoney and other leaders and stakeholders as efforts to improve Richmond City Public Schools are further developed.

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New Virginia Majority builds power in working-class communities of color across the Commonwealth. We organize for racial and economic justice through large-scale political education, mobilization, and advocacy around dozens of issues. We fight for a Virginia that is just, democratic, and environmentally sustainable.