THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | APRIL-MAY 2025 67 AFSA NEWS AFSA NEWSTHE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE ASSOCIATION CALENDAR Please check afsa.org/events for the most up-to-date information. April 7 Deadline for AFSA Constructive Dissent and Exemplary Performance Award Nominations April 15 Voting Deadline for AFSA GB Election Ballots April 16 12-1:30 p.m. AFSA Governing Board Meeting April 18 Deadline for AFSA Financial Aid Scholarship Applications May 1 AFSA Foreign Service Day Events May 2 Foreign Service Day The American Foreign Service Association began advocating for Virginia Senate Bill 1244 after receiving numerous firsthand accounts from members detailing significant enrollment challenges their children faced when returning to Virginia schools from overseas assignments. These families encountered rigid residency verification requirements, delayed school placements, and credit transfer issues, disrupting their children’s education and creating undue stress. Many were unable to enroll in school on time because they were required to provide a physical address and utility bills, documents often unavailable until they relocate back to the Washington, D.C., area. Other members found their children were misclassified for language assessments and denied appropriate course credit, which ultimately affected their academic progress. Recognizing the systemic nature of these challenges, AFSA mobilized efforts to support legislative change, leading to the introduction of SB 1244 to amend Chapter 783 of the Code of Virginia. The bill sought to provide Foreign Service families with the same enrollment flexibilities afforded to military families living in Supporting Access to Virginia Schools for FS Families Virginia. It would ensure that orders for official government service overseas serve as sufficient proof of residency. By advocating for this change, AFSA aimed to alleviate the bureaucratic burdens placed on returning families and guarantee their children seamless access to Virginia’s public education system. AFSA played a key role in advancing this legislation by connecting Virginia Senator Tara Durant (R-Fredericksburg) with the Global Community Liaison Office (GCLO) at State to provide critical data on Foreign Service families facing these challenges. Partnering with the Foreign Service Youth Foundation (FSYF), AFSA gathered firsthand accounts from affected families, illustrating the issue’s urgency and helping drive bipartisan support. On Feb. 3, SB 1244 passed the Virginia Senate. On Feb. 20, the bill was passed by the House and was officially approved by Governor Glenn Youngkin on March 24, 2025. This budget-neutral bill faced no opposition. AFSA was on the ground in Richmond, advocating for the bill at the Jan. 23 Senate subcommittee hearing. This new state law will be enrolled under Chapter 445, and it will go into full effect on July 1, 2025. AFSA hopes that this law will reduce undue bureaucratic hurdles for Foreign Service families. n Senator Tara Durant (R-Fredericksburg) with AFSA Policy Analyst Sean O’Gorman at the Virginia General Assembly on Jan. 23, 2025. AFSA
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