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Congressman Walkinshaw is a proud graduate of Northern Virginia public schools and knows that strong public education is the foundation of a thriving community and economy. Despite chronic underfunding from Richmond, he fought to increase local investments in Fairfax County Public Schools, securing over $587 million in new funding, supporting teacher pay raises and bonuses, and modernizing school buildings to create safe, high-quality learning environments.
Fairfax schools consistently outperform the rest of Virginia thanks to dedicated teachers, staff, and the County’s investments in student success. But those gains are at risk. Virginia is $3.5 billion below the national average in state funding for education, lagging behind states like West Virginia and Kentucky. At the same time, President Trump’s administration is dismantling the U.S. Department of Education and cutting funding for critical programs like Title I and special education. In Congress, James is opposing efforts to dismantle the Department of Education, and supports fully funding IDEA and Title I, and expanding support for military-connected students through the federal Impact Aid program. He is committed to making college more affordable, increasing access to workforce and technical training programs, and addressing the student loan crisis by supporting policies that reduce student debt and provide relief for borrowers. Additionally, he supports initiatives to expand early childhood education, invest in high-quality teacher training, and reduce inequities in school funding to ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed. |
