HAMPTON ROADS, Va. (WAVY) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin said families have called him saying they are unsure how their children will attend college in the fall, and that those families need answers by the end of the month.
“Let’s just be very direct and eliminate any confusion for these families,” Youngkin said. “They deserve that kind of response, and I look forward to getting this done with our General Assembly colleagues by the end of June.”
Why the end of June?
As it is, the bill goes into effect July 1, meaning any survivors or dependents who were not already enrolled in their university of choice by May 15 will not be able to use the program.
10 On Your Side spoke with families who are planning to use these benefits next year. They say these changes were sudden and abrupt.
Some families we talked to say they stayed in Virginia specifically for this benefit.
The governor said he wants to start with a bill that reverses the language used in the budget.
The next step: the task force with Gold Star families and other stakeholders.
Youngkin wants the General Assembly members, along with members of his administration, to take the time to work together to come up with a sustainable set of recommendations. Finally, he hopes those amendments can be taken up in the next General Assembly session.
“That to me is what first prize looks like,” Youngkin said. “And again, I think that there is a real consensus from leadership in the General Assembly to do exactly that. So I believe we can get this done, and I’m just going to make sure that it happens by the end of June.”
Public colleges and universities have asked state leaders to look into the program because they say it’s putting a financial strain on their budgets due to significant growth.
Youngkin acknowledged the program was putting a strain on Virginia colleges and universities and announced that a task force would look into the program.
The first meeting for the task force is scheduled for June 10 in Richmond at the Virginia War Memorial from 2 to 5 p.m.
Virginians who wish to participate can do so by providing feedback to the task force ahead of the meeting by emailing PreservingVMSDEP@governor.virginia.gov.
