For Immediate Release:

February 11, 2011

Contact:  Elise Marsh

                 804-698-1034

Delegate Comstock’s Budget Amendment To Provide Funds For All-Day Kindergarten for Schools Passed Unanimously

Richmond, VA  - Delegate Barbara Comstock introduced a budget amendment that would allow school districts to shift any portion of eligible FY 2012 Virginia Preschool Initiative funds toward implementing all-day kindergarten.  There are 37 schools in Fairfax County that do not yet provide all-day kindergarten.  The House of Delegates passed the budget amendment unanimously on Thursday, February 10, 2011.  The budget, House Bill 1500, was passed with bipartisan support, 69-28.  

Delegate Comstock issued the following statement about the Budget Amendment:

"I am pleased that the House of Delegates voted unanimously for my budget amendment.  The amendment will give a school district the option to shift money, for one year, from pre-school funds to complete the implementation of all-day kindergarten in districts that do not yet have all-day kindergarten in all of their schools. This will make approximately $3 million available for Fairfax County with a 50-50 match from the state, instead of the higher match we have for K-12.  

"This budget amendment will help Fairfax County close the gap and help provide all-day kindergarten in all of our schools.  I look forward to continuing to work with our parents and the community to ensure that all of our kindergarten students are being treated equally."  

About Delegate Barbara Comstock

Barbara Comstock was elected in November 2009, to represent the 34th District (Great Falls, parts of McLean, Vienna and Herndon) in the Virginia House of Delegates. She serves on the Transportation Committee, the Science and Technology Committee and the General Laws Committee, where she serves as Chairman of the Housing Subcommittee. Barbara was appointed by the Governor to serve on the Governor's Economic Development and Job Creation Commission and, also, was appointed by the Speaker to serve on the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission. Barbara also serves on The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board.

Barbara Comstock is a 28 year resident of McLean, Virginia. She and her husband, Chip, an assistant principal at Oakton High School, have raised their three children in McLean. Barbara served as a senior aide to Virginia Congressman Frank R. Wolf, Chief Counsel to the House Government Reform and Oversight committee, and the Director of Public Affairs for the U.S. Justice Department.  Barbara is on the Board of Friends of Clemyjontri Park in McLean and Childhelp and is a member of the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce and the Northern Virginia Technology Council.  Barbara is a small businesswoman and attorney.  
For more information, please visit http://www.delegatecomstock.com or call 703-209-3787.  You can also follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/BarbaraComstock or at Facebook on http://www.facebook.com/ComstockforDelegate.

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