Virginia Triennial School Census
Prior to 2010 General Assembly action, local school divisions were required to conduct a census of all school-age persons residing in a school division every three years. The census was used to determine the distribution of state sales revenues and use tax proceeds to school divisions as a part of the Basic Aid funding formula for public education.
Amendments to Section 58.1-638 of the Code of Virginia replace the triennial census with an annual estimate of the school-age (5 to 19 year olds) population from the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. The new estimate of school-age population for distributing sales tax revenue becomes effective on July 1, 2012, for the 2012–2014 biennium.
Due to the 2010 statutory changes, school divisions are not required to conduct a triennial census in 2011. The 2008 triennial census data will continue to be used for the distribution of sales tax revenue through fiscal year 2012. Local funding distributions based on the new school-age population estimates will not be released until December 2011, when the Governor’s 2012–2014 introduced budget is released.
Weldon Cooper Center’s initial estimate of school-age population will be an estimate as of July 1, 2010. VDOE will add the number of special education students ages 2–4 and 20–21 reported on the December 1, 2010, special education child count to the Weldon Cooper Center’s estimates.
Triennial School Census Reports
Files below are in PDF format.
View VDOE's Expenses