A New Dem Energy in Chicago; Collective PAC Brunch; Virginia Students Make Test Score Gains

➡️ 12 days until the Bobby Scott Labor Day Cookout on Sept. 2
🚩 30 days until early voting in Virginia: Sept. 20
🚩 76 days until Election Day Nov. 5

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Virginians in Chicago Enjoy DNC’s New Energy as Harris Rallies in Wisconsin

CHICAGO, IL — Democrats in Chicago brought convention production to another level with performances by Lil Jon, Patti LaBelle and a roll call that included famous musicians from the 50 states from Sam Cooke (Mississippi) to Tom Petty (Florida). In Wisconsin, Vice President Harris and Gov. Tim Walz rallied a huge crowd of supporters.

There was a generational shift last night as leaders in the Democratic Party of years past from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama take the stage while younger members of the party bring energy and innovation to the messaging and the tone of events in Chicago and beyond.

State Senators Mamie Locke and L. Louise Lucas in the Virginia delegation’s section at the DNC Convention in Chicago.

Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott encountered 29 year old Tennessee State Representative Justin Pearson in a hallway in the United Center’s media center and was greeted with the words “I want to be like you,” by the young firebrand lawmaker who has taken on Tennessee’s establishment.

Five of Virginia’s youngest lawmakers in the youngest version of the Virginia General Assembly in history posed in front of a massive mural of Vice President Harris outside of the United Center before entering the hall.

Patti LaBelle performed the song You are My Friend during the DNC Convention last night.

Congressman Bobby Scott with Tennessee Rep Justin Pearson. Virginia’s young lawmakers at Chicago’s United Center: Virginia Delegates Michael Feggans, Rozia Henson, Josh Cole, Alex Askew and Phil Hernandez.

Virginia’s Scott Price, who is a floor volunteer, assists many with accessibility on the floor of the DNC Convention as Democrats celebrate.

Collective PAC Reception in Chicago

Chicago, IL: Yesterday The Collective PAC held a reception that featured former HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and singer John Legend.

Collective PAC founders Quentin James and Stephanie Brown James bring together power players at a Chicago brunch during the DNC Convention.

Virginia Students Make Test Score Gains

By Nathaniel Cline for Virginia Mercury - Virginia students’ reading and math assessments for the 2023-24 school year saw some improvement over last year after months of recovery efforts, according to data released by the Department of Education Tuesday. However, pass rates in other subjects are still behind results from the 2022-23 school year.

Pass rates for grades 3 through 8 in reading, math, and science Standards of Learning tests all showed increases statewide by at least 1%. Writing showed the highest increase — 17 percentage points — while history and social science saw little gain, less than a percentage point.

The Standards of Learning tests (SOLs) are used in Virginia to measure student learning and achievement in mathematics, reading, science, writing, and history and social science. Testing was suspended during 2020-21, when many schools around the state stopped in-person instruction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. READ ENTIRE

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