Virginia's Constitution guarantees a free public education for its children. Our public educational system is our democracy's primary means of achieving equal opportunities for all of our residents, regardless of economic or social status. Unfortunately, the lack of clear regulatory guidance has left our local school systems adrift on this issue, and many of them unknowingly are violating the constitutional guarantee by charging fees for key components of a child's education. This situation creates a substantial hardship and/or barrier to children of low-income parents. Please enact some clear guidance that recognizes Virginia's constitutional guarantee of a free public education and ensures that low-income children are not deprived of the school systems' educational programs and related services and activities because of their poverty.