LIFEPAC Education Act

Legislative Framework

Objective

To establish a mandatory, semester-long "Adult Life Skills" course within the Virginia high school curriculum, aimed at equipping students with core competencies necessary for independent living, civic participation, and success in post-secondary environments.

Curricular Components

• Critical Thinking and Analytical Reasoning: Promoting structured problem-solving and evidence-based decision-making.

• Emotional Intelligence and Self-Regulation: Enhancing students' capacity for introspection, emotional control, and empathetic interpersonal behavior.

• Digital and Interpersonal Communication: Fostering responsible use of digital platforms and effective real-world communication.

• Substance Use Education: Delivering science-based instruction on the physiological, psychological, and social effects of both legal substances (e.g., alcohol, cannabis) and illicit drugs.

• Financial Literacy: Teaching practical skills in budgeting, saving, credit management, debt mitigation, and tax awareness.

• Media Literacy: Cultivating the ability to critically assess information sources, detect misinformation, and recognize bias in media., including identifying AI Deepfakes

• Civic and Practical Life Preparedness: Introducing students to the essentials of civic responsibility, healthcare systems, insurance literacy, and everyday legal awareness. including the efficient use of Artificial Intelligence.

Implementation Strategy

1. Oversight by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE):

   • Conduct a statewide curriculum audit to determine the most appropriate course substitution (e.g., Physical Education or Health).

   • Assemble a multidisciplinary curriculum development team, including educators, academic professionals, and behavioral specialists, to construct the course framework and identify instructional resources.

   • Approve and finalize the curriculum no later than 2 years after passage.

2. Course Launch:

   • Implementation shall begin with the graduating class of 2028 or otherwise specified, at which point completion of the Adult Life Skills course will be a mandatory graduation requirement.

Funding Mechanisms

• Primary Funding: Reallocation of existing K–12 educational funds from the course or program being replaced.

• Supplementary Funding: Conditional use of redirected funds from the higher education budget, based on fiscal analysis and implementation needs.

Projected Outcomes and Evaluation Metrics

• By Year 5:

  • Achieve a minimum 20% increase in financial literacy scores among high school students.

  • Reduce behavior-related disciplinary actions associated with emotional mismanagement.

  • Decrease first-time use of substances such as alcohol and marijuana among teenagers.

• By Year 10:

  • Lower arrest rates and consumer credit delinquencies among individuals aged 18–24.

  • Improve metrics related to workforce preparedness and relationship stability.

  • Decrease in unintended pregnancies and abortions within the same age cohort.

• By Year 20:

  • Significant reduction in incarceration rates among young adults.

  • Rise in household-level financial independence.

  • Measurable decline in reliance on public assistance programs.

Accountability and Review

• Annual Reporting: VDOE shall submit yearly progress reports to the General Assembly detailing implementation status, cost assessments, and student outcome data.

• Independent Evaluation: Third-party evaluations shall be conducted at 5-year intervals (Years 5, 10, and 20) to assess the program's long-term efficacy and provide recommendations for improvement.

This legislative initiative aims to bridge the gap between academic preparation and real-world readiness, fostering a more informed, capable, and self-sufficient generation of Virginians.