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_ 239 Item Details($) Appropriations($) ITEM 132. First Year Second Year First Year Second Year FY2025 FY2026 FY2025 FY2026 expression and inquiry, free speech, academic freedom, and diversity of thought to the Secretary of Education, including related incidents and statistics from the prior academic year. R. As a condition of this appropriation, $174,000 and one position the first year and $174,000 and one position the second year from the general fund is designated for the establishment of a student loan ombudsman to provide timely assistance to student borrowers of any student education loan in the Commonwealth. The ombudsman will also be responsible for establishing and maintaining an online student loan borrower education course, which would cover key loan terms, documentation requirements, monthly payment obligations, income-based repayment options, loan forgiveness, and disclosure requirements. S. The Council shall (i) survey each public institution of higher education to determine how each such institution is addressing on-campus food insecurity, including specific methods, programs, sources of funding, expenditures, communications strategies, and staffing; (ii) Compile and make available to each such institution a guidance document containing best practices for leveraging all available resources and opportunities, including public benefits programs and donation programs, to ensure that students do not face food insecurity on campus; and (iii) report its findings and any recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Committee on Education, the Senate Committee on Education and Health, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations no later than November 1, 2024. T. Out of this appropriation, $250,000 the first year and $250,000 the second year from the general fund is designated to establish and maintain a fund for excellence and innovation. The fund is designed to stimulate collaboration among public school divisions, community colleges, and universities to create and expand affordable student pathways and to pursue shared services and other efficiency initiatives at colleges and universities that lead to measurable cost reductions. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis, with eligibility criteria determined by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. U. Out of this appropriation, $500,000 the first year from the general fund is provided to support a Hunger-Free Campus Food Pantry Grant Program. Funds shall not revert to the general fund at the end of fiscal year and shall be reappropriated for expenditure for the same purpose in the next fiscal year. 133. Higher Education Federal Programs Coordination (11200) $2,440,426 $2,440,426 Higher Education Federal Programs Coordination (11201) $2,440,426 $2,440,426 Fund Sources: Federal Trust $2,440,426 $2,440,426 Authority: Title 23.1, Chapter 2, Code of Virginia. Out of this appropriation, $2,440,426 the first year and $2,440,426 the second year from nongeneral funds is designated for grants to improve teacher quality (No Child Left Behind Act grant). 134. Financial Assistance for Public Education (Categorical) (17100) $3,000,000 $3,000,000 Early Awareness and Readiness Programs (17117) $3,000,000 $3,000,000 Fund Sources: Federal Trust $3,000,000 $3,000,000 Authority: Discretionary Inclusion. Out of this appropriation, $3,000,000 the first year and $3,000,000 the second year from nongeneral funds is designated for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP) grant. 135. Technology Assistance Services (18600) $200,000 $200,000 Distance Learning and Electronic Classroom (18602) $200,000 $200,000