The Virginia state Capitol in Richmond. (Sarah Vogelsong/Virginia Mercury)
A review of the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) by the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission found no evidence that participation in the program has peaked or will decline anytime soon.
In fact, the study, which was presented to the commission at its meeting in Richmond Monday, found that the initiative, which offers tuition waivers to the spouses and children of military members who were killed or permanently disabled due to their service, has seen significant growth over the past five years. The findings echo earlier research from JLARC that found VMSDEP has grown by nearly 350% since 2019, from about 1,400 students that year to 6,400 in 2023…