What a difference a day makes – especially in the 2012 Session. The Governor’s initiatives and bills are bumping up against each other, there are so many of them! And while we wait for the teacher’s grievance bill, many others are whizzing by. Today in House Education, there was quite a discussion about reporting or …
January 2012 archive
Jan 20
State of the Commonwealth’s Public Schools
Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Patricia I. Wright shared her observations on the state of the commonwealth’s public schools with the House Education Committee on Wednesday, January 18, 2012. Her remarks highlighted student achievement, innovative VDOE and Board of Education programs and policies and the challenge of higher standards. You can access her comments at …
Jan 18
Capital Issues at the General Assembly
The 2012 General Assembly Session is less than a week old, and already politicians have filed 9 bills related to suspension and expulsion that challenge a principal’s ability to maintain safety and discipline in schools. Additionally, among bills related to K-12, is legislation that would allow home-schooled students to play public school sports; require allocation …
Jan 13
New Principal Evaluation Model Under Scrutiny
During the public comment period at the first State Board of Education meeting of 2012, the chairperson of the Virginia Education Coalition, of which VASSP is a founding member, told the Board of Education that there was widespread concern among educators that funding in the Governor’s proposed budget to implement the new teacher and principal …
Jan 13
Virginia Schools Earn High Marks from Education Week
The nation’s leading education journal today ranked Virginia as fourth in the nation in overall educational quality and performance. Education Week’s Quality Counts 2012 report awarded the commonwealth a letter grade of B, up from a B- in 2011, when the commonwealth also ranked fourth. Education Week described Virginia as “a perennial strong finisher” in …
Jan 11
Tenth Anniversary of NCLB: Reason to Celebrate or Commiserate?
GUEST POST: As NCLB turns 10, Superintendent Charles Maranzano (Hopatcong, NJ), provides insights from the front lines about the impact this law has had on schools, students and learning. He concludes that educational issues are “determined locally and solved locally by dedicated professionals who are in the best position to know what it takes to …
Jan 09
Governor McDonnell Announces New Legislative Packet
Today, Governor Bob McDonnell released a formal statement outlining his legislative packet, “Opportiunity to Learn.” Please follow the link to read the full document: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/News/viewRelease.cfm?id=215
Jan 09
Virginia’s General Assembly Returns
Check your calendars to be certain you have marked Wednesday, January 11 as the opening date for the 2012 session of the General Assembly of Virginia. It will be that time of year when our legislators introduce new/revised regulations, form coalitions and ultimately come up with new legislation for all of the commonweath. On their education agendas will …
Jan 09
Education Funding in Virginia-Where Is It and How Do School Divisions Get It?
The long held concept that funding for public education in Virginia is the responsibilituy of the General Assembly has faded. More and more in the commonwealth, the onus of much of the funding responsibilities for education is being passed from the General Assembly to localities. This is not a totally new phenomenon and its impetus …
Jan 04
Governor McDonnell Announces Governor’s Challenge in Economics and Personal Finance
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell announced the first Governor’s Challenge in Economics and Personal Finance to promote new economics and personal finance courses for high school students. Beginning with the students entering the ninth grade this year, Virginia high school students must earn a credit in economics and personal finance before they graduate. The Governor’s …