4th middle hung up on $34 million cost

Supervisors chair Mary Jones stressed the original plan was to revive Blair and find “appropriate” space for Central Office. “The intent was always to bring that middle school back for the students,” she insisted.

Constantino envisions a “STEAM” school focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math, or potential expansion of the International Baccalaureate program into middle school. He said the new school could also become a “digital academy” for virtual learning that would be used by middle school students during the day and high schoolers or adult learners at night.

No one piped up for building a new school, but some did commend Constantino for being innovative.  “It’s not a safe choice,” said Jim Kelly, Jamestown School Board rep.

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Finn: All students could access high-quality education

Virginia lawmakers are being asked today to consider legislation (SB 598) that severely restricts students’ access to a high-quality education. This legislation prohibits students from enrolling in an approved virtual school that is offered by a school division other than their own.

In this day and age, the Internet makes geography irrelevant to getting a great education. Virtual learning tears down the greatest barrier to high-quality education — access to a rigorous curriculum taught by effective educators. With virtual learning, all students — particularly those in rural regions or urban centers — can access the same high quality education typically enjoyed by students in affluent suburban neighborhoods. Students who live anywhere can learn anywhere. For many students, the option to attend a virtual school is a lifeline to an education that prepares them for success in college and challenging 21st-century careers.

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Virginia Approves Pearson Virtual Learning Powered by Florida Virtual School for State’s Students

As part of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s initiative to expand access to quality standards-based online learning, Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia I. Wright has named Pearson Virtual Learning powered by Florida Virtual School (Pearson/FLVS) an approved virtual school provider. Pearson/FLVS will offer students online courses aligned with the commonwealth’s Standards of Learning and delivered by teachers fully licensed by the Virginia Board of Education.

“School districts in Virginia now can broaden the array of courses they offer – and reach out to more non-traditional students — by contracting with virtual schools or online providers that meet rigorous criteria for quality and alignment with state standards,” Wright said. “Pearson’s role in providing access for Virginia students to courses from the Florida Virtual School builds on a partnership that has made the commonwealth a national leader in educational technology and online assessment.”

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Editorial: ‘Educational’ television

The education side is another matter. Here, WHRO directly supports the K-12 education that is undeniably a core function of government.

Its Hampton Roads Virtual Learning Center is developing two dozen online courses, making it possible for students to earn credits when they can’t attend school or to work in some extras. Working with the 18 school systems that are its owners, WHRO is developing the programs and resources that allow a student to learn algebra or geography at home, connected to a teacher who keeps an eye on progress and answers questions.

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The Construction Crunch: School CIP v. County Debt Capacity

There are a lot of possibilities to draw from that will take some time to develop, including virtual or distance learning, where students study from home or other locations with Internet access, charter schools, partnerships with some of our post-secondary institutions, and cooperation with home-schooling,” Stevens said. “To some degree all of these can be used to absorb some of that enrollment. The question is can we plan for that to take some pressure off the CIP.”

Stevens said the CIP approved by county supervisors last year after a number of projects were removed or delayed would only accommodate 17,000 students of the more than 26,000 expected to arrive in the county by the end of the decade. He described it as a “plan to fail,” but acknowledged there may not be enough land space in the county to accommodate the number of high schools needed based on their current design, and trailer classrooms will likely be part of the plan to accommodate that growth through other means.

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Virginia passes new legislation expanding charter schools

Virginia has passed new legislation that will expand charter schools throughout the state. The bills are part of the Governor’s “Opportunity to Learn” agenda, focused on education reform.

The laws aim to improve the application and review process for public charter school applicants, as well as establishing uniform statewide input standards for the application process. Children will also be allowed to choose schools that fall outside their zip codes, expand college laboratory schools and improve and promote virtual learning.

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