Richmond Report: School Takeover Bill Creates Unchecked Bureaucracy
Virginia ranks third in the nation in the education we provide students. However, there are some schools that year after year cannot attain accreditation. I agree something needs to be done to address this issue, as all students deserve a quality education. Gov. Bob McDonnell introduced a number of education bills this session. I supported some of those, but one initiative leaves me very concerned. Known as the Opportunity Educational Institute, or the school takeover bill, HB 2096 and its companion piece SB 1374 create an unchecked bureaucracy to take over schools and commandeer local facilities and tax dollars, perhaps indefinitely. These bills would create an entity that would have the power to take over a school that does not reach accreditation for two successive years, yet it is silent on many important details that give a great deal of power to the bureaucracy, yet no accountability.
I have been vocally opposed to these bills and made numerous efforts to make changes to the language in the bills, both on the House floor and behind the scenes with the goal of addressing local involvement, use of local funds, use of local facilities, how a school is identified for inclusion in a takeover program, metrics used to return the school to its community and many other areas in which the bill is silent.
There are well over a hundred schools throughout Virginia that could be impacted by the Opportunity Educational Institute over the next few years. With more rigorous math and reading tests in Virginia—harder math SOL tests were rolled out last year and language arts SOL will be new this year, we can expect more schools to struggle with test scores as they adapt to these harder tests. These harder tests will result in a large number of schools qualifying for a complete school take over under the Governor’s proposal. One of the unintended consequences of the Opportunity Educational Institute is that it gives the Board of Education an incentive to think twice about harder tests and higher expectations because adapting to those tests would put so many schools at risk of a complete takeover.
I support Sen. Dick Saslaw’s proposal, SJ328, to have the state Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee study the current status of struggling schools in Virginia to identify the most effective policies for turning these schools around. And I support SB 1374 from Sen. Kenneth Alexander which requires the Board of Education to designate for further corrective action any school that has been denied accreditation and that has failed, per the Board of Education's assessment, to demonstrate progress toward full accreditation. SB 1374 works with the local community and school board to implement proven practices that have been demonstrated to improve student achievement.
It is imperative that we help all schools succeed in Virginia. We can do that by ensuring Virginia schools are implementing the proven programs that have been demonstrated to work throughout the country. Rushing magic wand policy solutions that have not been based in research is the surest way to further harm our schools. Virginia is one of the best states in the country for education precisely because we are deliberate and thoughtful in our approach to school policy. The Opportunity Educational Institute is exactly the opposite. The approaches of Sen. Alexander and Sen. Saslaw are much more consistent with the approach that has generated Virginia’s reputation for school success. By expanding the range of interventions that the Board of Education can request of local school divisions, SB 1374 increases the chance for success and ensures strong community engagement in any school turn-around effort.
Please contact me this week to share your thoughts: 571-357-4762 (during session please call 804-698-1045).
Barry Meuse
11:23 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
There are four primary reasons public schools 'fail' - 1/ open enrollments - (almost) all teachers and all students are accepted, gain tenure on day one, and can't be fired despite performance issues; we can't expect excellence in schools without setting excellence standards for school administrators and teachers and we have not done so - so we get whoever walks in the door and we keep them until death or retirement 2/ related to the first, we fill our schools with college graduates with one or more 'education' degrees - among the least challenging and least demanding curricula with no content specialties (like math, science, language, etc); 3/ undisciplined children who disrupt classes and who we insist stay in class instead of segregating them from mainstream students who are there to learn and achieve; 4/ we teach to the lowest common denominator instead of 'teaching up' to challenge the brightest - a school with 1500 students needs 1500 ways for students to study and learn - not two or three
Lee Hernly
12:36 pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Public schools fail because they are a monopoly. What I'd like to know is, why are our representatives and others in Richmond not pushing for school choice? Our schools need competition to succeed not more Government spending. Do they want more Jefferson-Houston's (that fail to attain accreditation)?
Sherry Henderson
8:10 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Today, the Washington Post endorsed the idea of the Commonwealth of Virginia creating an Opportunity Educational Institution to help turn around schools that are in dire need of help. The Post even cites: 'Four schools, including Jefferson-Houston Elementary School in Alexandria, are currently eligible, and two more, on the state warning list, are threatened.' http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/real-consequences-for-vas-failing-schools/2013/02/19/374980c4-7adb-11e2-9a75-dab0201670da_story.html?wprss=rss_opinions It's time for a dramatic change because for Rob Krupicka, or any glad-handing politician, to try to propose that this issue needs to be addressed by local authorities is a complete joke. Rob was on the Alexandria City Council, and he, first-hand, has watched Jefferson-Houston languish for many years, prior to him winning a special election for the remaining time left on David 'Tiger Woods' Englin's term in office. Rob should know that the Alexandria City Public Schools system is in abysmal shape, and that a dramatic change is needed, where new blood, and new fresh faces can come in and work to help turn our city public schools around. As a life-long Democrat, when the Washington Post endorses the establishment of the Commonwealth's Opportunity Educational Institute, then that, to me, tells me that progressives can and will be heard in regard to the drastic need to help turn around the entire Alexandria City Public School system. It's time for a change, NOW!
Rob Krupicka
8:34 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Sherry, we just elected a completely new school board -- don't you think they need some time to work? I'd point out that Alexandria has a number of schools that it has already turned around successfully -- Lyles Crounch, Cora Kelly, Maury and others. All three are doing very well on state tests. Jefferson Houston has the highest reading scores for Kindergarteners in the City. It has taken too long to turn-around, but we also can't ignore the progress. My issues with this bill have always been focused on the details -- how a school is considered for take-over and the lack of review of what is actually happening at the school before a take-over happens, the taking of money from the community without oversight, the lack of any governance or way to include parents in a take over, the lack of due process to know when a school can be returned to a community. I have never argued we don't need new tools to help struggling schools, only that those tools reflect smart education policy. The Post points out that the bill has a number of areas that need to be fixed. I have offered many suggested changes to address the concerns that I and others have raised. And I will continue to do so. Knee jerk policy is bad for schools. There is still time to make this bill make sense.
Sherry Henderson
9:28 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Rob, all good points, and thanks for getting back to me.. I look forward to seeing you help to marshal the troops, so to speak, to help turn around our ailing public schools in Alexandria. Our children desperately need change, for the better, and it is incumbent on all of us to hope and pray that smart solutions are adopted that can be a blueprint for a strong foundation for the future. I know you're working tirelessly for students who attend Alexandria City Public Schools, as both of your daughters are in the system, so you, and them, as well as Lisa, all together, have a very vested interest in seeing only the best come forth for all involved. Good luck with your work and God speed!
Edmund Lewis
9:02 pm on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Mr. Krupicka, wyou say "highest reading scores" you mean the scores as assessed through the Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS)? If you are using PALS data to support this claim of "progress," there are a few words of caution. First, PALS data is entered manually so errors and manipulation can and do occur. Second, PALS assesses the phonemic awareness of students and not a student's reading comprehension. This is very different from what is tested through the SOL. Jefferson Houston had a 61% pass rate in English Performance as determined by last year's SOL results. That is down from 67% the year before and 8% points lower than 69% two years ago. Last year's third grade reading SOL results showed an astounding and troubling 38% pass rate at the school. That is a downward trend and by definition is not progress. A third cause for caution when using PALS data to cheer on supposed progress is fair comparison of the size of the classes showing these gains. Jefferson Houston on average has about 44 kindergarten students per year. Samual Tucker and Mount Vernon have an average of about 140 kindergartners each year. Jefferson Houston has three kindergarten classrooms. That is about 15 students per classroom. Other schools are well over 20 students per classroom. Testing significantly less students and then saying these results are the "highest in the city" is a bit misleading. There continue to be real problems here and ACPS has failed to address them.