Virginia
U.S.
Rank
Score:
55%
Grade:
F
Rank:
#44
The third weakest law in the nation is really a law in name only. Relying only on school districts to determine when and how charters are opened makes them dependent not only on the very systems from which charter organizers seek independence but on political whims, precisely what our kids don’t need more of!
Law passed: 1998
Most recently amended: 2017
Number of charter schools: 7
Number of charter students: 1,251
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? No
Virtual charters allowed? No
AUTHORIZERS: Districts are the only authorizers but applications must be submitted to the state board of education for review prior to authorization by the local district.
There is no appeals process. Applicants may resubmit a revised application or reapply later to the local board only.
GROWTH: Though there is no cap on the number of schools, the few charter schools are entirely dependent on districts for expansion, which rarely happens.
OPERATIONS: Charter schools here have no operational autonomy. Districts create them more as programs than full fledged independent public schools. Each must negotiate waivers from their districts.
EQUITY: Districts determine funding for charters, and thus there is no financial independence.
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#36
Offers a very small program which enables just a few thousand students some support to attend the private school of their choice.
Law enacted: 2012
Number of programs: 1
Statewide Participation: 4,710
Types of programs: Tax Credit Scholarship
Tax-Credit Scholarship
Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits Program
Launched in 2013 provides, the state’s scholarship program enables 4,710 students to attend the school of their choice. It gives a 65% tax credit to individuals and corporations that contribute to Scholarship Foundations. To be eligible, family income must be less than 300% federal poverty line, and students must be entering kindergarten, already a public school student in Virginia, a previous scholarship recipient, or a new resident in Virginia. This program has no enrollment cap, and the budget is $25 million.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#18
Teacher preparation programs are strong and require candidates to pass content knowledge subject tests in elementary and middle school; state “requires student academic progress to be a “significant” component in its teacher evaluation system”
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 81%
General Teacher Preparation 85%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 96%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 85%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 72%
Alternate Routes 65%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 70%
Hiring 65%
Retaining Effective Teachers 75%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 79%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 78%
Score:
55%
Grade:
F
Rank:
#44
The third weakest law in the nation is really a law in name only. Relying only on school districts to determine when and how charters are opened makes them dependent not only on the very systems from which charter organizers seek independence but on political whims, precisely what our kids don’t need more of!
Law passed: 1998
Most recently amended: 2017
Number of charter schools: 7
Number of charter students: 1,251
Cap on the number of schools allowed:? No
Virtual charters allowed? No
AUTHORIZERS: Districts are the only authorizers but applications must be submitted to the state board of education for review prior to authorization by the local district.
There is no appeals process. Applicants may resubmit a revised application or reapply later to the local board only.
GROWTH: Though there is no cap on the number of schools, the few charter schools are entirely dependent on districts for expansion, which rarely happens.
OPERATIONS: Charter schools here have no operational autonomy. Districts create them more as programs than full fledged independent public schools. Each must negotiate waivers from their districts.
EQUITY: Districts determine funding for charters, and thus there is no financial independence.
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#36
Offers a very small program which enables just a few thousand students some support to attend the private school of their choice.
Law enacted: 2012
Number of programs: 1
Statewide Participation: 4,710
Types of programs: Tax Credit Scholarship
Tax-Credit Scholarship
Education Improvement Scholarships Tax Credits Program
Launched in 2013 provides, the state’s scholarship program enables 4,710 students to attend the school of their choice. It gives a 65% tax credit to individuals and corporations that contribute to Scholarship Foundations. To be eligible, family income must be less than 300% federal poverty line, and students must be entering kindergarten, already a public school student in Virginia, a previous scholarship recipient, or a new resident in Virginia. This program has no enrollment cap, and the budget is $25 million.
Score:
Grade:
C
Rank:
#18
Teacher preparation programs are strong and require candidates to pass content knowledge subject tests in elementary and middle school; state “requires student academic progress to be a “significant” component in its teacher evaluation system”
TRAINING AND RECRUITMENT: 81%
General Teacher Preparation 85%
Elementary Teacher Preparation 96%
Secondary Teacher Preparation 85%
Special Education Teacher Preparation 72%
Alternate Routes 65%
STAFFING AND SUPPORT: 70%
Hiring 65%
Retaining Effective Teachers 75%
TEACHER EVALUATION: 79%
TEACHER COMPENSATION: 78%
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#43
Virginia has a lot of initiatives but it’s not clear what the pickup is by districts across the state. There is a State Educational Technology Plan 2018-2023 which provides guidance and state goals in four areas: Learning, Teaching, Leadership, and Infrastructure. Districts are required to create their own School Division Technology Plans that align with the State Educational Technology Plan. Virginia has Technology Standards for students and teachers to promote digital literacy. The Virtual Learning Advising Committee advises VDOE on “Strategic planning to expand blended and online learning opportunities in Virginia’s public schools, including cost-effective access to high-need and low-demand courses, training, content and digital resources.”
The Virginia DOE offers “several 6-week online professional development courses that focus on integrating technology into instruction, with an eye to supporting the Profile of a Virginia Graduate and associated initiatives. These courses are offered free of charge, and upon completion teachers are awarded recertification points.
VDOE has other multiple technology initiatives including the Virginia e-Learning Backpack Initiative that provides devices to every 9th grade student that attends a public school that is not fully-accredited. Other programs include: #GoOpenVA to encourage the use of Open Educational Resources (OER), The Standards of Learning (SOL) Technology Initiative for online assessments, and Learn24VA, a digital resources repository providing students and teachers 24/7 access to high- quality digital content.
Virtual Virginia opened in 2002 and offers both full-time and supplemental virtual learning programs to middle and high school students. Tuition and access to technology is free for public school students, however home school, private school, and out-of-state students must pay. There are approximately 200 full-time students enrolled in the school.
Virginia has four school districts that are all members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, giving over 130,000 students access to digital learning opportunities. The League of Innovative Schools is a network of school leaders in 114 districts in 34 states that aim to enhance and scale digital learning opportunities for students across the nation.
School Divisions of Innovation is an initiative managed by Virginia’s Board of Education allowing districts to experiment with new models of education, such as blended learning. Participating districts receive flexibility from certain regulations like seat time and assessment styles.
Bandwidth: “100% of students in Virginia can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds.”
After legislation passed in 2016, the state was required to implement the Profile of a Virginia Graduate, which describes the skills and competencies that students should possess by the time they graduate from high school, and “Establish multiple paths toward college and career readiness for students to follow in the later years of high school, which could include opportunities for internships, externships, and credentialing.”
Virginia’s response to the COVID-19 crisis is possibly the worst in the country. March 13, Gov. Northam closed schools and actually discouraged remote learning. Unsurprisingly, no learning at all occurred in several districts for weeks, including the wealthy district of Fairfax County. Additionally, the state did not take steps to ensure all students had devices nor did it provide teachers with resources needed to create plans. The state did eventually launch a website with information.
June 9, a phased reopening of schools was announced by the state and revised July 6 with guidelines.
Reopening guidelines include no full-time learning. Only hybrid or remote instruction is allowed, and the governor announced no in-person instruction would be permitted if COVID cases rise.
Fast Facts
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Score:
Grade:
D
Rank:
#43
Virginia has a lot of initiatives but it’s not clear what the pickup is by districts across the state. There is a State Educational Technology Plan 2018-2023 which provides guidance and state goals in four areas: Learning, Teaching, Leadership, and Infrastructure. Districts are required to create their own School Division Technology Plans that align with the State Educational Technology Plan. Virginia has Technology Standards for students and teachers to promote digital literacy. The Virtual Learning Advising Committee advises VDOE on “Strategic planning to expand blended and online learning opportunities in Virginia’s public schools, including cost-effective access to high-need and low-demand courses, training, content and digital resources.”
The Virginia DOE offers “several 6-week online professional development courses that focus on integrating technology into instruction, with an eye to supporting the Profile of a Virginia Graduate and associated initiatives. These courses are offered free of charge, and upon completion teachers are awarded recertification points.
VDOE has other multiple technology initiatives including the Virginia e-Learning Backpack Initiative that provides devices to every 9th grade student that attends a public school that is not fully-accredited. Other programs include: #GoOpenVA to encourage the use of Open Educational Resources (OER), The Standards of Learning (SOL) Technology Initiative for online assessments, and Learn24VA, a digital resources repository providing students and teachers 24/7 access to high- quality digital content.
Virtual Virginia opened in 2002 and offers both full-time and supplemental virtual learning programs to middle and high school students. Tuition and access to technology is free for public school students, however home school, private school, and out-of-state students must pay. There are approximately 200 full-time students enrolled in the school.
Virginia has four school districts that are all members of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools, giving over 130,000 students access to digital learning opportunities. The League of Innovative Schools is a network of school leaders in 114 districts in 34 states that aim to enhance and scale digital learning opportunities for students across the nation.
School Divisions of Innovation is an initiative managed by Virginia’s Board of Education allowing districts to experiment with new models of education, such as blended learning. Participating districts receive flexibility from certain regulations like seat time and assessment styles.
Bandwidth: “100% of students in Virginia can access the Internet at speeds of 100 kbps per student, and many students are connected at higher speeds.”
After legislation passed in 2016, the state was required to implement the Profile of a Virginia Graduate, which describes the skills and competencies that students should possess by the time they graduate from high school, and “Establish multiple paths toward college and career readiness for students to follow in the later years of high school, which could include opportunities for internships, externships, and credentialing.”
Virginia’s response to the COVID-19 crisis is possibly the worst in the country. March 13, Gov. Northam closed schools and actually discouraged remote learning. Unsurprisingly, no learning at all occurred in several districts for weeks, including the wealthy district of Fairfax County. Additionally, the state did not take steps to ensure all students had devices nor did it provide teachers with resources needed to create plans. The state did eventually launch a website with information.
June 9, a phased reopening of schools was announced by the state and revised July 6 with guidelines.
Reopening guidelines include no full-time learning. Only hybrid or remote instruction is allowed, and the governor announced no in-person instruction would be permitted if COVID cases rise.
4th Grade Math Proficiency:
8th Grade Math Proficiency:
12th Grade Math Proficiency:
4th Grade Reading Proficiency:
8th Grade Reading Proficiency:
12th Grade Reading Proficiency:
Graduation Rate:
Average SAT Score:
Average ACT Score:
Public School Enrollment:
Percent Enrolled in Charter Schools:
Average Student Funding:
Glenn Youngkin (R))
First term began in 2022
Governor Glenn Youngkin, whose campaign was powered by support of parent power and whose margin of victory was supplied largely by a bi-partisan coalition of parents fed up with being ignored by the education establishment. His coat tails also carried pro-education choice candidates to victory for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Much hope for the future here.
As with the gubernatorial election, the voters made a dramatic sea-change in the complexion of the State Legislature. Republicans now hold a 4-seat majority in the State House and are within one seat of controlling the Senate. Strong pro-reform Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears holds a tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
Virginia’s constitution contains a Blaine Amendment and a Compelled Support Clause. While a repeal of Blaine might pass the House there is little prospect of the Democrat majority in the Senate agreeing, so legal action will likely be needed. On the bright side, the constitution also contains an express provision allowing publicly funded vouchers at private, non-religious schools. (Institute for Justice)
Report cards are easily accessible from Virginia’s DOE website by clicking Statistics and Reports, then VA Quality Profiles. Report cards are user-friendly, and include information on assessments, enrollment, college & career readiness, learning climate, teacher quality, and more. Parents can view the “At-A-Glance” version, which is a nice feature when they want a quick overview of the school.
Unfortunately, whether and where there are educational options is not easy to find currently. This situation will hopefully change with Aimee Rogstad Guidera as Secretary of Education and choice-friendly legislation in the upcoming legislative session.
School board elections are not held during the general election cycle, which usually means lower voter turnout. It is vital that parents around the state maintain the focus and enthusiasm which powered our victories in November of 2021.
Glenn Youngkin (R))
First term began in 2022
Governor Glenn Youngkin, whose campaign was powered by support of parent power and whose margin of victory was supplied largely by a bi-partisan coalition of parents fed up with being ignored by the education establishment. His coat tails also carried pro-education choice candidates to victory for Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General. Much hope for the future here.
As with the gubernatorial election, the voters made a dramatic sea-change in the complexion of the State Legislature. Republicans now hold a 4-seat majority in the State House and are within one seat of controlling the Senate. Strong pro-reform Lieutenant Governor Winsome Sears holds a tie-breaking vote in the Senate.
Virginia’s constitution contains a Blaine Amendment and a Compelled Support Clause. While a repeal of Blaine might pass the House there is little prospect of the Democrat majority in the Senate agreeing, so legal action will likely be needed. On the bright side, the constitution also contains an express provision allowing publicly funded vouchers at private, non-religious schools. (Institute for Justice)
Report cards are easily accessible from Virginia’s DOE website by clicking Statistics and Reports, then VA Quality Profiles. Report cards are user-friendly, and include information on assessments, enrollment, college & career readiness, learning climate, teacher quality, and more. Parents can view the “At-A-Glance” version, which is a nice feature when they want a quick overview of the school.
Unfortunately, whether and where there are educational options is not easy to find currently. This situation will hopefully change with Aimee Rogstad Guidera as Secretary of Education and choice-friendly legislation in the upcoming legislative session.
School board elections are not held during the general election cycle, which usually means lower voter turnout. It is vital that parents around the state maintain the focus and enthusiasm which powered our victories in November of 2021.