Virginia’s Democrat-led Senate backed Gov. Bob McDonnell’s education package Tuesday, granting charter schools, online programs and university-run “lab” schools a greater role in K-12 education.
The chamber passed three bills that give state education officials a greater stake in vetting and regulating the alternative programs, despite fiery floor speeches from critics who said the ventures would rob scarce school funding while aiding only a small number of students.
The most high-profile legislation, allowing the Department of Education to review and issue recommendations on charter school applications, succeeded on a 27-12 vote. The state’s thumbs-up would improve the charter proposal’s chances of passing a local school board, which would keep the final say in the approval process.
“This bill represents an opportunity to strengthen our public school system,” said Sen. Edd Houck, D-Spotsylvania. “There is no detriment to this.”
Virginia faces a more than $4 billion shortfall for the coming two fiscal years, and education — the largest source of state spending — faces some of the harshest cuts. The Senate’s proposed budget lops $133 million from schools funding, $487 million less than the House version.
“I am here to tell you that this bill, at this time, is like a kick in the gut,” said Sen. Yvonne Miller, D-Norfolk.
The charter school bill would “create a schism between the haves and the have-nots,” said Sen. Mamie Locke, D-Hampton.
“The majority of children would be left out,” she added.
Charter schools are publicly funded but retain greater autonomy than traditional schools on curriculum and schedule.
The Senate, on a 35-5 vote, also passed legislation that would bring providers of “virtual schools” under state oversight. The programs are already employed in Virginia.
A bill to allow laboratory schools, run by universities and funded through public dollars, passed 25-15.
The House on Tuesday passed the equivalent bill by a wide margin. The GOP-majority body already had approved the charter and virtual school measures.
