Legislation that would broaden Virginia’s influence on charter schools emerged from a House committee Monday, after a compromise that won the blessing of K-12 education groups.
The bill, which passed the House Education Committee on a 17-5 vote, would allow those hoping to open a new charter school to vet their plans with state authorities first. A favorable review from the state could bolster the application’s chances of passing a local school board.
“You have to bring something [to the Board of Education] that’s very serious, that’s very well crafted, because you’re going to get a grade,” said Del. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Woodbridge, the bill’s patron.
Charter schools are legal in Virginia but so far have mostly failed to take root — while neighboring D.C. has made ample use of the institutions, which have greater autonomy than traditional schools on curriculum, schedule, testing and other decisions. Gov. Bob McDonnell ran his campaign on the idea of expanding the number of the schools in Virginia, which is now home to three.
The original version of Lingamfelter’s legislation would have granted the state — not localities — the power to approve or reject charter school applications, which education advocates opposed. Under the compromise, school boards retain the final authority, although an applicant can ask to be reconsidered after an initial rejection.
Local boards should retain the decision making over a charter school application “because we’re dealing with local tax money,” said Frank Barham, executive director of the Virginia School Boards Association, which — with the Virginia Education Association — is backing the compromise measure.
The state’s assessment of a charter school proposal probably would carry more weight in rural school districts than in Northern Virginia, where school systems have greater administrative capacity and expertise to review the applications, Lingamfelter said.
The Prince William County delegate said passing the bill would put Virginia in a better position to capture federal education grants. McDonnell is vying for a piece of the Obama administration’s $4.35 billion “Race to the Top” funding.
